Master Experimental Chemistry in Just 7 Weeks with the 80-20 Rule

Master experimental chemistry in just 7 weeks with the 80-20 rule: Learn with ChatGPT

What is the Pareto principle or 'The 80-20' rule?

The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80-20 rule, is a straightforward but insightful concept often seen in education. It suggests that roughly 80% of a student's learning outcomes can be attributed to 20% of the efforts they put in.

For instance, in a classroom, you might notice that a student who dedicates a relatively small amount of time, say 20% of their total study hours, to mastering the most critical concepts in a subject, often achieves about 80% of their total understanding and good grades.

Understanding the Pareto Principle in education can be valuable because it encourages students to prioritise their study efforts wisely. By identifying and focusing on the most essential topics or techniques, students can maximise their learning outcomes while minimising unnecessary effort, making their education journey more efficient and effective.

Optimise your study schedule: Harnessing the 80-20 rule with ChatGPT

You can use the prompt below to learn about any topic or subject. For this example, let's focus on mastering essential concepts in experimental chemistry.

You can personalise the prompt below by changing the words that are in bold. Additionally, we've taken the learning goals from SEAB's Chemistry syllabus PDF. You can visit the SEAB website to know the learning goals for the topic you wish to learn.

ChatGPT Prompt

Identify 20% of Experimental chemistry that will help me understand 80% of the topic. I need to learn the following:

1.1 Experimental design

(a) name appropriate apparatus for the measurement of time, temperature, mass and volume, including

burettes, pipettes, measuring cylinders and gas syringes

(b) suggest suitable apparatus, given relevant information, for a variety of simple experiments, including

collection of gases and measurement of rates of reaction.

1.2 Methods of purification and analysis

(a) describe methods of separation and purification for the components of mixtures, to include:

(i) use of a suitable solvent, filtration and crystallisation or evaporation

(ii) sublimation

(iii) distillation and fractional distillation (see also 11.1(b))

(iv) use of a separating funnel

(v) paper chromatography

(b) suggest suitable separation and purification methods, given information about the substances involved

in the following types of mixtures:

(i) solid-solid

(ii) solid-liquid

(iii) liquid-liquid (miscible and immiscible)

(c) interpret paper chromatograms including comparison with ‘known’ samples and the use of Rf values

(d) explain the need to use locating agents in the chromatography of colourless compounds (knowledge

of specific locating agents is not required)

(e) deduce from given melting point and boiling point data the identities of substances and their purity

(f) explain that the measurement of purity in substances used in everyday life, e.g. foodstuffs and drugs,

is important.

1.3 Identification of ions and gases

(a) describe the use of aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia to identify the following

aqueous cations: aluminium, ammonium, calcium, copper(II), iron(II), iron(III), lead(II) and zinc

(formulae of complex ions are not required)

(b) describe tests to identify the following anions: carbonate (by the addition of dilute acid and subsequent

use of limewater); chloride (by reaction of an aqueous solution with nitric acid and aqueous silver

nitrate); iodide (by reaction of an aqueous solution with nitric acid and aqueous silver nitrate); nitrate

(by reduction with aluminium in aqueous sodium hydroxide to ammonia and subsequent use of litmus

paper) and sulphate (by reaction of an aqueous solution with nitric acid and aqueous barium nitrate)

(c) describe tests to identify the following gases: ammonia (using damp red litmus paper); carbon dioxide

(using limewater); chlorine (using damp litmus paper); hydrogen (using a burning splint); oxygen

(using a glowing splint) and sulphur dioxide (using acidified potassium manganate(VII)).

Give me a week-by-week focused learning plan to master it in as less of time as possible. Create a table with the first column being the week, the next column being what I need to learn, and the third column should have my learning objectives. Be very specific about the learning objectives.

This is what ChatGPT responded

Certainly, here's a week-by-week focused learning plan to help you master the topics you mentioned in experimental chemistry. This plan is designed to help you understand 80% of the topic in the shortest time possible. Remember to adjust the pace according to your own learning speed and spend extra time on areas where you may find more difficulty. Here's the plan:

Week	What to Learn	Learning Objectives
1	Introduction to Experimental Chemistry	- Understand the importance of experimental chemistry in scientific research.
	Experimental Design	- Identify appropriate apparatus for time, temperature, mass, and volume measurements. - Suggest suitable apparatus for simple experiments.
	Methods of Purification and Analysis (Part a)	- Describe methods for separation and purification, including filtration and crystallisation.
2	Methods of Purification and Analysis (Part b)	- Learn methods for solid-solid, solid-liquid, and liquid-liquid mixtures separation and purification.
	Methods of Purification and Analysis (Part c)	- Interpret paper chromatograms, including calculating Rf values. - Understand the need for locating agents in chromatography.
3	Methods of Purification and Analysis (Part d)	- Explain why locating agents are used in the chromatography of colourless compounds.
	Methods of Purification and Analysis (Part e)	- Deduce substance identities and purity from melting and boiling point data.
	Methods of Purification and Analysis (Part f)	- Recognise the importance of measuring purity in everyday substances.
4	Identification of Ions and Gases (Part a)	- Describe how to use aqueous sodium hydroxide and ammonia to identify cations.
5	Identification of Ions and Gases (Part b)	- Describe tests to identify carbonate, chloride, iodide, nitrate, and sulphate anions.
6	Identification of Ions and Gases (Part c)	- Describe tests to identify gases: ammonia, carbon dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulphur dioxide.
7	Review and Practice	- Review all topics covered so far. - Practice experiments and identification tests.

Each week, focus on understanding the concepts thoroughly and practising with relevant experiments and tests. By the end of this 7-week plan, you should have a solid grasp of experimental chemistry and be well-prepared to apply these concepts in practical situations. Good luck with your learning!