March 28, 2024, 04:07:47 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: What exactly is inorganic chemistry?  (Read 2006 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

morningstarmoon

  • Guest
What exactly is inorganic chemistry?
« on: November 02, 2019, 05:55:46 AM »
I need to pick another chemistry lecture and lab in order to finish my minor. The only two options I have to choose from are analytical or inorganic chemistry, as biochem 2 isn't offered in my last term :(.

Ive been trying to figure out what inorganic chemistry actually deals with and how it might be applicable to someone with a biological sciences major. I know that it is sometimes labeled as gen chem on steroids but I've not been able to find any specific examples.

How does it compare to organic chemistry in terms of difficulty? For general chemistry and organic Ive typically been around the B+ range.

Offline AWK

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7981
  • Mole Snacks: +555/-93
  • Gender: Male
Re: What exactly is inorganic chemistry?
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2019, 06:38:41 AM »
Just see the programs of the offered courses and choose the one that suits you better. In further studies, you will always have to learn something extra.
AWK

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27637
  • Mole Snacks: +1799/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: What exactly is inorganic chemistry?
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2019, 07:41:50 AM »
Honestly, no matter what they really offer (well, I am assuming we are in both cases talking about reasonably decent courses), given the choice I would go the analytical path. There is no branch of chemistry/biochemistry/medicine/name the branch of science of your choice where you won't have to deal with some kind of analysis, be it done by yourself or just seeing the results. Understanding what you are doing/seeing and limitations of the methods/results always helps.
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Offline Corribus

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3471
  • Mole Snacks: +526/-23
  • Gender: Male
  • A lover of spectroscopy and chocolate.
Re: What exactly is inorganic chemistry?
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2019, 07:08:58 PM »
Inorganic is probably more thematically relevant to a biological major, because of the ubiquity of metal centers in proteins, but analytical will be useful in finding just about any science-based industry job, for reasons Borek mentioned. All things being equal: If your intent is to go on to medical school or graduate school in biology, I would probably choose inorganic. If you are going to be looking for jobs right out of college, particularly in industry, I'd go with analytical.
What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were like a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?  - Richard P. Feynman

Offline OrganicH2O

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 79
  • Mole Snacks: +3/-0
Re: What exactly is inorganic chemistry?
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2019, 11:30:54 PM »
Analytical and inorganic uses completely different parts of your brain, IMO. The hardest thing about inorganic is group theory, which requires either excellent 3-D visualization skills, or a lot of random memorizing. I found it very difficult, personally. The 3-D parts were much more intense than organic chem. There is also some emphasis on other complicated 3-D structures, such as salts and boron compounds. There is also some gen chem type algebra stuff.

Analytical chem is basically the closest class to "gen chem 3". Lots of algebraic problem solving. I personally took analytical for biochem majors so it was kind of dumbed down. If you liked ICE tables, you will love analytical. Analytical in general is also MUCH more practical. Inorganic is mostly useful if you get a PhD in many chemistry fields. And like others have stated, it could be useful for understanding some stuff in biochemistry. But only if you actually have the brain for it.
I have a Master's in organic chemistry and I am exposed to a LOT of different introductory organic chem classes in the course of my work, ranging from very basic to Harvard. I am here to refine my knowledge and consult with other organic chemistry nerds.

Sponsored Links