How To Solve a Word Problem in
Chemistry
Step 1.
• Take a deep breath and relax.
Step 2.
Determine and mark what is asked for in your
problem make sure to include units.
• A piece of copper is placed in a graduated cylinder containing
some water. The total volume of the water increases by 7.43 mL.
What is the mass of the piece of copper in grams (density = 8.92
g/cm3)?
• Question: What is the mass of the piece of copper (g)?
Step 3.
Identify and write down all givens and units given in
the problem.
• A piece of copper is placed in a graduated cylinder containing
some water. The total volume of the water increases by 7.43 mL.
What is the mass of the piece of copper in grams (density = 8.92
g/cm3)?
• Question: What is the mass of the piece of copper?
• Givens : 1) Total water volume increases = 7.43 mL
2) Density of Copper = 8.92 g/ cm3
Step 4.
Write down the Givens for the problem.
• A piece of copper is placed in a graduated cylinder
containing some water. The total volume of the water
increases by 7.43 mL. What is the mass of the piece of
copper in grams (density = 8.92 g/cm3)?
• Question : What is the mass of the piece of copper?
• Givens : 1) Total water volume increases = 7.43 mL
2) Density of Copper = 8.92 g/cm3
Step 5.
Find the equation necessary to solve the problem.
• A piece of copper is placed in a graduated cylinder containing
some water. The total volume of the water increases by 7.43
mL. What is the mass of the piece of copper in grams (density
= 8.92 g/cm3)?
• Question: What is the mass of the piece of copper?
• Givens : 1) Total water volume increases = 7.43 mL
2) Density of Copper = 8.92 g/cm3
• Equation : 1) Density (g/cm3) * Volume (mL) = Mass (g)
Step 6.
Check All Units
• Equation : 1) Density (g/cm3) * Volume (mL) = Mass (g)
• Unit Check: 1) cm3 is not the same unit as mL.
• Conversion: 1) 1 mL = 1 cm3 ; 7.43 mL = 7.43 cm3
Step 7.
Put the variables in and solve the equation.
• Solution: 8.92 (g/cm3) * 7.43 (cm3) = Mass (g)
• Answer : Mass (g) = 66.3 (g)
Step 8.
• Recheck to determine if the units are
the same as the problem and the
answer seems reasonable.
• Recheck of units : Desired unit (gram) = Answer (grams)
• A piece of copper is placed in a graduated cylinder containing some
water. The total volume of the water increases by 7.43 mL. What is
the mass of the piece of copper in grams (density = 8.92 g/cm3)?
• Question : What is the mass of the piece of copper?
• Givens
: 1) Total water volume increases = 7.43 mL
2) Density of Copper = 8.92 g/cm3
• Equation
: 1) Density (g/cm3) * Volume (mL) = Mass (g)
• Unit Check : 1) cm3 is not the same unit as mL.
• Conversion : 1) 1 mL = 1 cm3 ; 7.43 mL = 7.43 cm3
• Solution
: 1) 8.92 (g/cm3) * 7.43 (cm3) = Mass (g)
• Answer
: Mass (g) = 66.3 (g)
• Recheck of units : Desired unit (gram) = Answer (grams)