Nervous about Chemistry

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I thought Medical Microbiology was difficult, it seemed alot easier compared to Chemistry. I am having problems with the acid, base, neutral formulas, and pretty much every forumula that we have discussed up to this point. I have read the chapters numerous times and it is just not sinking in. I really do not know what to do. Is there and easier way to learn the formulas and actually understand them?

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What formulas are you talking about?

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Here are three homework examples:

1. Write the formula and name of the conjugate base for each of the following units:

a. HCO3- b. H3O+ c. HPO42- d. HNO2

2. Write the formula and name of the conjugate acid for each of the following:

a. SO42- b. CN- c. OH- d. CLO2-, chlorite ion

3. Indicate whether the following are acidic, basic, or neutral solutions:

a. [H3O+} = 6.0 X 10 -12 M b. [H3O+] = 1.4 X 10 -9 M

c. [OH-] = 5.0 X 10 -12 M d. [OH-} = 4.5 X 10 -2 M

I don't know if this is considered basic chemistry or not but I never took Chemistry before so it's all new to me. I don't think my teacher spent enough time explained any of this and he seemed aggravated when people asked him questions about it.

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Ok...let me see if I can help out.

A conjugate base is something that forms when an acid loses a H.

A conjugate acid is something that forms when a base gains a H.

An acid is a proton (H ion) donor and a base is a proton acceptor.

So the first list are all acids and they want you to find the c. base. So that should mean you just take an H away from each. For example, the first one is HCO3, so the c. base would be CO3(2-) which is carbonate.

With the second list, these are bases and you want to find the c. acid, so you just add an H. For example, the first one is SO4(2-) so that would be HSO4 with is sulfuric acid.

Does that make sense?

I still need to look at that third part...

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Thank you very much. I think I read in the chapter that for an acid you add an ic and for a base you add an ate at the end of the element?

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Here's a good site for the rules of naming acids and bases:

http://www.cipce.rpi.edu/~cannoh/chempages/Rules%20for%20Naming%20Acids%20and%20Bases.htm

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Chemistry will get easier for you. I was petrified during Chem 101 as I never had it before. I did ok and got a B. I read each chapter about 3 times. I did all the problems. Then I asked my instructor for additional problems with answers that I could check. He gave me specific worksheets for myself and some others that were 1st time chem students. BUT I have to say this, chem will help in all your other classes. Everything goes back to chemistry. I think if I were 18 and starting college for the first time, I would major in Chem because I love it! I am taking organic this semester. We are working on alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. Everything revolves around hydrogen and carbon. I am also learning about benzene. Benzenes are everywhere. The class is hard, but interesting. I am trying to take chem 102, a&p 102 and microbiology all in the same semester. This is just so I can apply in the spring for an accelerated BSN. Yes, I am insane!!

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I have a BA in English and am now going back to school to be a nurse. Chemistry is something I have been scared of and avoided since high school! I of course have to take it to get into nursing school and we just had our first exam tonight. I was scared but once you get the concepts, you just have to practice and practice. I did all of the problems at the end of each chapter even though we didn't have to and that helped a lot. If you are confused, can you get a chem tutor? At our community college they have a tutoring/study center for chemistry students.

I am the slowest one in the class and labs. I take a long time to do my work but I try to just do it carefully.

Good luck to you! :)

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Thank you very much. I think I read in the chapter that for an acid you add an ic and for a base you add an ate at the end of the element?

I learned this trick from my lab teacher:

You have an acid disease called "ate-ic ite-ous", so -ate's become -ic, and -ite's become -ous.

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lol thats a cute one i always say if i "ate" something its "icky" lol now everyone in my class uses it. someone posted a list of mneomonics on the other board i will post them here too if anyone wants to check them out they are funny and some are helpful.

medical mnemonics .com: world's database of medical mnemonics

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