Quantum Chemistry

[cassius987]

Just working on my take home final in quantum mechanics... to those of you who are well versed in it, I salute you! It has to be one of the most revealing theoretical sciences, and I didn't realize how much of even some of the more common "lay" formulae relied on it for theoretical (and often experimental) proof.

[cjj]

Fun, huh? I always liked Quantum Mechanics. Of course, the last course I took was about 23 years ago. I suppose there's been a few changes since then...

[cassius987]

Fewer perhaps than you'd expect--much fewer than, say, in biochemistry or pharmacology.

[cjj]

Still, cool subject! What are you majoring in to be studying Quantum Mech?

[tennis_nick]

Quantum Chem, I don't have a course specifically for that right now, but the subject did make up about half of my last exam in a course called "Intro a la Chimie Physique" and that was my favorite course all semester!

[cassius987]

Still, cool subject! What are you majoring in to be studying Quantum Mech?

Oh, I didn't mean to downplay it. The fact that it hasn't changed much is actually quite a nod to its innovators...

I am a Chemistry-Biology double major, hope to move on to a Ph.D. program in Medicinal Chemistry, but am open to other ideas.

Anyone know of Mark Everett/EELS? His dad (Hugh III) invented the Many Worlds theory that is still around today... Got into a spit with Niels Bohr...

[Ric O'Sound]

God bless ya, Joshua. Pretty challenging curricula. I started out as a chem major in college, but switched to mathematics after my second year...at the time I was thankful that I'd be dodging the p-chem and quantum mechanics bullets. Then along came diff-eq and abstract algebra and I realized I hadn't dodged anything...more like I got hit right between the eyes Managed to do fairly well in both, though.

Keep up the hard work...it'll pay off. Good luck on the take-home.

[cjj]

Wow, chemistry/biology. Good stuff! I liked chemistry, it was pretty fun stuff, but I didn't take more than 2 semesters. I was an Electrical Engineering major, Physics minor.

Good luck in your studies!

[cassius987]

Thanks everyone! I finished it a couple of hours ago. It's a really satisfying subject... when you know what to do. If you're lost it is most certainly not satisfying. The last problem was so frustrating until I got the gist of what it was trying to accomplish, and then it seemed as beautiful as the Mona Lisa--when you work out a way to determine energy levels of molecular orbitals on your own, well, that's a good feeling!

I find that chemistry, physics, math, and yes, even biology all bleed into each other so much that they might as well ultimately be considered the same endeavor... and if I had time I'd study them all equally! Like Daniel, I tried to "dodge a bullet"--for me, not pursuing a math minor. But P Chem and Physics point out quite rightly that whether or not you get the minor, you have to do the math. Hehe.

Ironically I started out as a writing major... And have part of my education funded by a Jazz Musician scholarship, in addition to the academic-oriented ones.

[ram]

My hats off to you Joshua. Tis a beautiful thing to see smarts raising the level of the forum. So brains and you can play!!! Is there no limit? I mean this with all sincerity. My oldest (also a Josh) is aerospace engineer major and has had a bunch of esoteric math and theory courses…. Mind boggeling – it is an honor to be in a forum with young gifted minds like yourself! Good luck on all the finals.

[cassius987]

My hats off to you Joshua. Tis a beautiful thing to see smarts raising the level of the forum. So brains and you can play!!! Is there no limit? I mean this with all sincerity. My oldest (also a Josh) is aerospace engineer major and has had a bunch of esoteric math and theory courses…. Mind boggeling – it is an honor to be in a forum with young gifted minds like yourself! Good luck on all the finals.

Why thank you!! I've just got to keep my energy going through the rest of finals week... Speaking of which I'd better quit posting for awhile! Thinking about music is usually my biggest obstacle.

By the way, I have the utmost respect for aerospace engineers... what an awesome skill. My cousin is getting his foot in the door of that field right now. My hat's off to your son!

[wayang]

So, what do you all make of the phrase "Quantum Of Solace"?

Other than the fact that Ian Fleming obviously ran out of good title ideas at some point...

[cassius987]

JUST GOT DONE WITH FINALS

[cjj]

Congrats, man. I remember it was always a good feeling to be done, but with reservation hoping I'd done well. I hope you get good grades on 'em all!

Also, I commend you on wanting to go for the Ph.D. It's a TON of work, but a rewarding experience! I wish you the best with that! You'll make it if you want to!

[cassius987]

Congrats, man. I remember it was always a good feeling to be done, but with reservation hoping I'd done well. I hope you get good grades on 'em all!

I know I did great on P Chem and Biochem; Physics felt like an A-. Industrial Chem... more like a B I'm afraid. There were a lot of polymerizations on the test I'd never seen before.

Also, I commend you on wanting to go for the Ph.D. It's a TON of work, but a rewarding experience! I wish you the best with that! You'll make it if you want to!

I wouldn't be so sure I wanted to, but I did an internship in my chosen field last summer (10-weeks full-time paid) at KU and it was spectacular. It was meant to mimic grad school. The focus, the direction, and the learning were all greatly enhanced once I got into the zone there; you can definitely get sucked into your work though.