askalwaysLovely - Latest Posts

"Up Your Chemistry Grades Now!" Free Intro Section!

2008-10-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

One word to sum it up : madness!

Here’s What I Got:

I’m excited to annouce the launch of “Up Your Chemistry Grades Now!” - Score The As You Deserve By Knowing What Examiners Are Looking Out For!

Here’s What “Up Your Chemistry Grades Now!” Will Do For You:

Shows and teaches you the difference in answering similar questions like “What do you understand by the term alkanes …” verse ” Define alkanes” - Glossary of Terms - Comprehensive and commonly misused terms
Examination tips that you overlook (or perhaps not even aware of!). By knowing them, they save you the time to crack your already stressful mind during the papers and of course score more marks by giving what examiners are looking for!
Reveals the common mistakes students made! (which you do not want to be part of it!) 10 years of coaching and you can imagine the load of mistakes I have witnessed … All these valuable secrets do 1 thing for you : ensure you do not repeat them!
Highlight THE ANSWERS which will get you the As you truly deserve.
How to present the concepts you already have in the way the examiners love to read!

Here’s What I Want You To Do Next: (Do this quickly)
Download your FREE copy of Introductory Section to “Up Your Chemistry Grades Now!” HERE

(I am limiting the number of copies, once reached. It will not be available anymore!)

PS: “Up Your Chemistry Grades Now!” is not like any other revision books out there. It is written by ME! (Read more about me here), someone who has breathed Chemistry all his life, coached tens and hundreds of students to achieve what they truly deserve! This book is basically written by all my students for all students who have yet to unlock the SECRETS of Scoring in Chemistry!

Mole Calculation Mastery Workskop

2008-08-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Students,

2 months to GCE O Level, Have you scored the marks you truly deserved?

Is Mole Calculations your #1 Killer Topic?

Click here to find out more

Over the years, this topic is often voted the “Hot Favorite” on students’ challenging topics. Some have

- problems understanding what the question is asking for,
- do not know where to start,
- totally blank when they read the question,
- too confused with the formulaes to use…WHY?

Click here to find out more

Let’s check out a typical exam question on Mole Calculations:

Question:

The following equation represents the precipitation reaction between lead (II) nitrate solution and potassium iodide solution.

aPb(NO3)2(aq) + bKI(aq) –> cPbI2(s) + dKNO3(aq)

In an experiment, 20.0g of lead(II) nitrate and 20.0g of potassium iodide were dissolved separately to form 250cm3 of lead (II) nitrate solution and 250cm3 of potassium iodide solution.

(a) Determine a, b, c and d. (2 marks)

(b) Using suitable calculation, identify the limiting reactant. (2 marks)

(c) What is the maximum mass of lead (II) iodide (PbI2) that can be obtained from the experiment? (2 marks)

(d) What is the concentration of potassium nitrate in the reaction mixture when the reaction is completed? Give your answers in mol/dm3. (2 marks)

(e) Write an Ionic Equation for the above reaction and identify the spectator ion. (2 marks)

Here is the answers:

a) a = 1 , b = 2, c = 1 and d = 2

b) KI is the Limiting Reactant.

c) Maximum mass of PbI2 that can be obtained = 27.8g (to 3 sf)

d) Concentration of KNO3 = 0.241 mol/dm3

e) Ionic Equation: Pb2+(aq) + 2I-(aq) à PbI2(s). Spectator Ions: NO3-(aq) and K+(aq)

PS: If you cant solve those questions comfortably, i strongly encourage to join us at the Mole Calculations Mastery WOrkshop on 16th Aug, where you know everything that you need for Mole Concepts, before your nearing Exams.

Click here to find out more

Happy 43rd National Day Singapore!

2008-08-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

Lyrics :

Have you seen a star,
One that guides you no matter where you are?
However vast the sky may be
Or dark it seems
You can be sure, it's always there for you and me

Have you heard a song,
One that moved you, one that made you sing along?
Your dreams and hopes will all come true
If you believe that every vision begins with you.

Shine for Singapore
This is your song
Deep inside your heart where it belongs
It'll always stay, strive for your goals.
You will achieve with visions so bold.

Shine for Singapore
This is our song
Reach out for the sky, far and beyond
As one we'll stand, we're Singapore
It's here that we belong

Have you heard a song,
One that moved you, one that made you sing along?
Your dreams and hopes will all come true
If you believe that every vision begins with you.

Shine for Singapore
This is your song
Deep inside your heart where it belongs
It'll always stay, strive for your goals.
You will achieve with visions so bold.

Shine for Singapore
This is our song
Reach out for the sky, far and beyond
As one we'll stand, we're Singapore
It's here that we belong

Nowhere i'd rather be, this is home to me
This star shines strong and free

Organic Chemistry Mastery Workshop - Final Revision for Chemistry Prelims & Exams

2008-07-20T21:13:00.001-07:00

For more information, click here >> http://www.SimpleChemConcepts.com/workshop

Organic Chemistry Mastery Workshop

2008-07-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

To: All O Level Students in Singapore

Hair-tearing sessions? Hours and hours of studying but still do not what is going on for Organic Chemistry?

If you are taking Pure Chemistry or Combine Science, read on to see how you can mastery EVERY thing you need to know in this Organic Chemistry Mastery Workshop

As a gift to my readers of singaporeolevelmaths.com, Sean, founder of SimpleChemConcepts.com would like to first invite you to join him at this workshop before it is officially launched it to the public.

The best part is, if you hurry, you can enjoy the special “subscriber” early bird price. (But hurry because the normal price will resume once we launch to public)

More Details here

O Level Chemistry Intensive BootCamp 2008

2008-05-29T18:48:00.000-07:00

For all readers in Singapore :-)

*Overseas readers are welcomed if you are flying in

GCE O Level Chemistry Intensive Topical Revision Bootcamps (in June 08)

2008-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

We will be conducting GCE O Level Chemistry Intensive Topical Revision Bootcamps to prepare students for Sec 3 Final Year Examinations and GCE O Level/Preliminary Examinations respectively.

Chemistry Intensive Topical Revision Bootcamp 1:
--> Extensive Coverage of Sec 3 Fundamental Topics
* Kinetic Particle Theory
* Purification & Separation
* Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
* Atomic Structure
* Covalent, Ionic & Metallic Bonding
* Balancing Chemical Equations, Mole Concepts & Chemical Calculations
* Acids, Bases & Salts

Chemistry Intensive Topical Revision Bootcamp 2:
--> Extensive Coverage of Sec 4 Application Topics
* Oxidation & Reduction (Redox)
* Electrolysis
* The Periodic Table
* Metals & The Reactivity Series
* Energy Changes
* Speed of Reaction
* Ammonia

Please check out our Chemistry Blogsite to find out more details at http://www.simplechemconcepts.com/

PS: For students & parents interested in Combine Science (Chemistry) Intensive Revision Programs, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will look into setting up a revision program once we have the minimum number.

"Determination: Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way"
- Abraham Lincoln

Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

2008-04-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

hi there i would like to ask a qn regarding the chapter on energy changes
and hope you will reply. (:

When steam is passed through white-hot coke, a reaction occurs and the
temperature of the coke falls.What does this indicate? Answer: The reaction
is endothermic(this is a mcq qn) Why is the answer endothermic?Since the
temperature of the coke falls, isnt it giving out energy?

By giving out energy, thus the temperature falls.And the definition of
exothermic is heat exitswhile for endothermic it is heat taken in.So, why isnt
the answer exothermic then?

P.S i find this chapter the terms exothermic and endothermic quickly
deceiving and confusing.

GCE O Level A-Math Topical Revision Programme

2008-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Follow Up Email Math Question on "Use of barycentric coordinates and law of levers"

2008-02-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Dear student,

It is really cool to see you exploring an area beyond your scope of book.
This is in fact what true learning is all about.
However, many a times, students are buried with tons and tons of homework assignments and project deadlines that the entire meaning of learning is lost.

Nevertheless,"Use of barycentric coordinates and law of levers" is an area which is definitely of a higher level.
Since yahoo-ing gets you hardly useful info, have you google?

I did, and this is what I found.
Check out the few websites and they should be helpful in some aspects.

Cheers,
alwaysLovely

Email Math Question on "Use of barycentric coordinates and law of levers"

2008-02-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hello AlwaysLovely!
I am a seconday 4 student this year
if u can remember, you tagged at my blog somewhere last year and mistook me for a secondary 4 student then, this thus led me to your blog.
anyway, i got a maths question to ask. i know that you wrote on your blog to ask you about O level maths but i was reading a book on geometry proofs and saw a question that was proven by the use of barycentric coordinates and law of levers. i am rather interested in this way of proving so i tried to yahoo-ing for tutorials on barycentric coordinates and was lost by some of the very few tutorials posted on the net.
So, i was wondering if you can enlighten me on some basics of barycentric coordinates or perhaps email me some links to tuturials on barycentric coordinates that might be easier for a secondary school student to understand.
i look forward to your reply and thanks!

"What is the most burning question you would like to ask in terms of learning for Chemistry & Maths?"

2008-01-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody!

My intention of setting up this blog, askalwayslovely.blogspot.com during Sep/Oct 07 was to help students with the final round of revision.

We have helped many to answer their questions from Maths, Chemistry. We understand the kind of "excitement" (oops stress level) students are facing during this period of time - GCE O Level Examinations.

We love it when students left their comments on the questions, on the post we did. They gave us much more encouragement and hope to blog more and share more (:
This blog is created for you! Yes! so me and Sean would love to hear from you on this

" What is the most burning question you would like to ask in terms of learning for Chemistry or Maths?"

Leave us your comments no matter where you are from. We LOVE to hear from you.

Cheers,
alwaysLovely.

That Strange Leaf Movement!

2007-12-30T02:23:00.000-08:00

You must check out the recent video taken by Sean, The Chemistry Coach on his recent trip to Bukit Timah Hill Singapore!

Can anyone make guesses why is that happening?!

Strange Strange, movement in total stillness...

http://simplechemconcepts.com/the-strange-leaf-movement/

Chemistry Practical Question

2007-12-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

This is one of the latest question sent in on Chemistry Practical. It's a good question which I think some students would love to find out the answers as well, isn't it? ;)

Open for discussion. Feel free to contribute!

I wanted to ask what's the correct/appropriate way to wash test tubes when you're having a Chemistry practical? Because i've faced shortage of time, and it's because i wasted a lot of time to wash my test tubes. Some students maybe more "kiasu" and they washed the test tubes multiple times to ensure it's clean.

For example, i've 6 test tubes, but i'm required to do 7 or 8 experiments, so i've got to wash the test tubes. However, the test tube i'm re-using again, may have traces of the previous solution left and thus, affecting the result of the current one. Please do advise me on the correct and advisable method to wash my test tubes!

Is it okay to wash my test tube just with plain tap water or distilled water? Or both? And i do believe most schools provide a brush, which can fit into the test tube to remove solid particles or ppt which hardens and stays in the test tubes, am i required to use it, or it can be ignored?

This is approximately how i wash my test tube

1. I empty the solution into the sink
2. I rinse the test tube with tap water first
3. Then, i rinsed it again with distilled water.

I've another question on Chemistry practical. My teacher once mentioned that if you're doing titration, e.g. you're given Solution P and Solution R, to put the respectives into the burette or pipette, she told me that if you're pouring Solution P into the pipette for titration, you can just simply wash it with Solution P and need not wash it with distilled or tap water anymore. How true is that?

Freebie Download - Balance Chemical Equations Tips Video

2007-12-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Dearest all,

Merry Xmas! & Have a blessed year ahead!

As promised, Sean has completed this X'mas present for everyone. This present will allow anyone to be a master in BALANCING. Yes! I mean Chemical Equations :)

You can download this video for f*ree!
Go to http://www.simplechemconcepts.com
It's on the right hand side for the download of this freebie!

Cheers,
alwaysLovely
on behalf of Sean

X'mas Presents?

2007-12-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

for those who partcipated in the voting of the template of the site.Tks for your response.
for those who didn't vote yet, you still have a few more days to vote.

X'mas coming so I guess most of you are busy preparing x'mas presents or are you busy with clearing up more space to receive more gifts?

Whatever the case, Sean, the co-author of askalwayslovely & the SimpleChemConcepts guru seems to be busy preparing something free for everyone to start the new academic year on the right year.

I will push him to release the gift he's preparing soon okie!

Meanwhile, you may want to check out this site on THE SONG!
http://www.simplechemconcepts.com

btw, have you downloaded your copy of "Be a Squaring Expert within 30 seconds"?
Click here to gain instant access http://www.singaporeolevelmaths.com

Less than 15 days to the start of the new school term!

Yeah!

Those Funny Maths Problems

2007-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

X'mas coming, time for spring cleaning

2007-12-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

I was surfing a while ago when I chanced upon this blog talking about springcleaning of blogs.

Oh yeah, just like houses and environment, blogs need to be re-freshed!

For Chinese, we usually do our annual springcleaning end of the year or before Chinese New Year. Usually during this period, we get new furniture, machines etc...

I have just changed the template of askalwayslovely.blogspot.com

I have even put up a poll station to find out if this new template appeals to you folks :)

Feel free to vote.

See you...

How to choose an effective tutor or tuition centre for O Level Students

2007-12-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

As I was flipping through the papers, there are many advertisements on effective tutors, results,improvements guaranteed, school teachers, scholars etc...

Personally, I think with so many choices available, it is certainly not easy for students and parents to find one which will match their expectations.

I met up with a parent recently whom in fact shared with me on the centre she has enrolled her girl with. I was shocked to find out that the class has a total of 7 students of DIFFERENT levels (eg, there is a mixture of Sec 1 to Sec 4s) all taken part by a tutor. Moreover, the fees charged by this tutor is more than the average price of a group class. Well, this parent mentions that she is testing it out and sees how her girl progresses.

In my personal opinion, the following factors are important for the selection of the right tutor/coach for your learning needs:

#1:Effectiveness of tutor/coach

Having said this, I think to save the time of parents and students, I personally like the fact that there should be trial lesson provided especially for Individual Tuition Coaching sessions.
This is especially important for O Level students as time is crucial and precious. Trial lesson gives the student and parents sufficient time for the interaction with the tutor. Able to connect and communicate effectively with the student and parents are extrememly important!

#2:Track Record of previous students.

Please note the results of the students before joining the tutor/coach. Many a times, I saw the great end results produced by the students but didn't see what were the improvements made.
For example, if a student is able to breakthrough from F9 to a B within a few months. I would consider the tutor teaching methodology be to effective & beneficial.
I was told that some learning centres only take in students of certain grades (usually good grades) and reject those who did not meet their grade expectations.
I always wonder if this is the case, what is the true purposing for tuition/coaching? I need extra help only if I face a certain level of challenge otherwise if I can cope, I won't be seeking tuition/coaching.

#3: Academic Qualifications of tutor/coach

With my several years of interaction with parents, it seems like parents like school teachers. This is rather ironic, as if your child is not able to learn well from school perhaps due to a long list of reasons, would another school teacher be different? Well, I am not saying that school teachers aren't good. Some of them are in fact very experienced and knowledgeable in syllabus and teaching methodology. But once again, I strongly emphasize on the connection and rapport established between the teacher and student.

I certainly hope I have provided some useful tips for both students and parents with the selection of a right tutor/coach for your learning needs.

"Good Teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more" - Bob Talbert

O Level Essential Chemistry Concepts Coaching Programme | Tuition@Woodlands Lib

2007-12-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

Dear students,

Sean, the O Level Chemistry Guru is holding his Essential Chemistry Concepts Coaching Programme at Woodlands Regional Library starting on 5th Jan 2008, every Sat at 1pm. It's a 2 hours sessions each Saturday.

He's currently taking in students who DID not pass their Chemistry or obtain just Borderline Pass in the subject.

Class size is kept at a maximum of 8 students to ensure maximum attention is given to every single student.

Register by calling Sean at 9 828 7357. You may contact him for any other coaching matters.

If you think you deserve more than what you are getting currently, learn from him on the simple ways of understanding chem concepts. Afterall, he has helped many students to achieve leaps in their results!

For more info, visit http://www.simplechemconcepts.com

** This is not the usual Chemistry Tuition for O Level students. You will not be left alone just to do papers and papers. You will be taught the essential concepts that will make big difference in your results and yet at the same time enjoy learning Chemistry with a Difference.
You got to be there to experience it!

alwaysLovely on behalf on Sean, co-founder of askalwayslovely.blogspot.com

P.S there is less than 5 months to mid years, less than 9 months to prelims, less than 10 months to GCE O Level!

Be Ready!

Simple Chem Concepts - Experience Learning with a Difference

2007-11-20T16:52:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,

Sean, the co-author for helping O Level students with Chemistry Concepts has decided to host all discussion on Chemistry Concepts on his new site
SimpleChemConcepts.com

You may continue to bombard all the Chemistry Qns to him. tsktsk.... and he will continue to provide power tips which will ease your understanding in acids-bases-salts, mole concept, bonding etc....

We look forward in your continued support !

Cheers,
alwaysLovely on behalf of Sean

O Level Maths for Singapore Students

2007-11-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I have decided to host all tips, notes, strategies, learning tools etc.... on this site
http://www.singaporeolevelmaths.com

Yes! Specially created for Singapore students who are taking either their O Level A-Maths or E-Maths, parents who are cheering for their children in this national examinations.

See everyone there!

Cheers,
alwaysLovely

Are you right or left brainer?

2007-11-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

THE Right Brain vs Left Brain test ... do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

Chemistry Question - Practical Qns

2007-11-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hey can you pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee help me with a qn.

This is for the chemistry spa I would be sitting tmr (SEC 3)

During an acid base titration, what are the possible sources of experimental error?

It would be great If I could get a reply today bcos as I have mentioned earlier I am sitting for the science practical O LEVELS tmr!!

THANKS.

Three most common ones are:

1) Parallax Error - Wrong placing of the eye while taking readings
2) Meniscus reading - Should be done at the bottom of the meniscus curve, not above or within the curve
3) Washing of the conical flask with analyte before titration. This causes additional amount of analyte to be included into the flask (in addition to the actual amount that you intended to pipette in)

Sean
SimpleChemConcepts

O Levels almost over

2007-10-31T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all students,

Both Maths papers are over! I think there is left with 1 MCQ Chemistry & for folks who are taking Biology as well.

With O Levels coming to an end, this blog WILL continue hee.... I appreciate all Sec 4s to pass on this blog to your juniors or even better still would be you putting a link www.askalwayslovely.blogspot.com on your blog. We have an enjoyable time answering and posting questions. Both Sean and me simply love it when we see students participating, leaving comments, answers. Simply awesome!

We will continue to reach out to all Sec 3 & 4 students especially those taking A/E Maths & Chemistry.

Oh yar! Both Sean and me are going to launch something in a months' time. It's going to be beneficial to those who are looking for tips, strategies to do well and to like the subject.

Meanwhile, keep in contact. If anyone of you need any help, send an email to askalwayslovely@gmail.com

Cheers
alwaysLovely & Sean