Is thermochemistry difficult or am I just dumb?

[BigToque]

I'm taking the second half of 1st year university chemistry this summer (so 4 month class in 3 weeks).

Anyway, the course is called "introduction to physical chemistry" it's only day two and I'm wondering WTF is going on. All the first term stuff seemed relatively straight forward, but this stuff is confusing the hell out of me.

All these deltas and reactions and math stuffs... ugh. It's gonna be a long 3 weeks.

 

[Ika]

edit: durr hurr

 

[Cogman]

lol, The math parts where the best. I understood those better then any other part. It was the naming conventions that really got to me.

 

[rcpratt]

It's certainly harder than introductory chem. What's your major?

 

[MJinZ]

P Chem was OK. I think. I can't remember any of it but I skated by with an A- or something.

 

[BigToque]

It's certainly harder than introductory chem. What's your major?

Psychology

I graduated like 4 years ago, and haven't done any math since my first year (like 8 years ago).

Just upgrading right now.

 

[xSauronx]

even the name sounds hard: no thank you.

 

[KeypoX]

yep, a lot of my friends say pchem is the worst of the advanced undergrad chems. i'll be taking it next year with orgo lab 2, oh joys

Well since he said 1st year chemistyr classes i doubt its p chem or anywhere near it.

Deltas and stuff are in basic chemistry too. entropy enthalpy energy changes.

 

[Hacp]

Second Semester Pchem? So you're up to quantum chemistry huh? That was pretty easy after diffeq though.

 

[Ika]

Well since he said 1st year chemistyr classes i doubt its p chem or anywhere near it.

Deltas and stuff are in basic chemistry too. entropy enthalpy energy changes.

oops. misread the OP. thermochem isn't so bad once you get a hang of what all the symbols and letters mean.

 

[dquan97]

It's not that hard...just look up videos on youtube or something

 

[Gibson486]

any subject with "chemistry" in it sucks.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Psychology

I graduated like 4 years ago, and haven't done any math since my first year (like 8 years ago).

Just upgrading right now.

I wouldn't sweat it, if you are not used to science classes like chemistry or physics then its probably going to seem strange and/or difficult to you.

I did general chem after I completed all my physics required for engineering and it was a cakewalk compared to those. But a lot of students who were non-engineering or science majors (nursing) or who were taking the class as one of their first had trouble. Just study until you understand what is going on and eventually you'll catch on.

 

[Kipper717]

When I took pchem, it was the worst of calculus (differential equations etc.) combined with some very tough chemistry. Good luck.

 

[uclaLabrat]

I'm almost done with my PhD in chemistry, and even I hate thermo. Yeah, it blows.

 

[zinfamous]

have you considered the possibility of "a little of both?"

 

[DT4K]

I was a chemistry major for awhile.
Loved general chemistry.
Really loved organic chemistry.
Took 1 term of physical chemistry and changed majors.