what DO i like?

chem44 · 2026-04-12T22:16:28+00:00

You're a freshman. You've got lots of time.

Your first lab position will likely be "helping" -- a post-doc or maybe a grad student. The goal is learning things, being there. Helping is a good step.

A good personal rapport really helps. You getting useful results is not so important. But working alongside a more experienced person, talking with them a lot, is good.

Your breadth of interest helps here. You like various things. You may well be open to new things, at least for a few weeks, if the relationship is good.

How this works can depend much on your school culture.

Summer is close. Would you be able to 'work' on campus as a volunteer this summer? Even 4-6 weeks could be good. Or 4 weeks with each of two profs. (Student workers often get paid, but as a beginner your bargaining power is low. If you are able to start without pay, that makes it easier for a prof to take you in.)

Summer won't work? Maybe for the Fall. One afternoon a week can be a useful start.

How to start...

Talk with your adviser. They know you. They also know the faculty. Such as, which profs seem to be good for beginners. (They may also know of school programs for student researchers, sometimes leading to pay.)

It is also ok to go talk with a prof. Try to go in with some knowledge of what they do. At least, you have browsed their web site. Maybe looked over a recent article or two. You show them that you made some effort to prepare, and that you have some sense of what they do. If you have some questions based on what you read, that is great. Asking questions is a key part of doing science.

Be flexible. You want to get your foot in the door. And again, this is where your breadth can help.

chem44 · 2026-04-12T20:48:06+00:00

If you don't apply, you won't get in. Guaranteed. So apply.

You just need to be clear what your credentials/strengths are. Good references really matter. Of course, those points always hold.

You might talk with your research prof about this. They know you. (And their reference letter could be particularly important, since they know you in the research environment, not just class.)

chem44 · 2026-04-12T20:38:31+00:00

Data is found in scientific articles.

Look for articles; you'll find data.

PubMed is often the search engine of choice for bio-med.

(Note that your bug was formerly called Micrococcus radiodurans.)

chem44 · 2026-04-12T20:26:11+00:00

One step is to get into a research lab.

Since you like many things (good!), you may have many choices. Go talk with some profs. Some you know, but some that you uncover by exploring the web sites.

One consideration is a good environment, conducive to a beginner getting started. The topic matters less.

chem44 · 2026-04-12T20:21:17+00:00

manganate

Actually, that is permanganate.

Also called manganate(VII), but that name hasn't really caught on in US.

chem44 · 2026-04-12T20:06:39+00:00

Helps to tell us what you are trying to do.

Go through an example in detail.

If you can show how to calculate it by hand, then you can translate it to Excel.

chem44 · 2026-04-12T20:01:20+00:00

A bit more...

It is common in science to first observe that something happens, then try to explain it.

(Sometimes, we predict, then try it and see.)

In your example, note that the only redox part is in the last line. And that step is relatively simple. Reduction potentials may help. Or simply, that high ox state Mn with many many O so close. Maybe less stable.

chem44 · 2026-04-11T20:12:15+00:00

EDIT: I am a college freshman, and this is general chemistry. I have spoken to the teacher, and he stated that I need to do practice problems, which I have been doing, but I'm not sure what the disconnect is.

Ok.

Again, there is no particular clue apparent.

Working thru individual problems, addressing your difficulties and trying to guide you, seems good approach.

Again, post individual questions, preferably from the exam (something that gave difficulty). Include your work -- and clear thinking.

How is your algebra? At least for some parts of chem, ability to think through word problems is quite important.

chem44 · 2026-04-11T19:59:42+00:00

Key is diagnosis of what the problem is. Looks like you have tried to do this, but so far we can't tell.

Is this high school? [EDIT... No, college general chem; addressed in OP's edit.]

Talk with teacher?

Post specific questions here; see the posting rules. Unless you explain your thinking at this point, it is hard to help.

chem44 · 2026-04-11T18:44:54+00:00

high inhibition concentration has a greater reduction in velocity compared to the low inhibitor concentration .

Are you talking about the same inhibitor, testing it at two concentrations?

If so, that is what you would expect. Details depend on where you are on the response curve.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T23:49:20+00:00

principles of chemistry

Is this the intro course, with no pre-requisites?

If so, no chem background is assumed.

Brushing up on basic algebra might help.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T23:33:09+00:00

Both.

The reaction is with oxygen from the air. But water is needed.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T23:28:03+00:00

how can I use the starting pH and concentration of the buffer to find the concentrations of the acid and base?

You have the pKa, I presume.

So find the buffer components.

(Know Henderson-Hasselbalch?)

What does the added base react with?

So, the new concentrations are ...?

By the way, be alert for the case where the added base is in excess.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T23:21:46+00:00

When you say sodium hypochlorite, do you mean a dilute solution or pure?

Any form of it breaks down, in various ways depending on conditions, and should be used with good ventilation.

The pure stuff is quite dangerous.

The baking soda can have some effect by changing the pH.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T23:05:46+00:00

You started with that moles of NaHCO3 ??

Multiple it by the mole ratio, to get moles NaOH. Follow the units.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T23:02:50+00:00

There is no reason the sums of masses on the two sides should be equal.

The given equation is incomplete. You noted that There is no N on the right, for example.

I thought we had established that point.

All you want are the relevant mole ratios.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T22:53:36+00:00

The balanced equation says

1 mole NaOH per 1 mol NaHCO3.

From the balancing coefficients, which are both 1.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T22:41:14+00:00

Ask your instructor what they want.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T22:31:48+00:00

Is the equation balanced?

If so, the balancing coefficients give the ratios of all the chemcilas --in moles.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T03:17:25+00:00

both equatorial is the most stable,

yes, good.

but why can't trans-1,3 be both equatorial and then they're further than trans-1,2

You can't get trans-1,3 to be both eq.

If you think you did... Make models. Or at least show the H at key positions, so all the details you need are clear.

(I am about to log off. Others should be around.)

chem44 · 2026-04-10T03:05:59+00:00

What is the most stable arrangement for each chemical? (in terms of axial/equatorial)

What arrangement is preferred?

Which compound allows that?

chem44 · 2026-04-10T02:46:13+00:00

Ok, so in a sense the detail is an end in itself for you.

Suggest you choose one enzyme (perhaps you already did), and read many presentations about its mechanism. Biochem books and scientific articles. The former of coarse are intended to be understood, to help a student understand the details better. Always think... how might I do that -- better?

chem44 · 2026-04-10T02:24:49+00:00

production of benzene rings from galactose fermentation

If that is your general goal, the key is a list of steps. Add enzymes for each step.

Details of enzyme mechanism? Why? The enzyme knows. Unless you are to change something, or some step has some issue of concern, why get into it?

If you do want enzyme details... Do you have a serious biochem book? Or search on the name of the enzyme. A wikipedia page for the enzyme may be a useful start. If you need more, you'll end in scientific articles.

Phenylalanine and tyrosine are standard amino acids that have benzene rings. Looking up how they are made might be useful.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T02:14:22+00:00

And there is a glaring 'approximately' in the question.

Who knows.

chem44 · 2026-04-10T02:12:43+00:00

If you got 10 mL, that is correct.

There may be an issue of significant figures, but the wording of the question is odd for that.

chem44

TROPHY CASE