Monday, January 31, 2011

Ionic Equilibria - More Resources

Sorry for the short post. Here are some more GOOD guides for solubility product.

http://www.alevelh2chemistry.com/2010/12/287/

http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/chemistry/ionic-equilibria/revise-it/solubility-product

Do have a good read through them.

Monday, January 10, 2011

A Shaky Start, but a Start Nonetheless!

Welcome to 2011, Dear A-Level Chemistry Students! Although our start has been nothing short of unanticipated, we've done well. As of 11/1/11, we've completed the A2 Reaction Kinetics Syllabus, and have begun planning (or have already completed) our first Practical Session of the year. May you all learn from your experiences, to give yourself a great boost towards the June AS Examinations.

Notes for AS as well as A2 Reaction Kinetics (I & II) have already been sent out to your emails. I need all those students who have not received the notes directly from me to email me ASAP at ravenslark@gmail.com. It is my task at present to generate an accurate mailing list so all students will receive their future notes/worksheets on time.

Please be reminded that this is A-Level Chemistry, or to put it in perspective... a PRE-UNIVERSITY Course. University = Research therefore A-Level Chemistry should involve a LOT of personal research. Broad reading lists are optional, but will improve your results. The bulk of the syllabus will be covered by your tutors at college, but for fine tuning, here are some websites to aid you:

http://www.chemguide.co.uk/ <--- very good A-Level coverage minus one major topic
http://www.google.com <--- for searching

Friday, October 1, 2010

Proposed Official Launching of Blog

Sometime in Mid February 2011, this Chemistry Blog will be officially used as part of CURRICULUM DELIVERY for A-Level Chemistry. Notes might be referred to here, homeworks, classworks, projects... the works! Now it falls to the new batch to enter the new Phase of Chemistry Education, whereby there are no veils, no barriers, but instead we have 24/7 access to information regarding our day-to-day school work, as well as past (and future) work.

Results aren't as good as too many are having difficulties but not doing anything or not enough about them. It doesn't matter if it's difficult or easy... something, at least, needs to be done. If you feel shy or are hesitant to ask questions in front of an audience, here is where you can seek help, either openly, or with an anonymous nickname.

Much more to come over the months regarding this post. Keep posted!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Final Term Holidays :)

Ok folks, we've come this far together... it'd be a shame to let up now and not strive to do our very best.

I'll be out of the state for most of the holidays, but I'll be able to check the blog as well as my GMAIL account. Please do keep sending those questions in.

Last but not least, have a pleasant Hari Raya in advance :)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

A2 Step Up Time!

Alright, time in purgatory is over, it's time to step up or... There's NO alternative! Difficult content will be coveed in classes, with very little time. No more room for games. Turn on your analytical minds as first up will be Analytical Chemistry (starting off with Mass Spectrometry, then moving on to NMR, among other techniques).

We need to get as many examples in as possible, but we also need to cover Separation Techniques, basically more Applications, before we move into e grey area of the syllabus which seems very much like a test of general knowledge.

The Good: Lots of topics covered, pretty interesting stuff which makes a scientist, a REAL scientist, not just an exam-passer. General knowledge in your field is necessary, and being at the forefront develops character!

The Bad: Syllabus isn't clear-cut near the end, so no minimalistic approaches. And if it's too late to revise, then it will matter.

The Ugly: Being among the Excuse-makers & Pretenders. DO NOT FALL INTO THESE CATEGORIES!

Very short time for us to complete what we need to do. Let's make it smooth by paying FULL ATTENTION. Remember, it ain't my fault if you didn't bother listening in class. I have to focus on those who ARE listening. Good luck!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Step Up for Revision!

Time's running short... and it's time to put the pedal to the metal!
You should all be in Phase 3 of revision by now.
2-3 hours per day just on revision. Maybe 2 more for practising PYPs.
Blog is up... email is up... questions are NOT coming.
Either you're all ready already (which would be excellente! ^_^),
or you don't need help. No need to be shy with questions with me.
We're practically family now =)

Anyway, I've completed my collection of PYPs with Mark Schemes.
I also read ALL of the Examiner's Reports on each Paper per year.
My next task is to go through the Practical Paper Instructions.
Now that's not my specialty, I have to admit.
But that should not stop me from going through them anyway.
Correction: US! =)

Nonetheless... GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR UPCOMING AS LEVEL EXAMS!
Always rooting for ya'll!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Trends in Chemistry (Period 3, Group I, II, IV, VII)

The Periodic Table is like a map, in which we read in the same way we'd read an English novel. From the lay out of the Periodic Table itself... we can extract a lot of information, first and foremost the electronic configuration of an element. From there, we can determine its properties, and even deduce probable reactions and compounds formed.

There are a trends that we look for:
1) Electronic Configuration
2) Atomic Radius
3) Ionic Radius
4) Melting & Boiling Point
5) Electrical Conductivity
6) Ionisation Energy
7) Electronegativity

Remember, in most cases for Inorganic Chemistry, look to the Periodic Table for guidance. Think about atomic/ionic charges, sizes ---> Charge density, electronegativity differences, redox, hydrolysis, decomposition, etc...

A topic that requires a great deal of reasoning ability.