OCR A Chemistry F324 Rings, Polymers and Analysis Thu 26 Jan 2012

I cant be bothered to do it ..but you do know bradys' reagent and 2,4 DNPH are not the same thing!

I mean 2,4 DNPH in a mixture of methanol and h2so4 is known as bradys' reagent.

is everyone else just doing past papers over and over again? is that what i should do until the exams to understand it more?? should i do the same for the A2 biology as well?? what do u do leading up 2 the exams?? pleasse someone tell me! thanks x

what i've done is memorise as much as I can from the knowledge we all need to know and then after that's done, move onto past papers and questions in the book. you can to the papers maybe once or twice over but make sure that you do them with some time apart so that you're actually practising, rather than memorising the answers because that's the only danger - that you might end up tricking yourself into thinking you got say, an A* on a paper due to the fact you know it all but that might not be the case, could just be because you memorised it.

Instead, to avoid that happening, try and get hold of the Legacy papers. In chemistry, these are fairly similar but I think with Biology, they're not really so i've avoided them. But there's soo many for chemistry that you could do them almost everyday and not run out too quickly - they go back to about 2002 I think (well, that's what I got from my school anyway)

I do the legacy papers as well, are they called chains, rings and spectroscopy?

yep (:

Thanks, just hoping that I was doing the right ones
(And your smiley faces are so weird )

Seeing as I'm on a gap year before uni - I thought I'd try and offer you guys some advice with chemistry.

OCR Chemistry can be a bitch - the questions can be incredibly vague, and one of the greatest things that can go against you is time. I worked really hard at AS and only managed a B, but I learnt how to focus my revision and got a solid A at A2.

First things first - use the Heinemann Book (the big one) to write your notes - it's the most detailed source (some content is excessive) but what you'll find is that OCR can sneak in a cheeky 1 or 2 marker, so it's best to try know as much detail as you can - but most importantly seek to understand the stuff, go to your teachers/ask on here, just ask somebody who knows how to explain concepts you're not comfortable with.
The exam will test your knowledge of the application of these concepts - it's no longer re-call.

Now for some tangible help:

1. http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCR-A2-Chemistry-Polymers-Analysis/dp/0340957581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324906659&sr=8-1

These books are available for all the units. It's not the best book you are going to find - it's a revision guide (key difference) there is stuff in there which you will not find in any other book, which may creep up in the exam (again - remember it's application.) There is also some stuff covered in this revision guide, not in that much detail - so you have to use other sources. The reason why I recommend this book is because of it's simplicity - great before exams, and also they have a mock exam paper at the back, answered by two separate candidates, one A grade, the other C grade. An examiner then scrutinises their answers and explains why either they got the marks or didn't and alternative approaches to the questions.

2. Forget the CGP guide, unless you want to scrape a C - there is really no depth.

3. Possibly the best source I can give you:

http://www.a-levelchemistry.co.uk/OCR%20Chemistry%20A/Unit%204/Unit%204%20resources.html

This teacher has gone through all the legacy papers, and sorted them out into seperate papers. There are entire papers on 'Arenes' 'Carbonyls' 'Organic Synthesis' 'Chromatography and Spectroscopy' ect. They are absolutely amazing - arguably the reason I did so well at A2. The best way to maximise the effects of the paper is to read over a section, and then complete the papers on it to consolidate the information. Also; OCR can be lazy at times, and you will find sometimes they may well use an entire question from the legacy papers in your exam - they did it once (i can't remember which one though, but I was shocked in my exam to find 10 marks worth of a question I answered the day before)

4. Sometimes Chemistry is about maturity, if you don't do that well in Jan12 - resit for Jun12. I re-sat all 6 units of chemistry during my final sitting of A-levels in the summer. It wasn't particularly fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do. You'll find being slightly older, allows you to mature to the concepts and the time allows you to really let them sink in.

5. (This is more the F325: Equilibria, Energetics ect - this book is a god-send with calculations:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calculations-Level-Chemistry-Jim-Clark/dp/0582411270/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324907615&sr=1-3

In order to really practice the tricky maths that may come up - the author 'Jim Clark' really goes into depth as to how to identify & tackle the worst problems that may possibly come up (ideal for A or A* grades) . It's also useful for F322 if you are re-sitting, but you really should get it for the bigger unit - it is definitely money well spent.

6. Organise your revision and most importantly - relax and know if you put the work in, you will get the results out. It is very challenging - but I proved it is certainly do-able.

I sincerely wish you all the best.

Seeing as I'm on a gap year before uni - I thought I'd try and offer you guys some advice with chemistry.

OCR Chemistry can be a bitch - the questions can be incredibly vague, and one of the greatest things that can go against you is time. I worked really hard at AS and only managed a B, but I learnt how to focus my revision and got a solid A at A2.

First things first - use the Heinemann Book (the big one) to write your notes - it's the most detailed source (some content is excessive) but what you'll find is that OCR can sneak in a cheeky 1 or 2 marker, so it's best to try know as much detail as you can - but most importantly seek to understand the stuff, go to your teachers/ask on here, just ask somebody who knows how to explain concepts you're not comfortable with.
The exam will test your knowledge of the application of these concepts - it's no longer re-call.

Now for some tangible help:

1. http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCR-A2-Chemistry-Polymers-Analysis/dp/0340957581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324906659&sr=8-1

These books are available for all the units. It's not the best book you are going to find - it's a revision guide (key difference) there is stuff in there which you will not find in any other book, which may creep up in the exam (again - remember it's application.) There is also some stuff covered in this revision guide, not in that much detail - so you have to use other sources. The reason why I recommend this book is because of it's simplicity - great before exams, and also they have a mock exam paper at the back, answered by two separate candidates, one A grade, the other C grade. An examiner then scrutinises their answers and explains why either they got the marks or didn't and alternative approaches to the questions.

2. Forget the CGP guide, unless you want to scrape a C - there is really no depth.

3. Possibly the best source I can give you:

http://www.a-levelchemistry.co.uk/OCR%20Chemistry%20A/Unit%204/Unit%204%20resources.html

This teacher has gone through all the legacy papers, and sorted them out into seperate papers. There are entire papers on 'Arenes' 'Carbonyls' 'Organic Synthesis' 'Chromatography and Spectroscopy' ect. They are absolutely amazing - arguably the reason I did so well at A2. The best way to maximise the effects of the paper is to read over a section, and then complete the papers on it to consolidate the information. Also; OCR can be lazy at times, and you will find sometimes they may well use an entire question from the legacy papers in your exam - they did it once (i can't remember which one though, but I was shocked in my exam to find 10 marks worth of a question I answered the day before)

4. Sometimes Chemistry is about maturity, if you don't do that well in Jan12 - resit for Jun12. I re-sat all 6 units of chemistry during my final sitting of A-levels in the summer. It wasn't particularly fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do. You'll find being slightly older, allows you to mature to the concepts and the time allows you to really let them sink in.

5. (This is more the F325: Equilibria, Energetics ect - this book is a god-send with calculations:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calculations-Level-Chemistry-Jim-Clark/dp/0582411270/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324907615&sr=1-3

In order to really practice the tricky maths that may come up - the author 'Jim Clark' really goes into depth as to how to identify & tackle the worst problems that may possibly come up (ideal for A or A* grades) . It's also useful for F322 if you are re-sitting, but you really should get it for the bigger unit - it is definitely money well spent.

6. Organise your revision and most importantly - relax and know if you put the work in, you will get the results out. It is very challenging - but I proved it is certainly do-able.

I sincerely wish you all the best.

Seeing as I'm on a gap year before uni - I thought I'd try and offer you guys some advice with chemistry.

OCR Chemistry can be a bitch - the questions can be incredibly vague, and one of the greatest things that can go against you is time. I worked really hard at AS and only managed a B, but I learnt how to focus my revision and got a solid A at A2.

First things first - use the Heinemann Book (the big one) to write your notes - it's the most detailed source (some content is excessive) but what you'll find is that OCR can sneak in a cheeky 1 or 2 marker, so it's best to try know as much detail as you can - but most importantly seek to understand the stuff, go to your teachers/ask on here, just ask somebody who knows how to explain concepts you're not comfortable with.
The exam will test your knowledge of the application of these concepts - it's no longer re-call.

Now for some tangible help:

1. http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCR-A2-Chemistry-Polymers-Analysis/dp/0340957581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324906659&sr=8-1

These books are available for all the units. It's not the best book you are going to find - it's a revision guide (key difference) there is stuff in there which you will not find in any other book, which may creep up in the exam (again - remember it's application.) There is also some stuff covered in this revision guide, not in that much detail - so you have to use other sources. The reason why I recommend this book is because of it's simplicity - great before exams, and also they have a mock exam paper at the back, answered by two separate candidates, one A grade, the other C grade. An examiner then scrutinises their answers and explains why either they got the marks or didn't and alternative approaches to the questions.

2. Forget the CGP guide, unless you want to scrape a C - there is really no depth.

3. Possibly the best source I can give you:

http://www.a-levelchemistry.co.uk/OCR%20Chemistry%20A/Unit%204/Unit%204%20resources.html

This teacher has gone through all the legacy papers, and sorted them out into seperate papers. There are entire papers on 'Arenes' 'Carbonyls' 'Organic Synthesis' 'Chromatography and Spectroscopy' ect. They are absolutely amazing - arguably the reason I did so well at A2. The best way to maximise the effects of the paper is to read over a section, and then complete the papers on it to consolidate the information. Also; OCR can be lazy at times, and you will find sometimes they may well use an entire question from the legacy papers in your exam - they did it once (i can't remember which one though, but I was shocked in my exam to find 10 marks worth of a question I answered the day before)

4. Sometimes Chemistry is about maturity, if you don't do that well in Jan12 - resit for Jun12. I re-sat all 6 units of chemistry during my final sitting of A-levels in the summer. It wasn't particularly fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do. You'll find being slightly older, allows you to mature to the concepts and the time allows you to really let them sink in.

5. (This is more the F325: Equilibria, Energetics ect - this book is a god-send with calculations:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calculations-Level-Chemistry-Jim-Clark/dp/0582411270/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324907615&sr=1-3

In order to really practice the tricky maths that may come up - the author 'Jim Clark' really goes into depth as to how to identify & tackle the worst problems that may possibly come up (ideal for A or A* grades) . It's also useful for F322 if you are re-sitting, but you really should get it for the bigger unit - it is definitely money well spent.

6. Organise your revision and most importantly - relax and know if you put the work in, you will get the results out. It is very challenging - but I proved it is certainly do-able.

I sincerely wish you all the best.

i really want an A IN chemistry is there anything else u did? u r so clever wish i was uuuu whatz ur star sign if u dont mind me asking u'll probz think im stupid bt someone told me it depends also on ur star sign on whether ur clever?? do u think that's true?? im a cancer..wish i wasnt ):

Bro, star signs don't mean **** when it comes to revision. Lol, its all rubbish. I'm sure you'll do well, regardless of start signs

Thanks, this was really helpful

i really want an A IN chemistry is there anything else u did? u r so clever wish i was uuuu whatz ur star sign if u dont mind me asking u'll probz think im stupid bt someone told me it depends also on ur star sign on whether ur clever?? do u think that's true?? im a cancer..wish i wasnt ):

No worries brutha



Lol nah bro - I'd put it more down to hard work & faith. In my opinion basing inteligence/results on star-signs is abit far-fetched. Just put the effort in - and you will hopefully see the results.

Hey can someone explain zwitterions and all the stuff related to that with the ph's I always get it confused

just thought i would post a good site for chemistry flashcards its helped me a lot in revision

http://www.flashcardexchange.com/flashcards/view/944334

hope this helps