Question

My son is in 10th grade and is having trouble in Chemistry. He has failed every semester because he just doensn't get it. He goes in for tutoring and still nothing. How can I help him?

Answer 1

His most recent test was over balancing equations. He made a 10 on the thest.

Answer 2

chemistry is a difficult science, particularly because it requires the "belief" of some pretty abstract concepts. Knowing nothing about your son, or your school system, the average 10th grader has a very hard time with ideas that require this kind of abstract thinking. That's why chemistry is typically taught to 11th-12th grade students.

Has your son taken a background course in a "physical science", like a foundations of chemistry? What science courses did he take last year, and the year before?

Answer 3

His 9th grade year he took Biology. 8th grade he took Pre Ap Science. Both of these classes were taken in public schools. He passed both of those classes. He has not had Physical Science yet. He is now in a private school and all of their classes are PreAp classes. The teacher informed me that this is a college level class. That is basically all they offer at this school for the high school students.

Answer 4

Here is one of the questions from his homework that he has no idea how to do. Can someone explain this problem?

Write the equation when potassium carbonate forms potassium oxide and carbon dioxide. (Use the lowest possible coefficients. Omit states of matter in your answer).

What type of reaction is this? single replacement, synthesis, double replacement, decomposition

Answer 5

each chemical compound has a unique name, and also a unique formula. "potassium carbonate" means a specific, unique formula. If he doesn't know the simple ionic and covalent naming rules, that is probably the most important thing to learn fast.

because each name and formula is unique, the reaction in words can be rewritten as:\[K_2CO_3 \rightarrow K_2O + CO_2\] the word "forms", "yields", or "creates" implies a change of the substances on the left side, the reactants, into the products, on the right side of the reaction arrow.

it's important that the reaction balance, so that the same number of each individual atom appear on both sides of the reaction arrow. This reaction is balanced with a coefficient of "1" in front of all the formulas.

This reaction follows one of the five major types of chemical reaction. In this case, one large reactant molecule is split into two or more smaller, simpler products. This is a decomposition reaction.

Answer 6

the ideas in chemistry build on each other so intricately that a student really has to be absolutely sure of formulas and names before moving forward. i would try to focus on building up that base knowledge of turning names into proper formulas and back again

Answer 7

I agree with JFraser you should learn how to name ionic compounds wikipedia gives an ok guide to this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUPAC_nomenclature_of_inorganic_chemistry

On a search engine type,

"IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic compounds" or IUPAC naming inorganic compounds

It really helps to memorize all the polyatomic ions as well, it may seem like a lot but it isn't so bad.

http://www.mychemistrytutor.com/downloads/common-polyatomic-ions-short-list

Second step is to learn the different type of reactions

http://misterguch.brinkster.net/6typesofchemicalrxn.html

Lastly, balancing equations it is very very simple and there exists tons upon tons of resources on this (youtube is great)

Here is a video that explains balancing,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnGu3xO2h74

you can find more videos if this isn't good by typing in youtube, balancing chemical equations.

You can use this website to check your work as well,
http://www.webqc.org/balance.php

Answer 8

It would also be a good idea for him to memorize the strong acids and strong bases

http://mccord.cm.utexas.edu/courses/summer2005/ch302/strong.html

A lot of first year chemistry is nomenclature, which is important, but can be dry and seem tedious. This stuff is important to master though if your son plans on going into the sciences or engineering

Answer 9

using the resources I provided you, he should be able to answer that question no problem and anyone like it.

Answer 10

I would recommend creating or finding, naming chemicals and writing out their formula and vice versa work sheets for your son to do

Answer 11

Thanks everyone for the infomation. I am going to check out these websites and pass along to him as well. Hopefully, this will make sense to him. I know sometimes that not understanding your teacher and their instruction can make all the difference.

Answer 12

I am very sorry to hear that your son is having troubles to understand this hard topic!