Apologies for current situation.

Well, the latest thing about Chemistry is definitely not those topics that will be taught soon, but rather about the decision to convert to sub science or not to convert.

Anyway, I've noticed a rise in the number of people who tagged. Although I do believe that the poor results shown are partly the students' fault, but there are many factors that do make up for the poor results, so dear Sec 3s don't be too hard on yourselves!!

Firstly, apologies from me as perhaps I did not put enough effort to "save everyone" Try as I may to be impartial, I admit I did dedicate a lot of time on Sec 4s. And perhaps the way I teach just ain't effective. I'll try to do better, but for some of you, so sorry to have made you change to another combination.

Secondly, please do note the level of difficulty of the paper. This paper is tough. Although parents like to discuss about the final results only, but I'm a firm believer of the level of paper that may have caused the demise of many students.

Do take note where your mistakes came from. Is it the lack of understanding from the questions? Or was it your lack of preparation?

For your information, although I said the paper was tough, if you have gotten the 10 marks question on bonding wrong, please do reflect on yourselves... cos I believe we drilled bonding like mad. There must have been like 40++ questions (including class tests) on bonding and I even heard students saying,"Why are we doing so many questions on this topic? What if it doesn't come out?"

So if we revise one topic so much and you still can't score for that question... a lot of self reflection needs to be done.

These are some factors I can attribute to the poor results, so please don't be too hard on ourselves and whatever you choose, don't keep thinking of the "what ifs" and move on. Stick with your decision. The grass is always greener on the other side. Was it this blog that I mentioned that my friends in NUS always claimed they should have gone to NTU and vice versa? Likewise, I also thought for a while that I should have gone to ARTS in Uni rather than Science. But who knows what "miserable life" I would have gotten have I gotten my wish.

Move on and work hard! All the best! :)

Oxidizing and Reducing agent

Okay guys, this section is a VERY ENGLISH section, more than Chemistry, I feel. So you got to take it slow.

An oxidizing agent is one that oxidises the other species.

e.g. Fe + CuSO4 --> Cu + FeSO4

Thus, the oxidizing agent is CuSO4 as it oxidises Fe. The oxidation state of Fe inceases from 0 to +2.

Likewise, a reducing agent is one that reduces the other species.

And for the equation above, the reducing agent is Fe which reduces Cu in CuSO4. The oxidation state of Cu decreases from +2 to 0.

As you can see, in a redox reaction there will be reduction and oxidation, but this would mean that there would be one reducing agent and one oxidizing agent too!

To confuse you further, an oxidizing agent will be the one that is reduced, while a reducing agent is the one that is oxidised. It all makes sense, just think about it.

PS: Don't you just love English? :p

Famous Oxidizing agents:

Potassium Dichromate (VI) - turns from orange to green (when it is reduced)
Potassium Manganate (VII) - turns from purple to colourless (when it is reduced)

Famous Reducing agents:

Sulphur dioxide
Potassium Iodide - turns from colourless to brown (when it is oxidised)

Oxidizing agents are good for testing reducing agent, cos when reducing agents reduce them, they change colour. Likewise, reducing agents (except sulphur dioxide) are used to test for oxidizing agents cos they change colour when the oxidised by oxidizing agents.

Hahahahahahha... Go figure... you have 2 and half months to do so... :p

Let's move on!

The Chemistry results have been finalised ... perhaps an addition of one or two later on for wrongly marked scripted... After the shock (Which I'm positive the whole school experienced) of such a level of Chemistry paper, I hope everyone have the will to go on.

Sure enjoy your holidays... but as a former student I often realized that when you need holidays, they don't come, when there is holidays, it is too long and I get bored also...

I'm kinda okay with the results, but quite upset also with some students.. I can daresay Mr Lim and I went through what must be at least 30 Bonding questions inclusive of tests and addition worksheet and still we have people scoring poorly in that area...

True many failed, but if at least those questions were well answered it proves that you guys have learnt... but... anyway those are the rare few... most answered these questions well..

The next topic would most likely be a cleaning up process of redox. Oxidizing agent and Reducing agent would wrap up that chapter. Of course, there is colours to memorise. I'll just post it as a separate thread for easier reference. Enjoy your holidays though! I can't wait for mine too!

Misconception...

I think everyone has high expectations of teachers, but I guess there are times where the line must be drawn. An incident just happened and I'm very angry now.

It seems to me that teachers are taken for granted and we are always expected to do many things... sometimes way too much... and the worse part... total unappreciativeness...

I was staying back to rush marking papers so that I can give back to sec 4s within a day their June 2007 paper and give feedback, so I told one student who wanted me to go over some topics that I'm not staying for night study but for marking.

Don't know why... this student heard it as not staying at all... After marking a series of disgraceful scripts, and feeling low, I needed to go to toilet at 8:30pm and I did. The instant I stepped out, I heard, "WAAAAAAAHH !!! Lie to me!!! Say not staying back for night study and still around!!!" in front of all her friends..

Firstly, I did not even go to the HALL, so did I stay back for night study?

Secondly, I ALREADY SAID I'M NOT FREE COS I NEED TO MARK AND I DID NOT SAY I'M NOT STAYING AT ALL.

Thirdly, it is the normal attitude of this student that irritates me.. always say I'm biased, always expect me to go through every single topic with her... EXCUSE ME, I have more than one student.. I'm a school teacher and NOT A TUITION TEACHER!!! If I stay back to help, it is of my goodwill to do so, and not because it is expected of me... especially since it is not my duty to stay back...

Anyone who knows me already know that I stay back almost every day till night and even coming back on SATURDAYS and TILL 7PM...

I can dare say I have already tried, but this student is WAY TOO MUCH and I can't take it!!! She has no respect no conscience, no self reflection... everything is the teacher's fault... While almost everyone is rushing to revise on their own and leaving doubts to consult teachers, she expects everything to be summarised for her.

She can start to depend on herself. Cos if tomolo her attitude refuses to change, I REFUSE to teach her and I don't care... I rather help all those that NEED IT AND is at least knowing what I have done for them.

She can go ahead and get C5/C6 for all I care (With all my help so far, I doubt she will get f9 now).

I hope I don't ever get more of such demanding, unappreciative students anymore...

(By the way, I'm still in school... I know I should be continuing my marking, but I really need a place to say everything out.... Back to work... hopefully I'm at home before 1am...)

Keep on Trying!!

I feel very sad these days as I heard a lot about students trying very hard, but not getting the results. Seeing them so discouraged is making me feel like perhaps I have not done enough and everyone ends up despairing.

True, it would be rewarding to get good grades and all. But Life's cold and harsh sometimes. The amount of hard work might not equate to the final result. There could be a series of reasons.

Perhaps a particular subject was not really properly covered. When one claims they studied, what portion of studied does he/she means? Just read the notes/textbook? Try all the ten year series? Just doing every possible questions given on worksheets? Are the basic concept well understood?

I have always also not been an impressive student in school (except maybe in sec 1 and 2 only), in fact I FAILED my SEC 3 EOY CHEM, but who would have thought I would end up as a Chem Major in Uni..and now a Chemistry teacher.

It is not where we start but how we end. That is what I hope to bring the message across to everyone who is like dying over poor results. Ultimately, you guys are training for the O Levels. Of course along the way, you need to be pushed into thinking, trying more challenging questions and then you will see your results. You might need time to absorb, so just go at your own pace (but not too ridiculously slow also lah!) and stop comparing with others.

I never said the whole process is easy, but I really don't want people to give up and think of dropping this subject. Also think about this... WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE GOTTEN IF YOU DID NOT STUDY AT ALL? I shudder to think of the answer...

The important thing is to constantly revise, and learn from your mistakes. Chemistry is not one of those subjects that you can do last minute revision cos you migh remember some, but not all and that could prove to be quite dangerous.

Sometimes, we can cope with daily class tests and even common tests, which lead to complacency. I shall share a good example of me topping the class in JC on a particular Physics topic caled analog and guess what? I studied everything except that thinking that I needed a short while to revise that and in the end, I could not do those questions in the A level exams. But it was my own fault to think I was ready and too good for that topic... maybe sometimes, it is good to start everything back to basics...

To the dear sec 3s. One thing I've always admire about you guys is the determination and good attitude. Keep it up... you will go far. Just hang in there!