Hi all. Most of you will know the H3 cohort has been divided into smaller groups to facilitate consultations. We decide to do this based on frquent feedback that the H3 students need more guidance and opportunity to clarify their doubts. However there are too many students and too few teachers to make it possible for all students to be rostered for consultation on the same day.
That means to say, if you havnt been rostered for tomorrow, you don't have a session on. You will eventually get your chance though.
More details to be posted here. But if you have been rostered, please come prepared to ask questions and let us know your questions in advance.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
How Should I Study?
I've been asked this question far too many times.
Every person adopts a different way of studying. Some people like to study in a group while others prefer to study alone. Some may go to the library while others stay in the comfort of their home. Some may like to sit in an armchair while others may want to lie on the bed. Some may choose to study in the daytime while others burn the midnight oil.
So how SHOULD you study?
1) Get offline! If you are reading this, you are not studying! Okay... maybe you could spare a few minutes reading what I have to offer.
2) Find YOUR purpose. Do you study because you have to? Or do you study because you want to? If the driving force for you to study is to stop people breathing down your neck and to end all those lengthy sessions of nagging, you are unlikely to achieve much. Study because your future depends on it. Study because it is YOUR choice.
3) Study only when you are energised. Pretty obvious? It seems that many students prefer to slog it out at night when they are likely to be exhausted after a day of lectures, tutorials, CCA training or practices, social gatherings and other miscellaneous appointments. For goodness sake, have a decent nap before you study. You concentrate better after your body rejuvenates.
4) Do it consistently. Make it a part of your daily life. Easy to say, but hard to do? Often times, students pack their schedules with too many activities, leaving little time for rest and revision. That is probably due to poor time management (if there's any in the first place).
(i) Recognise that you are PROCRASTINATING. You know better than anyone else.
(ii) Start PRIORITISING. Rank each task in order of importance (READ: deadlines!).
(iii) Take PROMPT action. Actions speak louder than words.
5) Find a comfortable place. Be at ease. Cafes and fastfood restaurants aren't exactly conducive environment for studying.
6) Have a FLEXIBLE schedule, especially if you are a person who does not like to be restricted. Planning ahead gives you some idea of how much you have to study and how much time you have at hand.
7) Practice makes PERMANENT. That's what my secondary school English teacher told me. Some things have to learnt by rote, e.g. cycling. No amount of theory is going to teach you how to ride a bicycle without falling. You have to keep practising.
8) Condition your body. Let your mind and body get used to the exam stress. Do your revision papers under time constraints. Make sure you know your work before you try the questions. Don't refer to the answers halfway through the practice. Otherwise, it's just another wasted attempt.
9) Ask if you are in doubt. Don't pretend that the answers will appear in your dreams and you will miraculously be able to understand all the concepts when you wake up. If that's what you are thinking right now, dream on! No, WAKE UP!
10) Give yourself and others some encouragement. Write notes to encourage your friends and get them to motivate you in return. Reward yourself with a break after every hour or two.
Now, share what you have read. It might just help some of your friends. No harm sharing (I don't mean MP3 files!).
Every person adopts a different way of studying. Some people like to study in a group while others prefer to study alone. Some may go to the library while others stay in the comfort of their home. Some may like to sit in an armchair while others may want to lie on the bed. Some may choose to study in the daytime while others burn the midnight oil.
So how SHOULD you study?
1) Get offline! If you are reading this, you are not studying! Okay... maybe you could spare a few minutes reading what I have to offer.
2) Find YOUR purpose. Do you study because you have to? Or do you study because you want to? If the driving force for you to study is to stop people breathing down your neck and to end all those lengthy sessions of nagging, you are unlikely to achieve much. Study because your future depends on it. Study because it is YOUR choice.
3) Study only when you are energised. Pretty obvious? It seems that many students prefer to slog it out at night when they are likely to be exhausted after a day of lectures, tutorials, CCA training or practices, social gatherings and other miscellaneous appointments. For goodness sake, have a decent nap before you study. You concentrate better after your body rejuvenates.
4) Do it consistently. Make it a part of your daily life. Easy to say, but hard to do? Often times, students pack their schedules with too many activities, leaving little time for rest and revision. That is probably due to poor time management (if there's any in the first place).
(i) Recognise that you are PROCRASTINATING. You know better than anyone else.
(ii) Start PRIORITISING. Rank each task in order of importance (READ: deadlines!).
(iii) Take PROMPT action. Actions speak louder than words.
5) Find a comfortable place. Be at ease. Cafes and fastfood restaurants aren't exactly conducive environment for studying.
6) Have a FLEXIBLE schedule, especially if you are a person who does not like to be restricted. Planning ahead gives you some idea of how much you have to study and how much time you have at hand.
7) Practice makes PERMANENT. That's what my secondary school English teacher told me. Some things have to learnt by rote, e.g. cycling. No amount of theory is going to teach you how to ride a bicycle without falling. You have to keep practising.
8) Condition your body. Let your mind and body get used to the exam stress. Do your revision papers under time constraints. Make sure you know your work before you try the questions. Don't refer to the answers halfway through the practice. Otherwise, it's just another wasted attempt.
9) Ask if you are in doubt. Don't pretend that the answers will appear in your dreams and you will miraculously be able to understand all the concepts when you wake up. If that's what you are thinking right now, dream on! No, WAKE UP!
10) Give yourself and others some encouragement. Write notes to encourage your friends and get them to motivate you in return. Reward yourself with a break after every hour or two.
Now, share what you have read. It might just help some of your friends. No harm sharing (I don't mean MP3 files!).
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Errata in H3 chem spectroscopy tutorial answers
Hi all,
referring to part 2 question 7.
The answer should be: Nitrogen has an odd valency and form 3 bonds. Hence a molecule containing an odd number of nitrogen atoms will have an odd number of hydrogen atoms. Since C, O, N have an even mass number but H has an odd mass number, an odd number of hydrogen atoms will make the total Mr an odd number, giving an odd-numbered M+ peak.
referring to part 2 question 7.
The answer should be: Nitrogen has an odd valency and form 3 bonds. Hence a molecule containing an odd number of nitrogen atoms will have an odd number of hydrogen atoms. Since C, O, N have an even mass number but H has an odd mass number, an odd number of hydrogen atoms will make the total Mr an odd number, giving an odd-numbered M+ peak.
The 3Ps to success
If you happen to be a "weak" student in chemistry, hopefully this will encourage you. What can you do to get a better grade in the upcoming examination? Personally, I feel that these 3 Ps are very important:
1) Perserverance - Perhaps you did not score a good grade in this common test, but this does not mean that you will not see your As at the end of the day. I had an ex-student telling me that the first time he ever passed his Chemistry (or scored his A) was the A level examinations. Nothing is absolute and nothing is impossible. So keep on keeping on! Don't give up yet! There's still time to make a significant improvement.
2) Preparation - Some suggestions - you do not need to follow exactly. (1) Pace your revision according to our revision schedule. (2) You may want to read through your notes first and then try the ten-year-series questions to test your concepts on the topic and then move on to try the harder revision package questions. (It may be a little time consuming but guess you may need to work harder than others.)
3) Press in - Of all the Ps, I like this one the best. It is actively going all out for what you desire to achieve. Press in to your chem tutors and see them regularly for consultation. Ask them to look through your answers and to give you feedback. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to clarify your doubts. Students who come back regularly for consultation often start asking more thinking questions after a while, which shows that they are really thinking deeper into the topic. We all need a mentor or coach to guide the way and to show the way. So what are you waiting for now? Book a consultation slot with your tutors today!
1) Perserverance - Perhaps you did not score a good grade in this common test, but this does not mean that you will not see your As at the end of the day. I had an ex-student telling me that the first time he ever passed his Chemistry (or scored his A) was the A level examinations. Nothing is absolute and nothing is impossible. So keep on keeping on! Don't give up yet! There's still time to make a significant improvement.
2) Preparation - Some suggestions - you do not need to follow exactly. (1) Pace your revision according to our revision schedule. (2) You may want to read through your notes first and then try the ten-year-series questions to test your concepts on the topic and then move on to try the harder revision package questions. (It may be a little time consuming but guess you may need to work harder than others.)
3) Press in - Of all the Ps, I like this one the best. It is actively going all out for what you desire to achieve. Press in to your chem tutors and see them regularly for consultation. Ask them to look through your answers and to give you feedback. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to clarify your doubts. Students who come back regularly for consultation often start asking more thinking questions after a while, which shows that they are really thinking deeper into the topic. We all need a mentor or coach to guide the way and to show the way. So what are you waiting for now? Book a consultation slot with your tutors today!
tag board deleted
I have deleted the tagboard. Some semi-intelligent creatures have been impersonating others. Do they really think they cannot be caught? However, it is not worth the time to track them, and I do not care to entertain such nonsense. If you fail to appreciate the privileges given to you, privileges will be taken away. Henceforth, we will not entertain any questions on this site.
--------------------------
IP addresses of the transgressors and times :
11 Jul 07 13:42 166.121.37.12
10 Jul 07 22:45 121.6.208.100
10 Jul 07 22:37 220.255.126.219
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IP addresses of the transgressors and times :
11 Jul 07 13:42 166.121.37.12
10 Jul 07 22:45 121.6.208.100
10 Jul 07 22:37 220.255.126.219
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
My sister-in-law had high blood pressure during her pregnancy and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during and just after pregnancy). 4 days after the birth of her baby, she had to be warded in ICU where she was injected with MgSO4 to lower her blood pressure. I was thus particularly interested in the uses of MgSO4 when I came across it while teaching Group II, and found out that besides being used as a laxative, it is also useful to lower blood pressure and increase the intake of calcium in the body. This knowledge has influenced me to eat more green vegetables as they are a rich source of both calcium and magnesium. (thus making green vegetables a better source of calcium than milk!) And since MgSO4 can diffuse through the skin, bath salts contain this ingredient to improve health and beauty. Problems with your digestive system and feeling edgy before falling asleep at night? Take a warm bath with epsom salt. Check out http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/ to read more about its many uses.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Errata on H3 resource book
pg 82 point 2, third paragraph.
SHOULD BE: Thus the Z isomer of diethylstilbesterol, a synthetic oestrogen, is only one-fifteenth as active as the E isomer.
SHOULD BE: Thus the Z isomer of diethylstilbesterol, a synthetic oestrogen, is only one-fifteenth as active as the E isomer.
H3 Chem Spectroscopy Tutorial Answers
The answers have been sent to the photocopy shop today, and will probably be available late tomorrow. I've also included tables of data for NMR chemical shifts and IR absorptions.
In addition for Part 2 Question 4(the UV question) you need to plot the curve accurately and becareful of unit conversions and scaling factors for original sample against diluted standard aliquots. I've only given the numerical answer though.
Students wonder whats important about NMR; the following are key things, 1) Intepretation of NMR spectra - this is the most important and requires practice. 2) theories behind deshielding effects, anisotropy, electron withdrawing effect. 3) behaviour of labile protons with D2O and with CDCl3, i.e, in protic versus aprotic deuterated solvents.
cheers and all the best.
In addition for Part 2 Question 4(the UV question) you need to plot the curve accurately and becareful of unit conversions and scaling factors for original sample against diluted standard aliquots. I've only given the numerical answer though.
Students wonder whats important about NMR; the following are key things, 1) Intepretation of NMR spectra - this is the most important and requires practice. 2) theories behind deshielding effects, anisotropy, electron withdrawing effect. 3) behaviour of labile protons with D2O and with CDCl3, i.e, in protic versus aprotic deuterated solvents.
cheers and all the best.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
CT2 results
Well done and congratulations to the following:
Top 10 classes
1. 07S03R
2. 07S03A
3. 07S06R
4. 07S06I
5. 07S03F
6. 07S03I
7. 07S06L
8. 07S03H
9. 07S03P
10. 07S03K
Top 10 improved classes
1. 07S03E
2. 07S06R
3. 07S03N
4. 07S06H
5. 07S06B
6. 07S06C
7. 07S03P
8. 07S03D
9. 07S03K
10. 07S06S
Top 3% scorers
07S03R TAN SHI MIN
07S06A WU MENGFEI
07S06I LI SHANGHUI
07S03Q TAY SEI KIAT
07S06I LEE LI XUAN
07S03R LEE HWEE JUIN
07S03J LIM SHIN BIN
07S06I CHAN KE JING ELEANOR
07S06L GOH CHIAN YEH
07S06K WU MENGLIN
07S06P CHEN NIANGJUN
07S03O LIM SI YING
07S03Q JAYANTHI SETHUNARAYANAN
07S06M WEN YU SHENG
07S06L AAKRITI JAIN
07S06L ZHU HUI
07S03A ZHUANG FUREN
07S06O LONG JI HAO ISAAC
07S03F TOH ZHENG JIE
07S06C ZHU YAN
07S06I TAY SU HUI
07S06S LU RONG
Most improved students
07S06C CHEN ZHENGRONG
07S06S TIO SHU TING
07S06R KU JUNG KAI
07S06S ZHANG SI CHEN
07S06O LONG JI HAO ISAAC
07S06O FOO GUO ZHONG MELVYN
07S03J TEO HONG YI GARRY
07S06I CHAN KE JING ELEANOR
07S03P TAN SZE HUEI, ELISA
07S06C HUANG LINGQING
07S06H LIM YI CHING CLAIRE
07S06Q WONG WENYING DAWN
07S03R HAN HEK DING
07S06B TAN SING YEAN
07S03K LAW YI MING
07S03D CHOY CHIAW YEE
07S06H TAN SU WAN
07S06K MERWYN WIJAYA
07S03I KENNETH TIONG BOON KIAT
07S03D HENG JIAN-XIONG ROY
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