Chemistry Math Review?

[kalley]

I am taking Chemistry and A&PI this fall. I do not however have to take a math because i passed pre-calculus with an "A" when I was in college 10 yrs ago. Needless to say, I need some brushing up. We are not getting into the heavier math in Chemistry until the end of the semester so that the students who are taking math this semester have some math behind them before we do it. I would like to review some algebra in my "free time" before we get into it, but I will have limited time because of the heavier schedule I have this semester. If anyone could help point me in a direction as to what I should brush up to help with chemistry on I would greatly appreciate it.

[osagarese]

conversions is the one main basic thing you would need for chemistry, like how many grams in a kilogram? Decimal points, division, algebra expressions like D= m/v (density= mass/volume)

If your good @ math you should be able to do chemistry.

Oh yes the mole as well, everybody makes a big deal about it but to me that was the easiest.

I found this web site pretty helpful it's www.chem4kids.com

I know sound like for preschool but it is actually everything they have in chem 101.

Hope this was helpful.

Good Luck!

[AtomicWoman]

It depends on which chemistry course you are taking. In a normal Chem I class, all you need is BASIC algebra. Significant figures, dimensional analysis, solving for x (getting all your knowns on one side of the equation, in other words), scientific notation, understanding exponents (and feeling comfortable working with them), occasionally logarithmic (both base ten and e) functions (depends on which topics you cover). Review things like: what do I do if I am multiplying x^2 times 4x^3? What if I have to raise a power to a power? (Like (2x^2)^2)

Overall, the math in Chem I is absolutely nothing to stress about. If you got an A in math 10 years ago, you'll just need to do a quickie review.

If you are doing a combined Chem course and your topics cover some Chem II topics such as equilibrium, you will need to be very familiar with the quadratic equation, logarithmic functions and solving equations with logarithmic expressions. When I took Chem II, I kept thinking, Dang! I didn't sign up for no math course! LOL

Get your scientific calculator now if you haven't already, and get very comfortable with its functions. For example, on my original calculator, entering 1.2 x 10^-3 involved standing on my head and reciting the periodic table backwards! Just kidding, of course. But my beloved Casio is really, really intuitive and I can enter functions very easily on it. If you are interested in the Casio I'm talking about here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-FX-115MS-Plus-Scientific-Calculator/dp/B00004TVDO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220107657&sr=8-3

Here's a "quick and dirty" chem math site from Texas A&M that I found helpful:

http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-algeb.html

Scroll down to the bottom to see the other math topics they have.

Chemreview.net also has some helpful math in the first lesson:

http://www.chemreview.net/download_instructions.htm

I found this professor's review of exponents and logarithms a little dense, but it was great when I needed a quick answer to a question like: do I multiply or add the exponents when I raise a power to a power? :)

http://www.okc.cc.ok.us/maustin/Exp_Log_Equations/Exponential%20and%20Logarithmic%20Equations.htm

Good luck in chem! Be sure to post questions in the chem thread, if you have any questions!