Please Help, In tears! Chem

urmysunshine · Jun 10, 2008

I can't give an answer to the math problems, but I can tell you where to find help. Go to your college Academic Support Center today. Don't wait another moment. Instructors are there for your support and to help you understand HOW to solve those tricky problems. Have you tried emailing your instructor? Have you talked to anyone else in your class? Maybe a few others would like to join you in a study group. Also, most courses have websites with prpoblem solving techniques available to print & study at your pace. You sound frantic, and that's not a good position to be in so early in the course....I understand, have felt that way myself. Take a deep breath and regroup. It's only scary because you don't understand it yet. Once you "get it", you'll laugh at yourself!! Good luck to you!

hearts895, RN BSN · Jun 10, 2008

Hi! :loveya:

I completely understand where you are at as far as being scared about Chem. 101 and wanting so bad to get into a nursing program! I am a couple days away from taking the Final in my Chem. 101 class and I am sooo scared! But I don't mean to scare you any further. First, you should know that with the help of a tutor (do they have tutors at your school?) or a classmate whose got the hang of it (I just know there is at least one) you can totally learn to solve these questions, so don't panic just yet! I definetely understand that thats easier said than done (I developed a stress-based stomach ache over a Chem. quiz this morning lol - thank goodness the teacher called it off!). But really don't worry so much - but DO get help all quarter long! Trust me when I tell you its the key to success in Chem. 101 - that and studying all the time. With all that said I will now show you how to solve your bottom-most problem:

First of all, as you might already know, problems like these use the following equation:

q = m x C x △T

They also use a type of measurement called Joules (read all about it in your textbook)

q means the the end result of this equation and it is the amount of heat in Joules (I will have figure out what this is going to be in this problem)

m is the mass of the substance in grams (In this problem that is 168 g) So we already know that the mass is 168g

C is the specific heat (this is what we are trying to find)

△T is the temperature change in celsius, and to find this we subtract the high temp. from the low temp. (so in this problem we do this: 74 - 26 = 48) Now we know that the temp. change is 48 celsius

You have probably already noticed that we need to solve for the center part of the problem, that is C (specific heat), but you are might be wondering what q is. Here is how we solve for q:

we have 2750 calories of heat. It just so happens that 1 cal. of heat = 4.18 Joules

Recall that q is Joules of heat. So set up the problem using the cal to Joules ratio as a conversion factor. 2750 cal. times 4.18 J. divided by 1 cal. : 2750 cal (4.18 / 1)

From this we find that 2750 cal. of heat = 11495 Joules of heat! Now we have solved for q and it is: q = 11495 Joules

So now we need to solve for C (specific heat) - the whole big question of our problem.

Equation is now: 11495 Joules = 168 g. x C x 48

Now using the logic of simple algebra, we realize that to figure out C we have to isolate it on one side. We do that by dividing both sides by 168 x 48. This isolates C.

Equation is now: 11495 / (168 x 48) = C --- turns into: 11495 / 8064 = C -----

turns into: 1.42547123 = C --- now we have solved for C! Round the answer to the correct amount of spaces and our answer is:

1.43 C (specific heat)

This should be the correct answer, because when I plugged it back into the equation it worked.

I sure hope this explanation helped (sorry its so long winded) and I'll look into how to solve your other question (that looks a little tougher). You should learn this type of equation through and through because the teacher will ask you to solve for different parts of it in different problems (sometimes for q, sometimes for m, sometimes for C, and sometimes for △T). I wish you ALL the best of luck! Let me know if this helped and if you have anymore questions. Don't worry, you can get a good grade in Chem. 101, you just have to get some help like the previous poster said.

Hello, I am taking Fundamentals of chemistry this summer and I started today. I am already having problems with this class! The teacher goes speedy fast, and has no time to explain anything. I need to do well in order to apply for the nursing program. Please , I am begging and pleeding anyone and everyone to help.
I am having problems with the math part of chemistry. Example:
"A European car advertises an efficiency of 22 km/L, while an American car claims an economy of 30 miles/gal. What car is more efficient?"
OR
"If 168g of an unknown liquid requires 2750 cal of heat to raise it's temperature from 26 degrees celsius to 74 degrees celsius, what is the specific heat of the liquid?"
I am lost as to were to start on these problems. I need help,please anyone! Thanks so much!

js408 · Jun 10, 2008

The first question is basic algebra. Convert kilometers to miles and then convert liters to gallons. You can use google to do these conversions.

The specific heat is the quantity of heat (in calories/gram) required to raise the temperature of a unit weight of a substance by 1 degree. Again it's using algebra to do mathematical conversions...

Hello, I am taking Fundamentals of chemistry this summer and I started today. I am already having problems with this class! The teacher goes speedy fast, and has no time to explain anything. I need to do well in order to apply for the nursing program. Please , I am begging and pleeding anyone and everyone to help.
I am having problems with the math part of chemistry. Example:
"A European car advertises an efficiency of 22 km/L, while an American car claims an economy of 30 miles/gal. What car is more efficient?"
OR
"If 168g of an unknown liquid requires 2750 cal of heat to raise it's temperature from 26 degrees celsius to 74 degrees celsius, what is the specific heat of the liquid?"
I am lost as to were to start on these problems. I need help,please anyone! Thanks so much!

JBGC4 · Jun 10, 2008

Well, I think taking Chem in the summer is just plain brave! I took it last fall for the twelve week sem (along w/ anp) and I thought it was speedy. I remember feeling the same way you are right now. Overwhelmed. It you keep working on it and I mean by doing problems the teacher assigns and doing extra problems downloaded online or in the back of the text book, whatever, it will click. Taking chem means two hours of your own time to work, work, work. I ended up w/ a C for the class and now have to retake it in the fall. I didn't have a problem w/ the conversions you are doing now, I had a problem w/ stoicheometry. Somehow, it clicked at the end but not in enough time to save my grade. The ones who did really well in the class were the ones that got tutors on the side. This next fall I have decided to make chem my full time job. Hang in there. Don't EVER miss class and do the work. I promise it will click.

Lajimolala, BSN, RN, NP · Jun 10, 2008

Use dimensional analysis. There are already awesome responses, so I won't repeat it. But one of the ways to be successful in General Inorganic Chemistry is by mastering dimensional analysis. I just finished my last chemistry course last semester (Organic Chemistry) with an A, but trust me I started out nearly a year ago in your shoes.

My biggest advice to you is first, don't try to absorb everything at once. Take a deep breath and go through the steps slowly. Don't freak out when you see something you don't recognize at first (it takes awhile for your brain to understand that its stuff you HAVE seen before). Believe it or not, but I still freak out when in the end, I'll get 100s on my quizzes or tests. It's just unnecessary stress. Good luck!

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2008

whatever question you have, just pm me and i will answer!

SunnyCaRN · Jun 10, 2008

I agree with a previous poster that may-be a summer Chem might be to hard. Chem was my hardest and I took it during a full semester. I think if the speed is an issue, you should take it turning a regular semester.

Hotflashn · Jun 10, 2008

Hugs! I hear your pain and feel for you. I took a summer chem a few years back, after not having any kind of chem in 20+ years and not accustomed using dimensional analysis, and in the midst of all kinds of personal chaos. Worse, I felt like I was the only one who didn't get it. I remember it well. Hang in there.

You have gotten great responses. I agree, talk to the instructor, right away. If your school offers tutoring over the summer (mine did not) take it. Go as often as possible. If not, try to find a private tutor - though it may cost you, it is worth it. You instructor might know of a past student who did well and can help. Make friends with classmates and go to study group. It was my lab partner that saved my life. Tap into the resources in your class and any friends who have already taken the course (that helped me, too.) Plan to spend everyday working on chem. If it is already hard for you, you will have to work extra hard. Just give into it. Try to read the upcoming material before lecture so you can follow along and then reread the material after. Do all the homework and problems and keep practicing what you have learned, because there will likely be a comprehensive final.

You might also like the Standard Deviant DVD/videos on chemistry. Also, on Netflix there is a Chemistry course on DVD. It is a little dry, but it might help. I do best having material presented in many different ways. You might also want to tape lectures and listen whenever you can. I wish I would have.

You can do this. If however, you have any concerns about your ability to pass, and/or your entrance into NS depends on this, you may want to take it as a full semester class. Sometimes all you really need is time to absorb. That can be hard in the summer.

Take care.

dallet6 · Jun 17, 2008

I'm taking chem this summer too. 8 week course with 27 chapters? I'm already freaking out.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

I'm taking chem this summer too. 8 week course with 27 chapters? I'm already freaking out.

not too bad i am taking 27 chaps of A & P I in 4 weeks, we are on our third week, and alsmos done, i have been getting great grades! if i could do that, you can do well on chem! lol :chuckle

so and i have another 26 chaps for A&P II starting the first of july!

AlishiaRN77 · Jun 17, 2008

I took chem spring semester. If you need some help let me know. Also, I posted some great ways to learn coversions under the spring 2008 chem.

But if there is something that isn't posted on there let me know!

Also, a great book that helped me through chemistry was the Cliff Study Solver - Chemistry. Best book I ever purchased. It helped me get a 99% for my final grade in chemistry.

Good luck!!!