CSEC Chemistry and Physics Formula
Sheet (with Explanations and Memory
Aids)
Chemistry
1. **Number of Moles**
- **Formula**: n = mass / molar mass
- **Explanation**: This tells you how many moles of a substance are in a given mass.
Rearranging it:
- Mass = n × molar mass
- Molar mass = mass / n
- **Tip**: Always check your units; mass should be in grams.
2. **Ideal Gas Law**
- **Formula**: PV = nRT
- **Explanation**: Pressure (P) times volume (V) equals the number of moles (n) times the
gas constant (R) times temperature (T).
- **Play-around**: Want to find Volume? V = nRT / P
- **Unit Tip**: Temperature in Kelvin (K), Pressure in Pa, Volume in m^3.
3. **Gas Laws (Acronym: BCG-A)**
- **B - Boyle's Law**: P ∝ 1/V (T constant)
**Memory Aid**: *'Boyle Boils the Volume Down with Pressure'*
- **C - Charles's Law**: V ∝ T (P constant)
**Memory Aid**: *'Charles is Very Tall'* (Volume and Temperature)
- **G - Gay-Lussac's Law**: P ∝ T (V constant)
**Memory Aid**: *'Gay-Lussac Pumps the Temperature Up'*
- **A - Avogadro's Law**: V ∝ n
**Memory Aid**: *'Avogadro Adds Moles = More Volume'*
4. **Concentration Calculations**
- **Dilution Formula**: C₁V₁ = C₂V₂
- **Explanation**: Used when you're diluting a solution from one concentration to
another.
5. **Percentage Yield**
- **Formula**: Percentage Yield = (Actual Yield / Theoretical Yield) × 100%
6. **Atom Economy**
- **Formula**: Atom Economy = (Molar mass of desired product / Molar mass of all
reactants) × 100%
Physics
1. **SUVAT Equations** (used for uniformly accelerated motion)
- s = ut + ½at²
- v = u + at
- v² = u² + 2as
- **Memory Aid**: *'SUVAT'*: Displacement (s), Initial Velocity (u), Final Velocity (v),
Acceleration (a), Time (t)
2. **Density**
- Formula: ρ = mass / volume
- Rearranged: Mass = Density × Volume, Volume = Mass / Density
3. **Pressure**
- Formula: P = Force / Area
4. **Work, Energy and Power**
- Work: W = F × d
- Power: P = W / t
- Kinetic Energy: KE = ½mv²
- Potential Energy: PE = mgh
Additional Math: Trigonometric Ratios
Trigonometric Ratios (Special Angles Table)
| Angle | sin(θ) | cos(θ) | tan(θ) |
|-------|--------|--------|--------|
| 30° | 1/2 | √3/2 | 1/√3 |
| 45° | √2/2 | √2/2 | 1 |
| 60° | √3/2 | 1/2 | √3 |
Memory Aid: "Some People Have / Curly Brown Hair / Turned Permanently Black" (= SOH
CAH TOA)
sin(θ) = Opposite / Hypotenuse
cos(θ) = Adjacent / Hypotenuse
tan(θ) = Opposite / Adjacent
Acronyms and Memory Aids
• SUVAT: motion equations
• BCGA: gas laws
• SATE: energy forms – Sound, Atomic, Thermal, Electrical
• SOHCAHTOA: trig ratios
• MUST: Units must always be consistent (mass in kg, time in seconds, etc.)