Rutgers CHEM 162: General Chemistry II
CHEM 162 (01:160:162) is the second semester of Rutgers' general chemistry sequence for science and pre-health students, covering states of matter, solutions, thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, kinetics, oxidation-reduction, and coordination compounds. It follows CHEM 161 and is the prerequisite path into organic chemistry.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with Rutgers University. This is an unofficial study guide.
What makes it hard
Equilibrium and thermodynamics are the conceptual core and the wall. ICE tables, Le Chatelier reasoning, and free-energy relationships build on each other, and the calculations chain into multi-step problems. Like CHEM 161, it runs on large curved exams where speed matters, and students who rely on rewatching lectures instead of grinding problems land below the curve.
What you'll cover
- • Solutions and colligative properties
- • Chemical kinetics
- • Chemical equilibrium and ICE tables
- • Acid-base equilibria and buffers
- • Thermodynamics: entropy and free energy
- • Electrochemistry
The CHEM 162 study guide
How to study for Rutgers CHEM 162, step by step.
- 1
Master ICE tables before equilibrium piles up
Equilibrium is the heart of CHEM 162, and ICE-table setup is the skill every later problem chains onto. Drill it until it's mechanical; students who fumble it early never catch the curve.
- 2
Make problems your default study mode
Rewatching lectures is the most common losing strategy in this course. Every study session should start with problems; open the notes only when a problem exposes a gap.
- 3
Build separate frameworks for kinetics and thermo
Rate laws and free-energy relationships each have their own logic. Give them dedicated study blocks rather than blurring them with equilibrium.
- 4
Run old exams timed, against the curve
Past CHEM 162 exams are the best calibration for difficulty and pacing. Treat every practice run like the real thing: timer on, formula sheet only if the real exam allows one.
Today
Today's CHEM 162 plan
What a Fennie Daily Plan looks like for CHEM 162. Yours is built from your own syllabus and adapts every day to your deadlines and progress.
First plan free, no card required. Fennie is independent and unaffiliated with your school.
FAQ
Is CHEM 162 hard at Rutgers?
Yes. Like CHEM 161, it's a curved weed-out that moves quickly, and equilibrium and thermodynamics are conceptually deeper than the first semester. Consistent problem practice, not note review, separates the curve's top from its bottom.
How do I study for CHEM 162 exams?
Master ICE tables early, work every practice problem and old exam timed, and build separate study blocks for kinetics and thermodynamics. Identify the problem types you miss and drill those specifically.
Do I need CHEM 162 for pre-med at Rutgers?
Yes. CHEM 161/162 is the standard general chemistry sequence for pre-health students and the prerequisite path into organic chemistry.
More Rutgers courses
CHEM 161: General Chemistry I
CHEM 161 (01:160:161) is the first semester of Rutgers' general chemistry sequence for science and pre-health students, covering stoichiometry, atomic structure, bonding, gases, and thermochemistry. It pairs with CHEM 162 and is a prerequisite gateway to organic chemistry.
CHEM 307: Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 307 (01:160:307) is the first semester of Rutgers' organic chemistry sequence, surveying the structure, properties, and reactivity of the main classes of organic compounds, including many of biological interest. It's a 4-credit course (lecture plus recitation) and a notorious pre-health gateway.