Carbohydrates are dietary staples around the world. They also get a lot of negative attention in the media. As new fad diets come in and out of fashion, each one has a different idea for the proper amount of carbohydrates to consume. Although it was once considered a super food, sugar (the simplest carbohydrates) is…
I’ve wanted to write a blog post examining why you should never pull an “all-nighter”—staying up all night cramming—for a while now. I kept putting it off because the list of reasons not to pull all nighters is relatively short: They don’t work, you are going to feel awful afterwards, and they can have lasting…
Congratulations! You made it through another academic year, and now it is time to celebrate with a well-earned vacation! Three glorious months of summer completely free of teachers, due dates, and studying. Maybe you are planning on visiting friends and family, earning some extra cash with a summer job, or just enjoying some personal time…
Chemistry is a required subject for a wide range of college majors, and the experience is often different from other classes. We’ve addresses some of the approaches how to succeed in chemistry in other posts on when to take a chemistry class, how to develop good chemistry skills, how to study chemistry, and how to…
People often talk about developing study skills as an act of willpower; you have to force yourself to do it. This is true up to a point, but if you make studying more enjoyable and task oriented then you won’t spend so much energy overcoming the dread of doing your homework. A dedicated study space…
Spring break is coming up, which usually means big plans for students. Many of us will be traveling, spending time with friends and family, volunteering, or just looking forward to a week or two to decompress from our hectic school schedule. Unfortunately, the semester doesn’t end just because classes are out. Whatever else you are…
Success in a chemistry class is a particularly hard topic to discuss. It is a multifaceted and difficult topic that is deeply rooted in the overall cognitive theory and the idea of intelligence. Luckily, the cognitive science offers some guidance on how to succeed in chemistry. Let me elaborate. There will be a moment in…
There are many different ways to study organic chemistry. I’m pretty sure most of you know about, and many of you actually use this simple learning strategy—flash-cards. Now, how exactly do you make your flash cards? Do you just put some info you need to remember on it and flip through your cards from time…
When it comes to spectroscopy and solving spectroscopy problems (finding the structure corresponding to the spectrum), one would usually approach it in a sequence of steps. First, I’d look at the molecular formula (or calculate one from the mass-spec) to get the HDI (Hydrogen Deficiency Index or Degree of Unsaturation). That might give some hints…