Topics covered: atomic structure of matter; reaction stoichiometry; solution stoichiometry; gasses; quantum chemistry and the electronic structure of atoms; chemical bonding (molecular shapes, hybridization, and molecular orbital theory).
4
UnitsOptional
Grading1
PasstimeNone
Level LimitLetters and science
CollegeGood teacher, easier if you have high school chemistry knowledge for chem 1A. Midterms were very similar to practice test, final was more difficult. Overall thought she was a good teacher for this class.
She is really nice and caring. I liked her lecture style and it was helpful in conceptualizing different chemistry topics. Chemistry is difficult normally but she was good at teaching a lot of the topics and her exams are not too difficult. There isn't much time for the midterms, so I felt like I was rushing through every problem.
Normal lecture style, but does not explain concepts well, really just reads of the board. Midterms were not like practice exams, literally had questions about things we hadn't learned about yet. Final exam was nothing like the practice exams, completely different style of questions.
Not really a great lecturer at all. Very problem-based, she doesn't really run through concepts. DO THE PROBLEMS, and you'll get a better grade than I did.
She made funny jokes and gave lectures at a really good pace. She was always excited to help you if you showed up to office hours. Your grade is heavily based on the final and midterms, which sucks, but just study the practice tests she gives you, and you will be fine
I love Prof. Sylvester, she is hilarious. Her tests are fast paced and challenging. In the textbook there is a section called chemwork. Before the final do every single chemwork problem for every chapter bc they are like the final (for 1A). Do problems until you can't get them wrong, It will be hard but it is definitely doable.