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[smithy161]

I'm about 88% sure I'm going to drop chemistry. It's become boring, and because I find it boring I find it more difficult. I already have the UCAS tariff points I need for the course I want to do in Aberdeen, I just need a good grade in physics, which I've got a better chance of achieving if I have the time that dropping chemistry would free up, a

Comments

[doublehelix20]

I have to take four semesters of chemistry for my biology degree, and I found the vast majority of it tedious. But now and then I have a lecture (I'm in the third semester) that sort of makes it all worth it. Today we were talking about UV-Visible Spectroscopy and how organic molecules shift absorption wavelength based on functional groups and conjugation and all...it was very cool and very interesting. However, I totally don't understand the British system, like, at all, so you probably don't need to suffer for a fascinating lecture out of ten. I don't have a choice in the matter ^.^

[smithy161]

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I want to keep it up. It gives almost a practical side to some of the particle and atomic physics stuff, and I kind of like studying complimentary subjects (biology and psychology together made the workload a hell of a lot easier).

I'm kind of boggled by how boring chemistry has become. It was really, really interesting last year, then towards the end it became less so, and now it's just... guh. Practicals are fun, but the theory breaks my brain with its tedium.

I'm glad yours was worth it, though! I'm sure I've told you before that your job sounds awesome, and that lecture today does sound interesting too.

[doublehelix20]

That's a bit how I feel about it, though backwards. The chemistry gives a theoretical base to a lot of my practical biology. Of course, the two required physics classes weren't very useful, but again, no choice. Are you doing organic or inorganic? And which theory?

My job IS awesome, even though I'm no longer on ovary duty. But today's lecture has me Google Scholar-ing for details of how flower and fruit colors evolved chemically.

...this is instead of going over question types for the GRE. Which I take tomorrow.

[smithy161]

We're doing organic, and it looks like the rest of the year is organic. I feel like the only person in the class who'd rather be doing inorganic.

I don't know what a GRE is, but good luck with it! Also, this:

details of how flower and fruit colors evolved chemically.
sounds really interesting!

[aeron_lanart]

No you're not silly. I think you have to be interested in what you're studying science wise to understand it properly and get the most out of it.

I would be fascinated by the drugs thing, but that's me (I'm a nurse after all). I made the people in work giggle when I found out that theobromine, the active alkaloid in chocolate, is actually an isomer of theophylline, a drug we use for respiratory patients; I was all 'ooh isn't this fascinating?' and a lot of my work mates were like 'what's an isomer?' for which I beat them with a soggy jelly baby.

Both my mum's parents were pharmacists and my dad worked in the chemical industry so I do have a fascination with that side of things in my genes I think (mum's sister was a biology teacher and mum used to be a lab tech in a school). Me, I'm happy nursing; I satisfy my social gene and indulge my science-y gene at the same time.

[smithy161]

The drugs thing... I think it would be interesting if they taught it more in terms of drugs, but we're being bogged down with about fifty different reactions and their conditions to learn every week, and it's hard to make any of it mean anything. I'd be interested in "this is ___ it's used to treat ___ and its chemical structure and reactions are ___", but we're not getting that. I think it's a quirk of the exam board - we're doing Salters, and it's weird.

You sound like a brilliant nurse, btw. I'd certainly be comforted to know a nurse treating me took an interest in these things.

[aeron_lanart]

Thank you for the compliment.

You should hear me waffling on about ECGs and obscure heart rhythms, and some of their biological causes and treatments. Happier than a pig in muck. The best bit is when you can break down something really complex so that people get it; I *love* that feeling, and whether it's another nurse or a patient they always seem so much more interested in what's going on and the treatment once they understand.

Piece of weird and wonderful drug related info for you... grapefruit juice causes a lot of nasty drug interactions, probably due to furanocoumarins. Some of these interactions can be fatal as they can cause serious heart rhythm disturbances, such as those with certain anti-histamines. Look up Cytochrome P450 3A4, it's fascinating. I suppose at heart I'm a biochemist science wise, but I decided not to go down that road as apart from teaching I couldn't think what I'd do with it! Nursing suits me better.