From liquids and solids to acids and bases - work chemistry equations and use formulas with ease Got a grasp on the chemistry terms and concepts you need to know, but get lost halfway through a problem or, worse yet, not know where to begin? Have no fear - this hands-on guide helps you solve many types of chemistry problems in a focused, step-by-step manner. With problem-solving shortcuts and lots of practice exercises, you'll build your chemistry skills and improve your performance both in and out of the science lab. You'll see how to work with numbers, atoms, and elements; make and remake compounds; understand changes in terms of energy; make sense of organic chemistry; and more!
100s of Problems!
*Know where to begin and how to solve the most common chemistry problems
*Step-by-step answer sets clearly identify where you went wrong (or right) with a problem
*Understand the key exceptions to chemistry rules
*Use chemistry in practical applications with confidence
Author(s): Peter J. Mikulecky; Michelle Rose Gilman; Brian Peterson; Katherine Brutlag
Series: For Dummies
Edition: 1
Publisher: Wiley
Language: English
Pages: 344
Chemistry Workbook for Dummies
About the Authors
Dedication
Authors’ Acknowledgments
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
Foolish Assumptions
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Getting Cozy with Numbers, Atoms, and Elements
Chapter 1: Noting Numbers Scientifically
Using Exponential and Scientific Notation to Report Measurements
Multiplying and Dividing in Scientific Notation
Using Exponential Notation to Add and Subtract
Distinguishing between Accuracy and Precision
Expressing Precision with Significant Figures
Doing Arithmetic with Significant Figures
Answers to Questions on Noting Numbers Scientifically
Chapter 2: Using and Converting Units
Familiarizing Yourself with Base Unitsand Metric System Prefixes
Building Derived Units from Base Units
Converting between Units: The Conversion Factor
Letting the Units Guide You
Answers to Questions on Usingand Converting Units
Chapter 3: Organizing Matter into Atoms and Phases
Building Atoms from Subatomic Particles
Deciphering Chemical Symbols: Atomic and Mass Numbers
Accounting for Isotopes Using Atomic Masses
Moving between the Phases of Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Answers to Questions on Organizing Matter
Chapter 4: Surveying the Periodic Table of the Elements
Reading Periods and Groups in the Periodic Table
Predicting Properties from Periodic and Group Trends
Seeking Stability with Valence Electrons by Forming Ions
Putting Electrons in Their Places: Electron Configurations
Measuring the Amount of Energy (Or Light) an Excited Electron Emits
Answers to Questions on the Periodic Table
Part II: Making and Remaking Compounds
Chapter 5: Building Bonds
Pairing Charges with Ionic Bonds
Sharing Charge with Covalent Bonds
Occupying and Overlapping Molecular Orbitals
Tugging on Electrons within Bonds: Polarity
Shaping Molecules: VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
Answers to Questions on Bonds
Chapter 6: Naming Compounds
Naming Ionic Compounds
Dealing with Those Pesky Polyatomic Ions
Giving Monikers to Molecular Compounds
Seeing the Forest: A Unified Scheme for Naming Compounds
Answers to Questions on Naming Compounds
Chapter 7: Managing the Mighty Mole
Counting Your Particles: The Mole
Assigning Mass and Volume to Moles
Giving Credit Where It’s Due: Percent Composition
Moving from Percent Composition to Empirical Formulas
Moving from Empirical Formulas to Molecular Formulas
Answers to Questions on Moles
Chapter 8: Getting a Grip on Chemical Equations
Translating Chemistry into Equations and Symbols
Making Your Chemical Equations True by Balancing
Recognizing Reactions and Predicting Products
Getting Rid of Mere Spectators: Net Ionic Equations
Answers to Questions on Chemical Equations
Chapter 9: Putting Stoichiometry to Work
Using Mole-Mole Conversions from Balanced Equations
Putting Moles at the Center: Conversions Involving Particles, Volumes, and Masses
Limiting Your Reagents
Counting Your Chickens after They’ve Hatched: Percent Yield Calculations
Answers to Questions on Stoichiometry
Part III: Examining Changes in Terms of Energy
Chapter 10: Understanding States in Terms of Energy
Describing States of Matter with Kinetic Theory
Make a Move: Figuring Out Phase Transitions and Diagrams
Discerning Differences in Solid States
Answers to Questions on Changes of State
Chapter 11: Obeying Gas Laws
Getting the Vapors: Evaporation and Vapor Pressure
Playing with Pressure and Volume: Boyle’s Law
Tinkering with Volume and Temperature: Charles’s Law and Absolute Zero
All Together Now: The Combined and Ideal Gas Laws
Mixing It Up with Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures
Diffusing and Effusing with Graham’s Law
Answers to Questions on Gas Laws
Chapter 12: Dissolving into Solutions
Seeing Different Forces at Work in Solubility
Altering Solubility with Temperature
Concentrating on Molarity and Percent Solutions
Changing Concentrations by Making Dilutions
Answers to Questions on Solutions
Chapter 13: Playing Hot and Cold: Colligative Properties
Portioning Particles: Molality and Mole Fractions
Too Hot to Handle: Elevating and Calculating Boiling Points
How Low Can You Go? Depressing and Calculating Freezing Points
Determining Molecular Masses with Boiling and Freezing Points
Answers to Questions on Colligative Properties
Chapter 14: Exploring Rate and Equilibrium
Measuring Rates
Focusing on Factors that Affect Rates
Measuring Equilibrium
Checking Out Factors that Disrupt Equilibrium
Answers to Questions on Rate and Equilibrium
Chapter 15: Warming Up to Thermochemistry
Working with the Basics of Thermodynamics
Holding Heat: Heat Capacity and Calorimetry
Absorbing and Releasing Heat: Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions
Summing Heats with Hess’s Law
Answers to Questions on Thermochemistry
Part IV: Swapping Charges
Chapter 16: Giving Acids and Bases the Litmus Test
Three Complementary Methods for Defining Acids and Bases
Measuring Acidity and Basicity: pH, pOH, and KW
Finding Strength through Dissociation: Ka and Kb
Answers to Questions on Acids and Bases
Chapter 17: Achieving Neutrality with Equivalents, Titration, and Buffers
Examining Equivalents and Normality
Concentrating on Titration to Figure Out Molarity
Maintaining Your pH with Buffers
Measuring Salt Solubility: Ksp
Answers to Questions on Neutralizing Equivalents
Chapter 18: Accounting for Electrons in Redox
Keeping Tabs on Electrons with Oxidation Numbers
Balancing Redox Reactions under Acidic Conditions
Balancing Redox Reactions under Basic Conditions
Answers to Questions on Electrons in Redox
Chapter 19: Galvanizing Yourself into Electrochemistry
Identifying Anodes and Cathodes
Calculating Electromotive Force and Standard Reduction Potentials
Coupling Current to Chemistry: Electrolytic Cells
Answers to Questions on Electrochemistry
Chapter 20: Doing Chemistry with Atomic Nuclei
Decaying Nuclei in Different Ways
Measuring Rates of Decay: Half-Lives
Making and Breaking Nuclei: Fusion and Fission
Answers to Questions on Nuclear Chemistry
Part V: Going Organic
Chapter 21: Making Chains with Carbon
Single File Now: Linking Carbons into Continuous Alkanes
Going Out on a Limb: Making Branched Alkanes by Substitution
Getting Unsaturated: Alkenes and Alkynes
Rounding ’ em Up: Circular Carbon Chains
Answers to Questions on Carbon Chains
Chapter 22: Seeing Isomers in Stereo
Picking Sides with Geometric Isomers
Staring into the Mirror with Enantiomers and Diastereomers
Answers to Questions on Stereoisomers
Chapter 23: Moving through the Functional Groups
Meeting the Cast of Chemical Players
Reacting by Substitution and Addition
Seeing Chemistry at Work in Biology
Answers to Questions on Functional Groups
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 24: Ten Formulas to Tattoo on Your Brain
The Combined Gas Law
Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures
The Dilution Equation
Rate Laws
The Equilibrium Constant
Free Energy Change
Constant-Pressure Calorimetry
Hess’s Law
pH, pOH, and KW
Ka and Kb
Chapter 25: Ten Annoying Exceptions to Chemistry Rules
Hydrogen Isn’t an Alkali Metal
The Octet Rule Isn’t Always an Option
Some Electron Configurations Ignore the Orbital Rules
One Partner in Coordinate Covalent Bonds Giveth Electrons; the Other Taketh
All Hybridized Orbitals Are Created Equal
Use Caution When Naming Compounds with Transition Metals
You Must Memorize Polyatomic Ions
Liquid Water Is Denser than Ice
No Gas Is Truly Ideal
Common Names for Organic Compounds Hearken Back to the Old Days
Index
