[Snowy]

I'm a first year science student taking organic chemistry this semester.

I took general chemistry last semester and I was able to finish the labs on time. This was because there were videos of each lab for us to watch, the lab manual was clear, and I had a different partner than the one that I have now.

Organic Chem labs are a different story-different lab professor, very wordy lab manuals, no lab videos, and new lab partner.

So the question is: how do I manage my time in the lab in order to finish on time?

I always read the lab manual 1-2 days in advance, highlight important info, re-write the lab procedure in my own words on a separate paper so that I don't have to use the lab manual during the lab, discuss with my lab partner on what we will be doing. But whenever I go into the lab, I start panicking because there's ALWAYS some sort of problem that arises-either a beaker is missing, there's not enough heating mantles to go around, the apparatus won't stay put...
and the time starts ticking away. NOTHING goes the way that I imagine it to be! Near the end of the 3-hour lab, my partner and I are rushing while everyone else is cleaning up.

To make things even worse, my TA is terrifyingly intimidating. Last time, I asked a simple question about having too much water running through the condenser. She tells me to not ask questions when the answer doesn't matter. I felt horrible during that time! But the the whole point is that the TA is intimidating to my partner and I, especially when she threatens to take off marks if you don't finish your lab on time. I really don't want to go back to do the next lab, but I have to. 

Also, labs are worth 15% of your final course grade, which is not a lot compared to the other courses I have taken. However, you must pass the lab component to pass the course.

I know that in 3rd and 4th year, students have to do 6-hour labs!! So if I can't get through 3 hour labs on time...what about 6 hour labs?


Your advice is deeply appreciated.

Thank you.

[MissPhosgene]

You will get faster as you become more familiar with what you are doing.

One thing you could do, if you don't already, is coordinate with your lab partner and split the tasks according to when they need to get done.

About your TA: she does sound really intimidating and I wouldn't want to ask her questions either. However, you will probably have to, so if you can, it might be best to simply disregard any meanness in what she says and only consider the part that answers your question.

If you have questions or need clarification on things, you could always ask them here before going to lab.

[Snowy]

Thanks for your advice.

You're right about asking questions. I'll just have to deal with it until the end of the semester.

About my partner-I noticed that she's always re-reading the lab manual during the experiment to ensure everything goes smoothly. Meanwhile, to save time, I have everything measured out for her to mix together, but she hasn't done it yet (because she's re-reading the lab manual)! This wastes lab time on both of our part.

What is the most polite way to tell her this? I know this is getting away from the chemical aspect of this forum and more like an advice column!

Another question: are organic labs more difficult in general because the reactions take a very long time?

[MissPhosgene]

I would not say anything at all about your lab partner not being well versed in the lab manual, but suggest that it might go faster if you guys were to coordinate things.

You can say something like "In addition to that, it could save us a lot of time if we both read and really understand the lab manual before coming to class". It is probably important to be as non-confrontational as possible since you have to work with her and include yourself in whatever you would like to suggest she does.

I'm not sure if organic reactions are more difficult. They may take a long time, but I think that the techniques and reactions are new, so it seems harder. In addition, there is most likely a psychological aspect that makes them seem harder: the class is a level up and is supposed to be more difficult. I think of organic reactions as stirring up a bunch of things in a variety of ways with structure, order of addition, temp, time to add etc as variables. It's like cooking! On the other hand, it is really hard to get them to come out right sometimes...

[408]

About my partner-I noticed that she's always re-reading the lab manual during the experiment to ensure everything goes smoothly. Meanwhile, to save time, I have everything measured out for her to mix together, but she hasn't done it yet (because she's re-reading the lab manual)! This wastes lab time on both of our part.

What also wastes time is waiting for your partner to do something.  Do not allow the incompetence of others to cause you to suffer.  Get out there and do it!

I had the unfortunate experience of having a lab partner in org lab during my first year of undergrad... it was not long till he was relegated to beaker washer...he did not care, he got out early for it...meanwhile I did the lab like the energizer bunny on cocaine.

I always read the procedure to the point I knew what I needed to get, the moment I stepped foot in the lab, at which time I would start assembling apparatus, weighing stuff, etc.

There is never a problem getting the correct equipment if you grab it first...

[Fzang]

If you understand the actual chemistry behind the experiment (that is, you actually understand why you're mixing things and what will happen, instead of sheeping along the step-by-step in the manual) it can save you a lot of time, instead of being unconfident in what you're doing and always re-reading something or checking what other groups are doing.

[MethylNeptuneAcetate]

To be quite honest, your TA sounds like a jerk. Not much you can do about that, except try to minimize interaction with them. If you have a question, try to ask the other students rather than the TA, particularly the friendlier ones.

Also, this may seem counterintuitive, but take your time. Relax. Be careful. Just don't sweat it. If you go in with a calm attitude, you'll get it done well and on time. If you panic or get into a frenzied or frenetic mode, it will take longer and you will probably mess things up more.

The problem may be that your animal emotional brain is freaking out and causing you problems. If there's a problem, deal with it and try not to think about it too much. Distract your emotional part with other things; socialize with your lab partner and the people around you. Your procedural and intellectual brain will still focus on the experiment, but the emotional part will be occupied and won't freak out.

Now you seem to work differently than I do (For example, I never highlight a damn thing; can't imagine how thats helpful at all, though lots of people swear by it) so this advice might not fit you well, but I'd say it's worth a shot...

As for the 6 hour labs, the longer the lab, the greater the difference in the time it takes different people to do them, so it's generally more forgiving if you're slower.

and as Fzang said, always, always, always understand rather than memorize.

[spirochete]

My long term solution to this problem:  Become a computational chemist.