Chemistry and Solving Equations

Sara Selfe (chemistry)

sselfe@edcc.edu

Jadwiga Weyant  (mathematics)

jweyant@edcc.edu

Edmonds Community College

Chem 101 with Math Reactivation

 Often in chemistry there are equations containing more than one variable that need to be solved for a specified variable.  This is equivalent to solving equations in mathematics using multiplication and addition properties of equality.

Manipulating Equations (as presented to students)

Examples of equations: 

1)      A = l ∙ w, where A = area of a rectangle, l = length and w = width

2)      A = pr², where A = area of a circle, r = radius.

3)      d = rt, where d is distance traveled at the rate, r, during time, t.

4)      , where d is density, m is mass and V is volume.

1. Solve the following equations using multiplication and addition property of equality. 

(Multiplying both sides of an equation by the same number or adding the same number to both sides of an equation does not change the equation’s solution.)

a)                             b)                      c)  ,  solve for x

2. Solve for the specified variable

a)      d = rt, solve for t

b)      PV = nRT, solve for P

c)      , solve for V

d)      , solve for C

3.  The density of titanium is 4.54 g/cm³.  What is the volume of 77.2 g of titanium?