I don't actually have problems, but I have a test over stoichiometry tomorrow, which is pretty much going to determine my semester grade.

Question

I was just wondering if anyone knew any helpful tips, hints, or just an easier way to explain the basics of stoichiometry to me, because it's not sticking for some reason.

Anything would be appreciated, thanks.

If you can explain what you didn't understand about the four step procedure I provided last night I shall be happy to help you through the rough part; otherwise, I will let someone else answer your question.

Well, that's the thing...I know it's asking for kind of the impossible, but I just need ponters. Like, I understand it when you have it right there typed out for me, and I study and study it, but when I try to work one myself, it just comes out wrong. Either I balance the equation wrong, misinterpret what the word problem is asking, or just skip steps....it's always something small that leads to my demise...or at least, my grade's demise.

I THINK what you are saying is that you understand the proces but you make errors which makes you get the wrong answer. The problem is one of small mistakes and the only way you can overcome that is to practice, practice, practice, AND check every step twice to make sure you haven't done something wrong. Balancing an equation wrong will cause it and you just must be careful in balancing them. Check it when you are finished, atom by atom, to make sure it actually balances. Look at the screen when you punch in numbers to the calculator to make sure you punched in the right numbers. I make that mistake a lot. Read and reread the problem to make sure you know what they want. I convert almost everything to mols before I start so I will have those numbers in front of me. And I have tried to train myself to think in terms of mols. Good luck. Bob Pursley is good about giving advice. Perhaps you could address a post to him and tell him what you have told me. Perhaps he will read this and chime in also. He is on now; I will ask him to do so.

Yes, converting everything to mols first would probably be helpful. Sometimes the equation isn't given to us on tests, which is difficult for me because I'm terrible at writing equations. For instance, knowing how certain things are writtn like ammonia. No idea. Also, things like iron(III)....really confuses me, and I get flustered so easily.