📝 Problem Example
Student cannot write:
CuCO₃(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CuCl₂(aq) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)
🎉 Excellent! All diagnostics complete. Ready to generate your personalized report!
Diagnostic SOP: Layer-by-Layer Screening
🎯Level 1: C-Layer – Reaction Type Blindness
Conceptual
Diagnostic Question: "When you see the words carbonate and acid, what comes to mind? Do you recall the three fixed types of products such reactions produce?"
⚠️ If the student cannot answer: The problem is at the top level—they don't know the rules of the 'game.'
💊 Treatment 1: Model Implantation
-
Force-memorize the 3 Acid Reaction Models: Open AKM #201 → "Exam Answer Toolkit," copy the three golden rules 5 times, and recite aloud.
• Acid + Reactive Metal → Salt + Hydrogen
• Acid + Carbonate → Salt + Water + Carbon Dioxide
• Acid + Base/Oxide → Salt + Water - Pattern recognition drill: Give 10 simple verbal prompts (e.g., "iron and sulfuric acid," "calcium carbonate and nitric acid"). Student only states the types of products ("salt + hydrogen," "salt + water + CO₂"), not full formulae.
📚Level 2: M-Layer – Formula Blindness
Memory
Diagnostic Question: "Good. Now you know the products are salt, water, and carbon dioxide. Can you write the formulae for Copper(II) carbonate, Hydrochloric acid, and Copper(II) chloride?"
⚠️ If errors appear: (e.g., CuCO₃ → CuCO₄, CuCl₂ → CuCl), the issue is with basic chemical language—they don't know the 'words.'
💊 Treatment 2: Flashcard Attack
- Target the weakness: Open Level 1 Flashcards and drill all ionic and acid formula cards on Quizlet →
-
Interactive Flashcard Practice: Click each card to reveal the formula. Click again to flip back!
Cards flipped: 0 / 6
⚙️Level 3: P-Layer – Construction Blindness
Procedural
Diagnostic Question: "Now you've written all reactant and product formulae:
CuCO₃ + HCl → CuCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂. Please balance the equation."
⚠️ If balancing takes too long or fails: The student knows the 'words' but not the 'grammar rules.'
💊 Treatment 3: SOP Implantation
- Enforce the SOP: Open AKM #501 →, copy the "Balancing SOP" once.
-
Guided practice: Work through the equation step-by-step:
Step 1 (Pick the most complex): Start with CuCl₂, set coefficient 1.
Step 2 (Balance sequentially):
• Right side has 1 Cu → Left CuCO₃ coefficient = 1.
• Right side has 2 Cl → Left HCl coefficient = 2.
Step 3 (Check leftovers): Left now has 2 H, 1 C, 3 O. Right: H₂O (2 H), CO₂ (1 C, 2 O). Total = 2 H, 1 C, 3 O. Perfectly balanced! - Repetition drill: Provide 5 similar unbalanced equations. Student must follow SOP rigidly.
🔬Level 4: M-Layer – State Symbol Blindness
Memory
Diagnostic Question: "Equation is balanced. Now, assign correct state symbols (s, l, g, aq) to each substance."
⚠️ If errors occur: (e.g., CuCO₃ written as aq), it shows poor recall of typical states.
💊 Treatment 4: Rule Flashcards
-
Rule memorization: Learn the basic state rules:
(s): all metals (except mercury), insoluble salts, insoluble bases/oxides.
(l): water, bromine, mercury.
(g): H₂, O₂, CO₂, NH₃, Cl₂, etc.
(aq): all acids, all alkalis, all soluble salts. - Context application: Revise AKM #102 (Solubility Rules) →, since salt states depend directly on solubility.
📋 Your Personalized Diagnostic Report
Your Diagnostic Results:
Universal Learning Framework
Saying "I can't write equations" is like saying "I can't write an English essay." We need to ask:
- Do you not know the words (formulae)?
- Do you not know the grammar (reaction types)?
- Can you not build sentences (balance equations)?
- Or did you forget the punctuation (state symbols)?
By following this diagnostic flow, we can pinpoint the exact weakness and then apply the corresponding Atomic Notes modules and flashcards for surgical, precision repair.