Scientific Calculator for Chemistry

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Hi Everyone,

I wanted to know what's the best calculator for an intro to chemistry course like 101? What calculator can help with conversion factors and physical constants? or chemistry in general?

I remember reading a while back on the board that it's best to get a scientific calculator that has a built in key for conversion factors (CONV) and physical constants (CONS) like mole, mass, etc.

Anyone know which is best to purchase? I would really appreciate your help.

Best of luck to all of those pre-nursing students this semester! ;)

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Hi Everyone,

I wanted to know what's the best calculator for an intro to chemistry course like 101? What calculator can help with conversion factors and physical constants? or chemistry in general?

I remember reading a while back on the board that it's best to get a scientific calculator that has a built in key for conversion factors (CONV) and physical constants (CONS) like mole, mass, etc.

Anyone know which is best to purchase? I would really appreciate your help.

Best of luck to all of those pre-nursing students this semester! ;)

I took two years of chemistry - general and organic - and never used a scientific calculator until I got to physics (I had this mad idea that I was going to go to pharmacy school). You're going to write out the problem on paper anyway, and then just plug the numbers in like you would in a regular math problem.

You may find you don't need one, and with all the chemistry I've had, I would say that for just an intro chem course, you probably can spare yourself the expense.

Just my :twocents:

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I used a TI-30 that is the one that my prof. recomended and what most of the class used. We were not allowed to use any type of graphing calculator. I would just get the basic, mine was about $15.

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Specializes in OR, Telemetry, PCCU, Med/Surg.

I used the same scientific calculator I had to use throughout high school. It's the Texas Instruments 83+ It's an expensive machine, the price hasn't gone down in the past ten years or so! You'll pay $95 for it on Amazon. However, if you need a scientific calculator for any other classes, I would definitely recommend it.

However, it does so much more than what you need for chemistry. So far I haven't had to use any of the "scientific" features of my calculator.

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I just used a $15 calculator off a target shelf for my 4 semesters of college chemistry.

BUT I do know the new TI-83 (within like the last year) has added a conversion part under their programs.

But it's not necessary to have. I wouldn't buy a $100 calculator...plus, i'm pretty sure you need to know how to do conversions and such when you get into a pharmacology class or something along the lines of that.

:)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I went through the entire BA in chemistry with a TI-30 and it was sufficient. Graphing calculators are overkill for almost everybody and certainly for chemistry. Having some built-in conversions is a nice luxury but once you get out the first couple of weeks, you won't use them much, anyway.

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My professor recommended a TI-84. My opinion is that it's overkill and I don't know how to use most of the functions. I am only in the first few weeks of Gen Chem, so I hope that I will see the benefit of such an expensive purchase.

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I had a TI and hated everything about it. I replaced it with a Casio FX-115. I like the display a lot better and I really like the ability to back up and correct an incorrectly-entered number. It does everything you need a calculator for Chem to do. Entering scientific notation on the Casio is easier than it is on my old TI, too.

Here it is on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-FX-115MS-Plus-Scientific-Calculator/dp/B00004TVDO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1202445238&sr=8-2

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