MIT Chemistry: Differences Between 5.112 and 5.111

	Academic Programs

Chemistry Education Office

Chemistry Subjects

Undergraduate Program

Graduate Program

Freshmen and Pre-Freshmen

The MIT Chemistry Requirement

MIT Undergraduate Admissions

Why Major in Chemistry?

Chemistry Laboratory Techniques (5.301)

TA's and Tutors

Chemistry Mediation

Advanced Standing Exam - Guidelines for upperclassmen
Advanced Placement Exam
Differences between 5.111 and 5.112

5.111 Principles of Chemical Science — for students with one year of high school chemistry

5.112 Principles of Chemical Science — for students with two or more years of high school chemistry and some knowledge of calculus

5.111 and 5.112 Similarities and Differences
Synopsis of Topics in 5.111 and 5.112
Comments

5.111 and 5.112 Similarities
Both courses focus on principles of chemical science in the areas of atomic and molecular electronic structure, chemical bonding and molecular shapes, atomic and molecular motion, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibria. These principles are illustrated by examples taken from the chemistry of organic and inorganic compounds, pharmaceutical and biochemistry, and solid state chemistry. The aims include developing a unified and intuitive view of how electronic structure controls the three-dimensional shape of molecules, the physical and chemical properties of molecules in gases, liquids and solids, and ultimately the assembly of macromolecules as in polymers and DNA. Relationships between chemistry and other fundamental sciences such as biology and physics are emphasized, as are the relationships between the science of chemistry to its applications in environmental science, atmospheric chemistry and electronic devices. Because fundamental chemical principles must be covered first, the courses are similar, but not identical, for the first six weeks of the semester. Either course serves as a prerequisite to organic chemistry (5.12) and to chemical thermodynamics (5.60).

5.111 and 5.112 Differences
One year of high school chemistry is the expected background for 5.111. A minimum of two years of high school chemistry as well as some knowledge of elementary calculus is the expected background for 5.112. While calculus will not be used explicitly in homework assignments or in exams, knowledge of the physical significance of derivatives and integrals as discussed in lecture and as apparent in the reading assignments will be helpful. In addition, 5.112 assumes knowledge of and facility in stoichiometry problems, periodic trends and properties, Lewis structures, thermochemistry, LeChatelier’s principle, elementary kinetics. The difference in the courses will be most apparent in the last six weeks of the semester.

Synopsis of Topics in 5.111 and 5.112
Basic Priciples of Chemistry

Evolution of Atomic Theory: Discovery of the electron and nucleus, the H atom, quantum mechanical concepts of de Broglie and Schroedinger, wavefunctions
Periodic Table: Pauli exclusion principle, Aufbau principle, atomic electronic structure, photoelectron spectroscopy, periodic properties
Primary Bonding: Ionic, covalent, Lewis structures, VSEPR, valence bond and molecular orbital theory, hybridization
Secondary Bonding: Dipole-dipole, London dispersion, H-bonding, liquids
Molecular Kinetic Theory: Translational and internal molecular motions, molecular spectroscopy
Thermodynamics and Equilibrium: Heat, work, enthalpy, heat capacity, entropy, free energy, chemical equilibrium

Applications

Transition Metals: Periodicity, ligands and coordination, ligand field theory, magnetism
Liquids and Solutions: Acids, bases, pH, buffers, environmental issues
Chemical Kinetics: Rates, mechanisms, catalysis, Arrhenius equation, atmospheric chemistry
Electrochemistry and Oxidation-Reduction Reactions: Fuel cells, batteries
Solids: Metals, semiconductors and devices
Organic Chemistry:Nomenclature, functional groups, isomerism and pharmaceuticals
Biochemistry: Amino acids, peptides, proteins, lipids
Vampires:Just a regular guy with a problem.

Comments

What students from 5.111 Fall 2005 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.112 at the end of the course. Their number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus and physics are also shown.

Years of HS Chem	AP Score	Calc.	Physics	Was 5.111 an appropriate course given your high school background? Why? (DK = Don't know)
1	None	18.022	8.012	Dk	It was a bit easy… The bulk of material was covered in 10th grade chemistry….The only really new material was crystal field theory, and most of that was memorization. Titrations were a bit hard. Reaction rates were new, but straightforward.
2	None	18.02	8.01	Dk	I think I would have succeeded in 5.112, but I wasn't sure that I was capable of it. 5.111 was rather easy for me though.
1	None	18.02	8.01	Y	Most of the pacing was just right, and I was challenged with new material.
1	None	18.01	8.01	Y	Overall the pace was OK and I feel like I learned a lot.
1	None	18.02A	8.01	Y	The level of course material was challenging but manageable.
1	None	18.02	8.01	Y	My background in chemistry was very weak, and I think that 5.111 helped me increase my knowledge of chemistry a lot!
1.5	None	18.02	8.01	Y	I think that the pace and content was good considering my chemistry background.
1	5	18.02	8.01	Y	The level of the class was suitable for me. 3.091 would be too easy. 5.112 would be too hard.
1	4	18.03	8.01T	Y	I feel like it gave me a strong chemistry base, which I'll need…but not too hard.
1	None	18.02A	8.01	N	I wish that I had taken 5.112 because 5.111 was a lot easier and slower than I expected.
1	2	18.01	8.01L	Y	I felt like I learned a lot and that 5.11 is a good base from which to start.
1	None	18.023	8.01T	Y	The class went well with my little previous chemistry knowledge.
1	None	18.02	8.01	Y	The pace was appropriate for me.
1	5	18.02	8.022	Y	5.111 was too slow going over some of the material. 5.112 would have been too fast for me going over new and unfamiliar material.
1	None	18.02	8.01	Y	I was able to get a pretty good grasp on material while being greatly challenged.
1	None	18.02A	8.01T	Y	Most of the material was easy to understand.
1	None	18.023	8.01	Y	It helped me understand chemistry well even though I have very little high school background.
1	4	18.701,18.901	None	Dk	Much review, especially 1st half.
2	5	18.01	8.01T	Y	I guess 5.112 would have worked out too, but I prefer having solid foundations on which to learn.
2	3	18.01	8.01	Y	It was the right level for my background.
2	None	18.02A	8.01T	Y	I was too lazy for 5.112.
2	5	18.03	8.012	Y	It solidified my background in chemistry.
2	5	none	8.02	Dk	I probably would have done just fine in 5.112, but 5.111 still provided a challenge.
2	3	18.02	8.01T	Y	I felt it was very thorough and that I will be able to retain most of the material by the way it was presented and enforced.
2	4	18.01	8.01	Y	Found the material interesting, a large portion was new, I know it will be useful in my future career at MIT. 5.111 was my favorite GIR this semester.
2	3	18.02	8.01	Y	The material was interesting and engaging.
2	None	18.02A	8.01T	N	I should have gone into 5.112 because it's more challenging.
2	5	18.02	8.012	N	I took AP my junior year. I thought I'd forgotten a lot but it came back and a lot of the 5.111 material was review.
2	5	18.01	8.01L	Dk	I probably could have challenged myself more in 5.112. Homework problems for my AP chemistry class were harder than my 5.111 problem set questions.
2	4	18.02	8.01	Y	I believe my chemistry background was too weak to take and succeed in 5.112.

What students from 5.112 Fall 2005 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.111 at the end of the course. Their number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus and physics are also shown.

Years of HS Chem	AP Score	Calculus	Physics	Was 5.112 an appropriate course given your high school background? Why? (Dk = Don't Know)
3	4	18.01/2A	8.01	Y	The class went above and beyond high school chemistry.
2	5	18.02	8.112	N	Taking 2 years of chemistry has nothing to do with which class to take. Chemistry in 5.112 was very unrelated to what I learned in high school.
2	5	18.02	8.01T	Y	Even though I may not get an A in the class, it was very useful and informative. I learned a lot.
2	4	18.02	8.01T	Y	I can handle it, not too much went way over my head.
2	4	18.02	8.02	Y	I was bored until about 4 weeks ago. Very much AP all over again.
2	5	18.022	8.012	Y	It wasn't too challenging.
2	5	None	8.022	Y	Covered new topics that interest me, and went further in depth on topics I knew.
1	5	None	8.01	Y	It was a really hard class, but whipped much of the forgotten knowledge of chemistry back into shape … more or less!
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	The difficulty level was just right and any study problems I encountered were from bad time management.
1	5	18.03	8.01T	Dk	I'm not sure what 5.111 was like but I found this course challenging. One of the most challenging in fact.
2	4	18.02A	8.01T	Y	Challenging. 5.111 covered material that I have already seen. It would have been much easier, but 5.112 prepared me for the rigors of MIT.
2	5	18.02	8.01T	Y	5.111 probably would have been too much review of Chemistry AP.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	The course challenged me but was never overwhelming. It sparked a greater interest in chemistry and because of it, I am considering minoring in chemistry.
3	5	18.100	None	Y	It covered new material in good depth.
2	5	18.02	8.012	Y	Each introduction into a new topic helped me recall high school chemistry. I then enjoyed the depth we went into beyond what I already knew.
1	5	18.022	8.022	Y	I was challenged in 5.112 but was capable of learning the material.
2	4	18.02A	8.01	Y	It's a challenge, but it's more useful.
1.5	5	18.022	8.022	Y	The class was challenging but manageable and I would not want to be in too easy a class.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	N	Too in depth and fast paced with information that isn't very important to me -- too hard
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	5.112 was by far and away my favorite class this term.
2	None	18.02	8.01T	Y	Though it still wasn't hard, we definitely do things in greater detail.
2	4	18.02A	8.01T	Y	Rather than rehashing AP material, I learned new but related chemistry.
2	5	18.03	8.01	Y	My roommate is taking 5.111 and I think it would be too easy. 5.112 went more in depth and I learned more things.
2	4	18.01	8.01T	N	I felt like I didn't have a good enough background. The class (especially the 2nd half of the semester) was taught too fast.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	N	I felt that there were too many topics and concepts in which I didn't have any background that made it extra difficult.
2	5	18.02A	8.01T	Y	Although 5.112 was challenging, I learned a lot.
2	5	18.02	None	Y	I learned lots of new things. Quite refreshing.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	Y	I had 2 years of experience, so I didn't need the basics review of 5.111. It gives you a strong background for research.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	I had been exposed to most of these materials in my high school chemistry classes. I appreciated being able to learn the topics on a more in depth level.
2	4	18.022	8.01T	Y	While I didn't learn a lot of completely new topics, I learned more in depth content about everything.
2	5	18.022	8.012	Y	The class was things I'd already learned at first, but I still learned a lot; I had a lot of chemistry in high school. I felt 5.111 would have been too slow.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	More advanced material, decent pace.
2	5	18.01	8.01L	N	My background in chemistry, despite getting a 5 on the chemistry AP, was still far from sufficient in taking this course.
2	5	18.023	8.02	Y	5.111 would have been too easy.
2	4	18.02	8.012	Y	I feel like 5.112 covered more material and more depth.
1	5	18.02A	8.022	Y	It wasn't conceptually hard.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	5.111 focused more on the things I knew already.
2	5	18.02A	8.012	Y	I felt it pushed me but was not impossible.
2	4	18.022	None	Y	I learned a great deal of information beyond the standard ETS-AP curriculum.
2	5	None	8.01	Y	I have been challenged and stimulated by the topics, but not (in general) overwhelmed.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	I am actually learning new things in chemistry.
2	5	18.023	8.02	Y	Good pace — not boring
1	None	18.02	8.01T	N	I didn't have as thorough a chemistry background as I thought I did.

What students from 5.112 Fall 2004 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.112 at the end of the course. Their number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus and physics are also shown.

Years of HS Chem	AP Score	Calc.	Physics	Was 5.112 an appropriate course given your high school background? Why? (DK = Don't know)
1	4	18.02	8.01	N	I don't think my high school AP Chem Class prepared me for this class. I should have taken 5.111.
1	5	18.023	8.02	Y	Difficult, yes, but very interesting.
1	5	18.02	8.02	Y	Because 5.111 is/appears too easy.
1	5	18.022	8.012	DK	I have no idea what was covered in 5.111. However, I enjoyed 5.112.
1.5	4	18.02	8.01	DK	I've learned a lot of material in this course but I'm not sure if 5.112 was right for me.
1.5	5	18.02A	8.01L	Y	While the class was very challenging for me, I still feel that I learned a lot.
1.5	5	18.02	8.01	Y	I feel it will benefit me in future semesters.
1.5	5	18.03	8.01	DK	I'm glad that 5.112 didn't spend a lot of time reviewing stuff I already learned, but I don't know if I would have done better in or benefited from 5.111.
2	4	18.02A	8.01	DK	5.112 covered a lot of information without going into enough depth so that I could understand it all.
2	4	18.01	8.01	Y	It seems like it was harder than 5.111, but a good deal of the material covered in both courses was unlike any high school chemistry class. Also, it's pass/no record so the extra knowledge is worth it.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	Y	I enjoyed the topics not covered in 5.111.
2	5	18.023	8.01	DK	I typically understand the lectures, and I always feel that I understand the material pretty well before the tests, but my scores on the tests always come out to be extremely low, despite the large amount of time I spent studying for them.
2	5	18.023	8.01	DK	I took AP Chemistry in my junior year of high school, and so I forgot most of the "assumed" chemistry.
2	5	18.014	8.012	Y	It was challenging and it presented in depth material.
2	5	18.022	8.01	Y	The class was challenging, but not overwhelming. I'm glad I took this course because it was almost entirely new material.
2	4	18.02A	8.01	Y	It was a challenge, as all classes at MIT should be.
2	N/A	18.014	N/A	Y	Class is interesting; I managed to keep up with work.
2	5	18.022	8.012	Y	I learned a lot and it wasn't too hard.
2	N/A	18.022	8.01	Y	I was familiar with many of the topics covered. 5.111 would have been more review.
2	N/A	N/A	8.022	Y	You did not need that much previous background.
2	5	18.022	8.022	Y	I really enjoyed the extensive physical chemistry material covered in the first half of this course.
2	5	18.02	8.022	Y	Chemistry is my major interest now. This class was not overly difficult.
2	4	18.03	8.022	Y	In my perpetual pursuit of knowledge I knew that I needed to take the more advanced 5.112. I have also had two years of Chemistry. It was good that I took 5.112, because this class showed me what course 5 is all about.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	Y	It allowed me to learn a lot more about chemistry than 5.111 would have -- we did not waste time covering old concepts.
2	4	18.022	8.01L	Y	I learned things that I haven't learned before.
2	5	18.022	8.012	DK	I was hoping to cover more new topics that I had not learned in high school. About half of the material was review.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	I had previous exposure to MO and crystal field that made it easier to pick up, so 5.112 matched my chemistry background well.
2	N/A	18.03	8.022	Y	I learned much more material on top of AP Chemistry material.
2	N/A	18.022	8.012	DK	It's hard for me, even though I already learned some of the material.
2	5	N/A	8.022	Y	I feel like I would have been bored in 5.111.
2	5	18.03	8.02	Y	I feel like I learned a lot in this class. There was a lot of material that wasn't covered in AP chemistry.
2	4	18.02	8.01	N	I should've enrolled in 5.111 because I don't think I had an "unusually strong" background in chemistry.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Y	Although I did not understand some topics in 5.112, I learned a lot more chemistry in 5.112 and I also have an idea what real chemistry is about.
2	5	18.022	8.01	Y	The course covered enough new material to make it both interesting and challenging.
2	4	18.02	8.01	N	Though I felt I had a strong background, I would have benefited from 5.111 more than 5.112. It was a struggle.
2	4	18.02A	8.01	N	I fell behind early in the course and had to struggle to catch up. I don't think I had enough background. I was already taking accelerated calc., and physics.
2	N/A	18.02A	8.01	Y	I believe that this course was a challenge to me and that is what I was looking for. Even though I am struggling in the class, I learned a lot of new information that may affect my decision for future exploration in chemistry.
2	5	18.02A	8.012	Y	I felt comfortable with the pace/material and with my background in topics that weren't covered.
2	2	18.02A	8.01	N	I felt that my high school preparation was much less than the majority of the students in 5.112.
2	5	18.022	8.01	Y	I was challenged, I enjoyed the material very much, and I'm still curious about chemistry.
2	5	18.022	8.01	Y	5.112 was the most enjoyable class of the semester. I feel that 5.111 would not have covered enough topics to keep me interested.
2	5	18.022	8.012	Y	I already had a strong background in chemistry and this course added depth.
2	4	18.023	8.01	DK	I wonder if it would have been easier for me to keep up in 5.111.
2.5	N/A	18.03	8.01T	Y	Because I'm sure 5.111 would have been much too much review.
2.5	N/A	18.02	8.01	DK	I feel like everything went by too fast and I haven't actually learned all that much. I took AP Chemistry in high school, but I didn't have a very good teacher and didn't learn as much as I should've.
3	5	18.02	8.01L	N	I feel like 5.111 would have been a better review for me. My AP class didn't cover things like the Schrödinger Eq. or MO Theory, and I felt really rushed at those subjects and would have benefited more had I had more time to absorb the information.
3	5	18.02	8.01	DK	I have worked so hard in this class and yet am struggling to pass. I also had trouble following the lectures for the second half of the semester.
3	5	18.023	8.02	Y	It was more of a challenge and I enjoyed it.
4	N/A	18.02	8.01	DK	Much of it, almost the whole first half, was repetition. I took IB HL Chem.

What students from 5.111 Fall 2004 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.111 at the end of the course. Their number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus and physics are also shown.

Years of HS Chem	AP Score	Calc.	Physics	Was 5.111 an appropriate course given your high school background? Why? (DK = Don't Know)
1	NA	18.02A	8.01L	Y	Although chemistry was my favorite subject in high school and I thought I was well versed in it, I haven't really seen much of it since my sophomore year. So 5.111 was a much better choice than 5.112.
1	NA	18.02	8.01	Y	Just enough background, but a lot of new material.
1	NA	N/A	8.01	Y	With only one year of chemistry prior to this course I did not feel as comfortable had I taken a more advanced course.
1	NA	18.02	8.01L	Y	I have had little prior experience in chemistry so I needed to start at the beginning.
1	NA	18.02A	8.01	Y	With only one year of basic background chemistry, I feel I would have struggled in 5.112.
1	NA	18.02	8.01	DK	I felt challenged but I probably could have taken a little more challenge.
1	NA	18.02	8.01	Y	Appropriate for the amount of chemistry I had in high school.
1	NA	18.02	8.01	Y	I only had one year of high school chemistry so I think 5.112 would have been too hard for me.
1	NA	None	8.01	Y	Because I have learned so much chemistry and while it seemed like so much information so fast, it was manageable and I don't think I would have wanted it any other way. 5.112 would have needed a lot more chemistry background than I had.
1	NA	18.02A	8.01	DK	5.111 seemed not to go into enough proof/derivation of certain concepts.
1	NA	18.02A	8.01L	Y	5.111 was very challenging for me because my high school preparation wasn't good, but I'm definitely glad I took it. 5.112 would've been too much.
1	NA	18.03	8.022	DK	Maybe I could have done more.
1	NA	18.01	8.01	Y	I had not been even introduced to most of this material before 5.111, and most sections did a good job of providing some basic knowledge before going in depth.
2	3	18.01	8.01	Y	I understand the lectures and problem sets, but it is still a challenge.
2	2	18.02A	8.01	Y	Having not done well on the AP chemistry, 5.112 may have been too advanced.
2	NA	18.02A	8.01	N	I probably could have taken 5.112 for more of a challenge.
2	4	18.02	8.01	Y	It wasn't too high-paced, a pretty good review while learning a whole lot.
2	NA	18.02	8.01	Y	I learned much more from 5.111 than if I had taken 3.091.
2	4	18.023	18.01	Y	Wasn't too easy, wasn't too hard.
2	5	18.02	8.012	Y	I hadn't taken chemistry for 2 years and it was a good refresher course.
2	5	18.022	8.01	Y	5.111 is very much like the AP chemistry material. I had a good background for the class.
2	3	18.02A	8.01	Y	5.112 seems too in-depth for me. Since I had to work extremely hard just to pass 5.111 exams, I think 5.112 would prove to be too difficult.
2	4	18.02	8.01	Y	Even though I've had 2 years of chemistry, my school's chemistry classes were not thorough or difficult. This course was a challenge.
2	4	18.02	8.01	Y	I was able to follow the material pretty well without being too overwhelmed.
2	3	18.02	8.01T	Y	I am doing well in this class.
2	4	18.02	8.012	Y	It suited my background knowledge I retained from high school chemistry AP.
2	3	18.01	8.01L	Y	It goes at a good pace, is still challenging enough to remain interesting. I feel it has helped prepare me for later courses.
2	NA	18.01	8.01L	Y	I really felt like I learned a lot in this class, and that it was just the right amount.
2	5	18.02	8.01	DK	I don't really know much about 5.112.
2	5	18.02	8.01	N	Most of it was review for me and the rest didn't seem too hard.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	Y	I was thoroughly challenged, but not overwhelmed.
2	5	18.01	8.01	DK	I might of enjoyed 5.112 more because I have seen most of this material before. It was a good refresher though.
2	4	18.02A	8.01T	Y	It was a lot of review from high school except more challenging.
2	5	18.02A	8.01T	N	5.112 conflicted with my HASS class, so I had to take 5.111.
2	1	18.02A	18.01	Y	I learned a lot. It was the right level of challenge, not too much.
2	NA	18.02A	8.01	Y	Mostly a review of AP but I enjoyed the class a lot.
2	NA	18.01	8.01T	Y	It was enough review plus topics I had never seen.
2	NA	18.100A	8.01	Y	It covers what seems to be important elementary concepts that aren't included in 3.091: I have no knowledge of how 5.112 was.
2	4	18.023	8.01	Y	I learned everything well that I had never understood in chemistry AP in high school. I'm glad I took 5.111 -- it was the right level for me.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	Y	I felt that I was mastering previously only vaguely familiar material.
2	4	18.01A/18.02A	8.01T	Y	I felt able to understand the material, but it was a lot that I hadn't seen before so a "harder" class wouldn't have been good.
2	1	18.01	8.01T	Y	Because it is the more basic version and I wanted to learn from the ground up.
3	NA	18.02	8.02	Y	It took me from not liking chemistry to appreciating it.
4	NA	18.02A	8.01T	Y	Some aspects of chemistry I didn't know and this was well presented.

What students from 5.112 Fall 2003 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.112 at the end of the course, when the number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus ad physics is known.

Yrs. of High School Chem.	AP Exam grade	Calc.	Phys.	Comments
4	None	18.02	8.01	Actually 5.112 was not as advanced as I expected. It can even go into greater depth.
3	5	18.03	8.012	Deeper review of more select advanced topics that rightly assume prior background in chemistry.
3	3	18.02A	8.01	Because I didn't have to review some of the stuff I learned in high school.
3	5	18.022	8.012	5.111 would be less useful considering my chemistry background.
2.5	5	18.03	8.022	I had a good enough understanding of basic chemistry such that the depth offered by 5.112 was the appropriate choice.
2.5	5	18.022	8.012	I knew most of 5.112. There was just a few new things.
2	5	18.02	8.01	I think 5.111 would have been less challenging and I wouldn't have learned as many new things, since I've had 2 years of chemistry before.
2	5	None	8.01	Although it was more difficult, I felt like I was able to handle the challenge, and since I took 2 years of chemistry in high school, I wanted to take a more rigorous chemistry class.
2	5	18.022	None	This course was challenging and covered relevant materials that I have not learned before.
2	5	None	8.01	I had seen most of the material before in a simpler form.
2	5	18.023	None	5.112 was a complete review of the AP chemistry up until molecular orbital theory.
2	5	18.02	8.01	I enjoyed the extra challenge of 5.112. It wasn't too hard.
2	5	18.023	None	5.112 actually teaches topics beyond AP chemistry.
2	5	18.022	8.01	I was familiar with most of the topics, but they were covered with more depth and with more mathematics and physics applications than I had previously seen.
2	5	18.03	8.012	The knowledge required was on a level covered in my previous chemistry courses.
2	5	18.02	8.01	I already have a good hand in basic chemistry and this course offered more in depth look at topics that weren't covered in high school.
2	5	18.02	8.012	I am doing above average in the class and had a solid background in chemistry before.
2	5	18.01	8.01L	Too much assumed knowledge.
2	3	18.03	8.01	My AP class was not very good, so I had a lot of trouble. I was not ready for this class, compared with the other students.
1	None	18.01	8.01	I wasn't ready for the intensity this class brought.

What students from 5.111 Fall 2003 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.111 at the end of the course, when the number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus ad physics is known.

Yrs. of High School Chem.	AP Exam grade	Calc.	Phys.	Comments
2	4	18.02	8.01	I did not learn as much in my AP chemistry class. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this course and all of my other classes without the background knowledge I started with.
2	3	18.02	8.01	A lot of review from AP chemistry, but I think I got a better grasp for the material and it was more in depth.
2	5	18.02A	8.01L	Most topics were things I already learned in high school except the radial probability density and probability distribution, molecular orbitals, and crystal field theory. I took chemistry in 10th and 11th grade so I was warned that I would have forgotten a lot of it, which is why I took 5.111 instead of 5.112.
2	None	18.02	8.01	There were a lot of topics that 5.112 assumed you had knowledge of and I wasn’t familiar with that material. My high school background wasn’t good.
2	4	18.01A/02A	None	The chemistry course was very weak in my high school so this course filled in the blanks.
2	4	18.02A	8.01/8.012	With 2 years in high school, I felt ready just for this.
2	None	18.01	8.01	Though I had covered some of the course material in high school, I found that the review helped me understand the material much more in depth.
2	4	18.02	8.01T	I took AP chemistry in the 11th grade, so it helped me to remember the material and solidify it for future courses.
2	4	18.01	8.01	This course covers the same material I had in AP Chemistry.
2	None	18.01	8.01	Although it repeated some topics, I was able to pick up details that I had forgotten, and also explore the topics a bit more.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	I feel like I have a pretty strong chemistry background and should have challenged myself more.
2	None	18.01	8.01	My high school chemistry was not well taught, also it was one year of organic — something not seen in this course.
2	5	18.02	8.01	It covered some topics that my high school AP chemistry class didn’t cover, making it challenging enough.
1.5	None	18.02	8.01	I didn’t have an extremely strong background in chemistry. In 5.111, I recognized some material from high school, but 5.111 went much more in depth.
1.5	None	18.02	8.01	5.112 would have been too difficult because I only had a year of chemistry in high school. 5.111 was challenging enough.
1.5	None	18.02	None	It fit my previous chemistry exposure.
1	None	18.02A	8.01T	One year of regular high school chemistry in no way prepared me enough for this course.
1	None	18.02	8.01	The professor assumed that everyone already knew a little bit about molecular geometry and titration so the information was kind of skimmed through or abbreviated.
1	None	18.01	8.01L	My high school preparation wasn’t adequate for 5.112 so 5.111 gave me a chance to learn things that weren’t covered in my high school class.
1	None	18.01	8.01L	My high school chemistry background was non-existent.
1	None	18.022	8.01T	I wasn’t prepared well enough in high school for 5.112.
1	None	18.02	8.01	My only chemistry background comes from an introductory course I took in 10th grade, so I didn’t feel confident enough in my knowledge.
1	None	18.01	8.01	5.111 is hard when you’ve only had one year of (poorly taught) chemistry. AP wasn’t offered at my school but I’m sure the kids who had a good background had an OK time. I really enjoyed this class.
1	None	18.02	8.01	I don’t feel I would have had the prerequisite knowledge necessary to effectively analyze topics in depth.
1	None	18.01	8.01L	I had no chemistry background, so I needed to learn the basics first.
1	None	18.01	8.01	I do not recommend this course for people who have not had a decent/strong background in chemistry. I struggled to keep up.
1	None	18.03	8.012	There were many concepts they had assumed we knew for 5.111 that I did not ever have prior to this course.
1	None	18.01	8.01	I hadn’t taken much chemistry in high school, and I learned a lot in 5.111.
1	None	18.01	8.01	I think things not touched on in high school should have gone more slowly because it had never been seen before by many people.
1	None	18.02	None	Unfortunately, there is a multitude of topics that must be covered in such a short time that we must move quickly.
1	4	18.02	8.01	I feel like I may be at a disadvantage having missed some of the advanced material covered in 5.112.
1	None	18.01	8.01	This course was a good review of what I learned in high school and also introduced new concepts at a good pace, not making the course impossible to pass.
1	5	18.01	8.01	5.111 is a pretty even match to a rigorous AP high school chemistry course. Some topics are omitted, but the majority of the material I saw in high school was included in the course. There were only one or two topics that were new to me.
0.5	None	18.01	8.01	I think the course probably goes at a good pace for most people. For me, 5.111 was difficult because I had to overcome the lack of previous chemistry knowledge. I think the pace would have been OK if I had adequate chemistry knowledge before taking the course.
0	None	None	None	I don’t think I would have any chance of passing if I took a harder course. There should be a chemistry class for students with no chemistry background and who don’t need it in their major, rather than having to take a chemistry class that goes such in-depth into chemistry.

What students from 5.111 Fall 2002 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.111 at the end of the course, when the number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus and physics is known.
Yrs. of High School Chem.	AP Exam grade	Calc.	Phys.	Comments
1	None	18.02A	8.01x	Material was a review of HS chemistry.
1	None	18.01	8.01x	This was a huge challenge for me since I was not adequately prepared in high school. I may be in the minority, but my high school class did not even touch 75% of what this class assumed to be prior knowledge.
1	None	18.01	8.01L	My high school background was poor but I was able to keep up with most material.
1	4	18.02A	8.01X	Pace was appropriate for my background, and it did not seem like review at all!
1	None	18.01	8.01	I learned a lot while having a slight remembrance of high school chemistry.
1	None	18.02A	8.01x	I only had one year of HS chemistry and most of the topics were largely new.
1	None	18.022	8.012	Most topics went at reasonable pace
1	None	18.02A	8.01	I think that 5.111 was too advanced of a course for me with only one year of non-AP chemistry. There was too much knowledge that was expected to be mastered before the start of the class.
1	None	18.02A	8.01x	Without much background, I felt that the course was moving too fast for me.
1	None	18.02A	8.01	My background in chemistry would not have been sufficient for 5.112
1	None	18.02A	8.01x	A single year of a typical high school chemistry course early (say 9th or 10th grade) is certainly not enough background for this course.
1	None	18.022	8.022	I think my high school course prepared me well enough that I could have taken 5.112
1	None	18.03	8.012	I had done nearly all of the material in my sophomore chemistry class in high school, but I am not sure if 5.112 would have been too demanding.
1	None	18.02	8.01	I had not taken chemistry since my sophomore year in high school, so I needed review and 5.112 would have been too much.
1	None	18.022	8.022	I think that I could easily have taken 5.112, but that I was wrongly discouraged from taking the class because I only had 1 year of high school chemistry. I heeded the warning, but … by the time I realized I could and should switch, I couldn’t switch since I was enrolled in another class which meets at the same time.
2	2	18.01/2A	8.01L	I had a poor background in chemistry (bad teacher even though I had 2 years). I think there should be additional, optional, basic assignments for those with a poor background. I found it heard to learn the material when the basics were skimmed over without mention, that is not the classes fault, but there should be an option for those like me.
2	None	18.02A	8.01	I had a terrible chemistry background in everything except acid-base equilibria — I would have been overwhelmed in 5.112 despite having had 2 years of HS chemistry. I initially registered for 5.112 because I thought 5.111 would teach basic stoichiometry and other things I had already done a lot of, but it wasn’t like that at all. It seems like there should perhaps be more of an option for the students who have had very little background in basic things like stoichiometry; without at least a relatively solid chemistry background, this class would be very very overwhelming.
2	3	18.02A	8.01x	Although I took AP Chem in high school and did well in the class I feel like 5.111 went more in depth in the topics. Also, it was good to have some background to allow me to fully understand the new topics that we were learning that I hadn’t already covered. The first test was pretty hard also!
2	None	18.014	8.01	I wish I had not enrolled in any of the 5.11x classes and taken 3.031 instead. Imagine that in my two years of chemistry in HS I only dealt with chemical equilibrium, organic chemistry and kinetics.
2	5	18.02	8.01	Some parts went too slow for me, but 5.112 might have been too difficult. I had AP chemistry, but it has been a year since.
1.5	None	18.022	8.012	I ended up being unchallenged for most of the year, and looking at what my friends in 5.112 were doing I could have handled the harder course. I wouldn’t be so discouraging of people taking 5.112 if they haven’t taken AP chem. I didn’t have AP chem…. but 5.111 was mostly review.
2	4	18.02	8.01x	It was challenging — but do-able given my past experience in chemistry
2	3	18.02	8.01	Even with 2 years of HS chemistry, this course solidified my understanding. I knew the principles but the course helped me appreciate why they are so.
2	5	18.02	8.02	5.111 was an exact repeat of my AP chemistry in HS. The old AP credit system should be reinstated. I received a 5 on the AP Chemistry Exam, which under the old system would have meant that I would place out of chemistry. Taking 5.111 was a complete review of my HS chemistry, there is absolutely no reason why I should not have received AP credit for this class. 5.111 was a review, and as a result, was a waste of my time.
2	None	18.01	8.01	I enjoyed the class. It was the right balance between what I had already seen and new material.
2	4	18.02	8.02	I felt that 5.111 reaffirmed my basis for chemistry to give me a stronger foundation. I was pleased with the course.
2	5	18.01	8.01	Although I took AP chemistry and got a 5 on the exam, I still had a great deal of difficulty with the material, especially the quantum mechanics.
2	5	18.01	8.01x	This course covered a lot of material not covered well in AP chemistry and so it was a difficult course.
2	5	18.01	8.01	My AP Chemistry class in high school did not cover half of the material in this course, so most of the material was not review.

What students from 5.112 Fall 2002 said anonymously about their level of high school preparation for 5.112 at the end of the course, when the number of years of high school chemistry, AP exam grade, and their present enrollment in calculus and physics is known.
Yrs. of High School Chem.	AP Exam grade	Calc.	Phys.	Comments
2	5	18.023	8.012	In high school, a broad range of topics was covered, with only a few in depth. 5.112 covers topics further in-depth, whereas 5.111 goes with broad coverage.
2	5	18.022	8.012	I was exposed to new topics, as well as given a broad review of high school chemistry.
2	None	18.03	8.01	Good complement to HS chemistry. Advanced topics were interesting.
2	5	18.02	8.01x	The first half was very difficult for me. Although I do remember things from high school chemistry, the first 1/2 didn’t use any of my previous knowledge.
2	5	18.02	8.01L	I feel as though I was challenged. I had some trouble at the beginning, but I really feel that I learned a lot about how I learn from this class in addition to learning material that went far beyond my high school chemistry course. The workload was mainly manageable.
3	5	18.02a	8.01	Most of the topics were not covered in high school and so I felt that the course was not just a review of what I had learned before, but a lot of new material.
1.5	5	18.02	8.01	The material differed from AP Chemistry just enough to where I had to pay attention to learn new material. If it were simply a review of AP chemistry, I would not have been motivated to do anything.
2	5	18.023	8.012	I found the AP HS chemistry class relatively easy; I got a 5 on the AP test and an 800 on the Chem. SAT II. However, I was sometimes completely lost and struggling in 5.112. This may be because I had gone a year without taking chemistry, and I’m not particularly interested in the subject matter.
2.5	5	18.02	8.02	The class still taught me a lot even after having chemistry for 2.5 years. Sometimes it was a little harder re-learning material with a different perspective, though. Sometimes the professor assumed I understood more than I did about molecular structure, so that could be frustrating.
2	5	18.02	8.012	My chemistry background was more consistent with the topics in 5.112. However, other than quantum mechanics, MO, and the Schrödinger equation, the course was an essential review.
3	5	18.02	8.01	Apart from the first part of the class where quantum mechanics was covered, the class was an exact repeat of AP chemistry.
2	5	18.02A	8.01x	My friends in 5.111 seem to be just doing a review of AP Chemistry. Although I hadn’t taken chemistry since my sophomore year of high school, being in a class with these overachievers has helped me stretch myself.
2	5	18.01	None	I felt I had enough background to understand the more advanced topics, but at the same time it gave me a chance to go more in depth to subjects I had already covered.
2	5	18.02A	8.01	I was reasonably well-prepared in chemistry, and 5.112 went more in-depth into topics I didn’t get into much in high school, so it didn’t feel like AP Chemistry all over again. I was really glad we did all the quantum stuff. Crystal structure would be interesting — I only did that very briefly in high school.
2	5	18.02	8.01	This built upon what I learned in High School well; it was a good mix of things I’d learned before with additional, deeper meaning.
2	5	18.023	8.01	I was comfortable with material, especially after having taken AP Chemistry and was still able to learn more concepts in depth.
2	5	18.02	8.01	I have taken 2 years of chemistry, so 5.112 had a good enough review of many topics, but we also learned some new stuff.
2	5	18.02	8.01x	This course was definitely more challenging than I would have wanted for a first term freshman course — very fast-pace for people who haven’t had chemistry since Junior year in HS.
1	5	18.02	8.01	I liked going into new topics in great depth compared to HS chemistry. My grades were not the most important part of decision, as I knew I would be on P/NR. On grades, I may have chosen differently as I occasionally felt unprepared in the class.
2	4	18.022	8.01x	This course provided some review for what I learned in high school, but there were plenty of new ideas for me to absorb. I only wish that we had more time to spend on new topics such as transition metals and wavefunctions so that I could really understand it in depth.
4	5	18.02	8.01	I was familiar with everything except transition metals, MO theory, Schrodinger Equation, and most of quantum mechanics. Thus I am happy that there was a lot of new material.

Chemistry Home
About the Department
News and Events
Faculty and Research

Academic Programs
Life at MIT
After MIT and Career Resources