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> What is the heaviest noble gas? > What combustible compound, the principal component of natural gas, has the chemical formula CH4? Oh come on, you can be sc
by enko 15y ago
> What is the heaviest noble gas?
> What combustible compound, the principal component of natural gas, has the chemical formula CH4?
Oh come on, you can be scientifically literate and not remember these factoids. Understanding and internalisation of the "scientific posture" does not equate to the ability to answer random multiple choice questions about chemistry.
- newsoundwave 15y agoI've been a programmer for a while and haven't taken a chemistry class in at least 6 or 7 years but neither question should be that difficult. For the noble gas question, I've long since memorized the periodic table (since it's just a list and lists are easy to remember - especially using the method of loci). As for CH4, methane is a basic elementary chemistry concept. I'm fairly certain it would qualify as basic scientific information. Although I do agree there were some rather difficult ones I wasn't sure how I would know without having memorized it.
- enko 15y agoI am familiar with the alkanes, it's just the inconsistent names that I can't remember. If the question had asked what C8H18 was called, then "octane" would roll off my tongue. Also, I obviously haven't memorised the periodic table, nor do I immediately see why doing so is necessary for scientific literacy. Isn't understanding it enough? I bet there's plenty of scientists who can't remember the whole thing.