TERMS USED IN QUESTION PAPERS

Most questions begin with one of the following words / terms / action verbs.   It is useful to know what these words mean.

Objective - I

1. Define         means "give the exact meaning of’. Give the precise meaning of a word or phrase as concisely as possible.

2. Draw           represent by means of pencil lines (add labels unless told not to do so)

3. List              give a sequence of names or other brief answers with no elaboration, each one clearly separated from the others

4. Measure     find a value for a quantity

5. State            it means “give a concise factual answer”. Give a specific name, value or other brief answer (no supporting argument or calculation is necessary)

Objective - II

6. Annotate    add brief notes to a diagram, drawing or graph

7. Apply          use an idea, equation, principle, theory or law in a new situation

8. Calculate    used when a numerical answer is required. Find an answer using mathematical methods (Working must be shown unless instructed not to do so) = Find

9. Compare     give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items, referring to both (all) of them throughout (comparisons can be given using a table)

10. Describe   means to write down fully what you would do or observe. Give a detailed account, including all the relevant information = Illustrate, Express

11. Distinguish - give the differences between two or more different items = Differentiate (differences can be given using a table)

12. Estimate   used when a numerical answer is required. Find an approximate value for an unknown quantity, based on the information provided and scientific knowledge

13. Identify     find an answer from a number of possibilities

14. Outline      means keep your answer brief. Give a brief account or summary (include essential information only) = Sketch, Summarise

Objective - III

15. Analyse    interpret data to reach conclusions

16. Construct  represent or develop in graphical form

17. Deduce     reach a conclusion from the information given

18. Derive      manipulate a mathematical equation to give a new equation or result

19. Design      produce a plan, object, simulation or model

20. Determine - means that you must use the information given to write out the answer. Find the only possible answer = Find out, Find

21. Discuss      give an account including, where possible, a range of arguments, assessments of the relative importance of various factors or comparisons of alternative hypotheses

22. Evaluate   assess the implications and limitations

23. Explain      means you must give some reasons. Give a clear account including causes, reasons or mechanisms = Elucidate, Give Details

24. Predict       means that you have to make a logical deduction either from your own knowledge or from information in the question or from both. Give an expected result

25. Solve         obtain an answer using algebraic and/or numerical methods

26. Suggest     means that there is no unique answer but you are to give your own idea of the best answer. Propose a hypothesis or other possible answer = Propose

27. Write down is meant literally. You just write down the answer.

  -----

“Find” is often used in place of “Calculate” or “Determine”.

MEMORY AID - Easy Way to Remember

Choose whichever methods make most reasonable to you
1. Oxidation - Reduction Reaction : Electron Gain / Loss

**LEO   the lion says   GER**

LEO = Loss of Electrons;   Oxidation

GER = Gain of Electrons;   Reduction

Or

**OIL RIG**

OIL = Oxidation Is Loss (of electrons)

RIG = Reduction Is Gain (of electrons)

Or

ORE

Oxidation is Removal of Electrons
 2. Oxidizing Reducing Agent

"LEO the lion said GER / rOAR"

LEO = Loses Electrons Oxidation

GER = Gains Electrons Reduction

rOAR = Oxidizing Agent Reduced

3. Oxidation versus Reduction:

Electrochemical Cell and Electron Gain / Loss

Two Animals:                   RED CAT  &  AN OX

RED CAT =  REDuction occurs at the CAThode

AN OX = OXidation occurs at the ANode

Or

AN OIL RIG CAT

At the ANode, Oxidation Involves Loss of electrons

Reduction Involves Gaining electrons at the CAThode

4. Cathode: What happens during Electrolysis?

      Current Carries Cations to the Cathode for reduCtion

The anode is the electrode through which electrons flow out of a polarised electrical device (or the electrode through which current flows in)

      ACID = Anode Current Into Device (During discharge)

5. Oxidation and Reduction occur during Electrolysis

At the anode electrons are removed from the negative ion;

at the Anode you get oxidAtion

At the cathode electrons are added to the positive ion;

at the Cathode you get reduCtion

6. Cation versus Anion : Positive versus Negative Charge

The t in cation looks like a plus sign: "ca+ion"

Cation is positive, anion is negative. 

ANion is A Negative ion

7. Cell Convention

For any electrochemical cell, oxidation always occurs at the anode and reduction always occurs at the cathode.

Keep the Vowels together & the Consonants together

Oxidation at the Anode;

Reduction at the Cathode

Also, when drawing a galvanic cell, most people use the convention where the anode is on the left and the cathode is on the right.

ABC to remember this convention (Anode / Bridge / Cathode)

8. Choice of a Suitable Indicator

SAW Me

&

WASP

SAW Me = Strong Acid x Weak base – Methyl orange

WASP = Weak Acid x Strong base – Phenolphthalein

9. Gibb's free energy formula

"Good Honey Tastes Sweet"

G = H – TS

Or

 ∆G = ∆H – T∆S

 10. Cis / trans (Geometric) Isomers :

Arrangement of Functional Groups

Cis – Starts with a C and the Functional Group form a C
Trans, therefore is the other one by default

11. Cis / Trans (Geometric) Isomer : E, Z -  Nomenclature

(E)- : the higher priority groups are on opposite sides of the double bond

(Z)- : the higher priority groups are on the same side of the double bond

      The letter "Z" is written in a zigzag way. If you draw a vertical line splitting it down the middle then it’s the same halves (same sides of double bond).

      The letter "E" is written differently so a vertical line splits it into different halves (different sides of double bond).
Or 
E is for "Enemies", which are on opposite sides
Z is just the other way around from E
Or 

If the German words can be memorized –

 ZuSAMmEn contains part of the English word Same

Or

Observe the shapes of the letters "Z" and "E"

Imply the reverse of the correct configuration

Or
The shapes of E and Z isomers are the opposite of the shapes of the letters E and Z
In the letter E, the horizontal strokes are all on the same side;
in the E isomer, the higher priority groups are on opposite sides.
In the letter Z, the horizontal strokes are on opposite sides;
in the Z isomer, the higher priority groups are on the same side
 12. Substitution Order on a Benzene ring

R = Position of primary substituent #1

O = Ortho = position #2

M = Meta = position #3

P = Para = position #4

Or

13. Heterogeneous Catalysis

HARD

Hetero  = Adsorption + Reaction + Desorption

14. Dicarboxylic Acids C2 through C10 : Common Names

Onnu Millai Summa GAPSAS
 Or

“Oh My, Such Good Apple Pie, Sweet As Sugar!” 
Or
Oh My Son Go And Play

Oxalic acid      Malonic acid   Succinic acid

Glutaric acid   Adipic acid     Pimelic acid

Suberic acid    Azelaic acid    Sebacic acid

15. Aldohexoses

All altruists gladly make gum in gallon tanks

All = Allose,

Altruists = Altrose,

gladly = Glucose,

make = Manose,

gum = Gulose,

in = Idose,

gallon = Galactose,

tanks = Talose

16. Homo Diatomic Molecules

BrINClHOF

Pronounced Brinklehoff

Help Our Needy Class Find Brains Immediately

For: H O N Cl F Br I

Or

“Horses Need Oats For Clear Brown “I”s” /

“I Never Fish On His Clean Brook”

7 elements (hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) appear in nature as diatomic molecules.

Eg. H₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, Cl₂, Br₂ and I₂

_Or

The last six form a large “7” in the Periodic Table

17. List of the Common Non-metals in Decreasing Order of Electro Negativity

– F, O, Cl, N, Br, I, S, C……H –

Pronounced fossil n brisk to help
 18. C₁₀ to C₂₀ Natural Fatty Acids

"Curly, Larry & Moe Perform Silly Antics"

Capric, Lauric, Myristic, Palmitic, Stearic and Arachidic

(Note that the names of the three stooges are in alphabetical order)

19. Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth members of the Fatty Acid Series

Second vowels of the three words Caproic, Caprylic, and Capric acids are o, y, and i . Memorized as "Oh my eye"

 20. Electron Shells / Energy Levels of Electrons

Sticky paint dries fast /

 

Some People Don't Fear

s, p, d, f

 21. Orbital Names for Electrons Before Alphabetical Order Begins

Sober People Don’t Find Good In Killing

s, p, d, f, g, i, k. After that, Alphabetical Order Begins

 22. Test for Acids

BRAin /

 

coBRA

Blue Litmus Turns Red in Acid Medium

நீ சிரித்தால் நான் அழுவேன்

நீல லிட்மஸ் சிவப்பாக மாறும் அமிலத்தில்

 23. Lewis Theory

LEwis theory deals with the Electrons

24. Appropriate Locations of the Variables on a Graph

DRY MIX

      DRY represents Dependent – Responding – Y-axis

      MIX represents Manipulated – Independent – X-axis

25. Mohs Hardness Scale

To Get Calcite From Any Old Quarry Takes Constant Digging

To = Talc,

Get = Gypsum,

Calcite = Calcite, 

From = Fluorite,

Any = Apatite, 

Old = Orthoclase Feldspar,

Quarry = Quartz,

Takes = Topaz, 

Constant = Corundum, 

Digging = Diamond.

The first letter of each word is the first letter of the mineral in the hardness scale in order from 1 to10 with 1 being the softest mineral & 10 being the hardest mineral.

  
                                                            HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY

Let us salute

     The Nation Builder,

                The Creator of our destiny,

                          The one who had Taught us to Live, Fight,

                                      Survive and Shine in this world.

                                                Let us Salute our Teachers