Chemistry: A Molecular Approach Plus Mastering Chemistry with eText -- Access Card Package, 2nd Edition

— Tro’s structured, consistent, and visual problem-solving methodology reflects that a main goal of general
chemistry is to teach students how to solve problems.
— Tro’s four-step Sort, Strategize, Solve, and Check approach helps students relate the concept of the
problem to the solution through an explicit conceptual plan for each problem. This method helps students
understand where to start when given a problem and to think through solving the problem rather than
simply formula hunting based on the given information.
— Two- and three-column example formats help students to understand the logic and purpose of each step
in the problem-solving process as well as the details of its implementation. Tro’s procedure maps not only
work out a problem for students, but in many cases also applies the same methodology to another
problem side-by-side.
—Why are some examples covered in one column rather than two? Some topics can be covered with just
one example (with the explanation in the left column and the worked out example in the right column),
while other topics are best covered by having two side-by-side examples (with the explanation in the left
column and the two side-by-side examples in the center and right column).

—Tro’s multipart images help students to see the relationship between the formulas they write down on
paper (symbolic), the world they see around them (macroscopic), and the atoms and molecules that
compose that world (molecular).
—Abundant molecular-level views show students the connection between everyday processes visible to the
eye and what atoms and molecules are doing.
—Illustrations include extensive labels and annotations to guide students’ attention to key elements in the
art and help them to understand the processes depicted.

—The opening section of each chapter introduces many of its main themes through a compelling situation
or example of real-world importance.
—Each chapter includes several Conceptual Connections, in which students are asked to think about
concepts and solve problems without doing any math.

—Derivation of ideal gas law from kinetic molecular theory
—Electron diffraction and the photoelectric effect
—Molecular orbital theory
—Non-Ideal Solutions
—Collision theory and reactions rates
—Simplifying assumptions in equilibrium calculations
—Free energy changes for non-standard states
—Stoichiometry is a challenging first-semester topic.  In chapter 4, Tro likens reaction stoichiometry to a
cooking recipe.  He explains how making a pizza with various ingredients is analogous to the concept of
stoichiometry.  This example is used to further discuss the limiting reactant, theoretical yield, and percent
yield.

—The MasteringChemistry tutorial system helps students figure out where they are going wrong when
problem solving by providing answer-specific feedback and coaching.  By offering feedback specific to
wrong answers given, MasteringChemistry tutorials coach 85% of students to the correct answer.
—The program enables professors to compare their class performance against the national average on
specific questions or topics.  At a glance, professors can see class distribution of grades, time spent, most
difficult problems, most difficult steps and even the most common answer.