For when the lecture is too fast and the textbook is too confusing, these are what helped us!
See courses for more specific recommendations.
Link shortcuts:
A work-in-progress Google Drive library filled with useful specific-related resources curated for chemistry students by chemistry tutors.
See us in the Learning Center for explanations, answer keys and/or requests.
**The pages here are for important topics, main ideas and resources. Visit the drive for actual practice. **
link: https://tinyurl.com/FSchemGD
If you are interested in developing a new study method that has lots of evidence supporting its effectiveness, considering installing Anki on your laptop (free). There is a paid mobile app for the phone as well. Anki is a flashcard program that utilizes "spaced repetition" to increase retention - you focus on what you don't know well, not what you do know well. After revieweing a card you get to select after how much time you want to see the card again (ex. 1 minute from now, 3 days from now, a month from now, and so on - the options are customizable). You can create your own flashcards and your own decks, but the Anki home website and other social media resources (Reddit, Discord, etc.) have decks that have already been made and can be imported to your Anki account once you have it installed. For those of you on the fence about using Anki, this is an essential resource that health professions students use religiously and attribute it to a large part of their success (med, dent, vet, nursing, opto, etc.). The highest utilization probably comes from those who have a incredibly large volume of content they need to review but it doesn't hurt to use it even if you want to create flashcards for 20 amino acids for example.
Confused about how to write a blue book for lab? Check out this example with descriptions made by our Chemistry Tutors!
- Ali, Abbas, Mahek
Chair Confirmation of Hexane with Conformer
Red hydrogens are in the AXIAL position
Blue hydrogens are in the EQUATORIAL position
Note that the hydrogen SWITCH orientation as they switch between confirmations
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period Table with orbital groups for electron configuration.
Remember that Cr (chromium) and Cu (copper)are exceptions when filling the 3d orbital.
Amino Acid Info Sheets with R-group and Amino Code
Be concise. Need acid and base reaction help? Which kind? Balancing acid/base reactions? Strong acids/strong base titration? This will help narrow your search to something you actually need.
Google images are GOLD! Be concious about which source is reliable but overall, looking at images are great for (a) quick summaries/overviews, (b) short examples problems and (c) shortcuts/mnemonics/visuals
Be careful with yahoo answers, socratic, chegg, etc. Having the answer does not equal to understanding. Chegg will not be there on exam day.
Type "edu" or "pdf" at the end of search to find great lecture materials, practice problems or other worksheets from reliable sources.
- Alyssa R 1/2021
Protip - quick search on Youtube goes a long way (e.g. "stoichiometry example" "how to balance chem equations")
- Alyssa R 1/2021
....and the Gen Chem tutor and the Biochem tutor. Comprehensive. Problem-oriented videos with great walkthroughs. 10/10 recommend.
for all things chemistry and non-chemistry related! Summarizes topics well. Great for those 8-10 quick review before exams.
Light-hearted videos that cover gen chem, ochem and biochem. For when you need something less intimidating
Great for basic reviews of general chemistry and biochem concepts. P.S. AP Chem = Gen Chem
This Living Library is a principal hub of the LibreTexts project, which is a multi-institutional collaborative venture to develop the next generation of open-access texts to improve postsecondary education at all levels of higher learning. This is under constant revision by students, faculty, and outside experts to supplant conventional paper-based books.
Great textbook supplement with easy-to-read explanations and step-to-step guide on how to solve every chemistry problem out there. Practice problems with solutions are also provided in every chapter.
For general chem, ochem, biochem, analytical, inorganic, p-chem, biophysical chem.
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Here you can browse chemistry videos, articles, and exercises by topic. We keep the library up-to-date, so you may find new or improved material here over time.
A collection of virtual labs, scenario-based learning activities, tutorials, and concept tests. Students can review and learn chemistry concepts using our virtual labs, simulations, and tutorials.
A YouTube channel with helpful videos for general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math.
Attention OChem students!
You've officially hit the jackpot. Mastering Organic Chemistry has hundreds of free resources to make OChem easier for you. View their extensive list of reactions and their mechanisms! Review gen chem and fundamental Ochem through concise graphics and straightforward explanations! Look at their practice questions and study sheets. All for free!
This should be no surprise. You've probably used this source before if you were writing a paper for your science class or trying to find background information. PubChem has access to thousands of articles about research studies associated with chemistry and related disciplines. It is also a useful place to find the chemical properties for reagents - useful for those taking labs. Lastly, most references have citations which you can easily grab straight from the site.