How Much to Compromise on Understanding Outside of Chem's Syllabus

from IB Chemistry HL memorization material list

Understanding beyond the syllabus: How far should we compromise?? (aka)

• For example, I don’t need an explanation of ferro/para/dia magnetism, but I need to be able to describe the magnetic characteristic, so I kind of understand it.
• d-d splitting
  • Syllabus: The d sub-level splits into two sets of orbitals of different energy in a complex, with an explanation of ligand and central metal identity / only understanding of octahedral crystal field. So, do we really need to understand crystal field theory?!
    • Crystal field theory, what’s that? (blu3mo)
      • It explains how d orbitals split based on the coordination of ligands.
        • Only understanding of octahedral crystal field (so I guess memorizing 2 and 3 is enough)
    • It wasn’t difficult, but if we cover each theory one by one, it feels like it will never end.
  • (I feel like I forget everything immediately because of this)
• Outside of the syllabus, I completely ignore it unless I feel like it. (blu3mo)
  • Chemistry is endless in this regard, and it feels too difficult to understand in the quantum mechanical world that lies deeper.
    • Especially when it comes to orbitals.
    • Definitely! (aka)
  • In the end, even the textbook pushes us to understand the details through a general atmosphere and intuitive imagery.
    • The textbook uses analogies from the macro world and says, “Well, this explanation should make sense, right?”
    • For example, the repulsion between orbitals is explained with a simple analogy like “There are a lot of electrons, so they push each other.”
      • Well, I guess that’s the limit.