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A Known-to-Unknown Approach to Teach about Empirical and Molecular Formulas

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P. K. Thamburaj

Department of Chemistry, Ohio University Center, Zanesville, OH 43701

J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (7), p 915

DOI: 10.1021/ed078p915

Publication Date (Web): July 1, 2001

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Students learn better when relationships in chemistry (Unknown) are similar to life experiences (Known). The procedure used to determine empirical and molecular formulas of compounds may be illustrated by presenting problems associated with the composition of sums of money (number of different bills) a person may have. The atomic masses are analogous to values of different bills, the empirical formula mass to minimum amount of total money required to retain the ratio of bills, and the molar mass to the sum of money a person may have.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

Applications and Analogies

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Analogies / Transfer

Keywords (Subject):

Stoichiometry

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

Known-to-Unknown Approach To Teach about Coulomb's Law
P. K. Thamburaj
Journal of Chemical Education2007 84 (3), 438
- Known-to-Unknown Approach To Teach about Coulomb's Law
  P. K. Thamburaj
  Journal of Chemical Education2007 84 (3), 438
  Analogies from life experiences help students understand various relationships presented in an introductory chemistry course. Coulomb's law is a complex relationship encountered in introductory general chemistry. A proper understanding of the ...
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