Chemical formula or expression answer type (Simple Editor)

You can use the Simple Editor to create or edit the chemical formula or expression answer type in an item. Use this answer type for questions that require students to enter one or more answers using chemical notation for either a part or Socratic hint question. ClosedSample chemical expression answers

Handy reference links for chemical formula answers

ClosedCondensed structural formula answers

Mobile-compatible answer type: You can use this answer type to create mobile-ready Mastering questions which can be completed on a smartphone, tablet, or on a computer. Guidelines for mobile-ready items

ClosedStudent view of a chemical formula or expression question

This example requires the student to enter two answers.

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For instructions on how students enter their answers (including on mobile devices): Click either ""Keyboard shortcuts or "" Help from the toolbar.

ClosedAnswer box for a numeric value or expression answer (Simple Editor view)

This answer box applies to the question above.

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ClosedCreate an item with the chemical formula or expression answer type

You can use the chemical formula or expression answer type to create:

To create a chemical formula or expression answer:

  1. Click the Item Library tab.
  2. Click Create New Item on the right to open the Simple Editor in a new window.
  3. Scroll down to the Answer box for the part. Click the dropdown menu next to Answer Type (on the right) and choose chemical formula or expression. (The default is multiple choice.)

  4. In the Answer box, enter the following information:

    • [Optional] Specify the number of terms for the correct answer
    • [Optional] Add pre-text or post-text
    • Add the correct answer
    • [Optional] Add wrong-answer feedback to help students
    • [Optional] Add follow-up text in response to correct answers

    For detailed instructions, see the next sections.

  5. To save your edits, click "" Save (from the top toolbar) or the Save & Preview link (top right). Do NOT press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command-S (Mac OS).
Closed[Optional] Specify the number of terms for the correct answer
  • One term for correct answer: By default, the number of terms that the student needs to solve for is 1. If the correct answer has one term, you can leave the check box blank for Correct answer has.
  • Two or more terms for correct answer: If the answer requires more than one term, select the check box for Correct answer has and then click the down arrow to choose the number of terms required. The answer box changes to display correct answer boxes for the number of terms you set, labeled Correct Answer Term 1, Correct Answer Term 2, and so on.
Closed[Optional] Add pre-text or post text

To add ChemTeX in pre-text or post-text: Select TeX from either the editing toolbar or editing pop-up menu (right-click on Windows or Control-click on Mac OS). This option provides required tex tags with highlight.

  • Click the add pre-text link to enter text, like a sentence or sentence fragment, to appear before the answer.
  • Click the add post-text link to enter text to appear after the answer.
ClosedAdd the correct answer

  1. Enter the correct answer in the Correct Answer box using ChemTeX, a restricted subset of TeX.

    About supported ChemTeX: Enter ChemTeX coding directly using your keyboard. Supported ChemTeX renders in the Correct Answer text box. If the ChemTeX does NOT render, the answer is not supported. The Greek letter codes supported for this answer type are \alpha, \beta, \gamma, and \nu. For more information, choose "" keyboard shortcuts above the chemical formula or expression answer box in Standard View.

    If the correct answer has more than one correct term: Enter each additional answer in the box for Correct Answer Term 2, Correct Answer Term 3, and so on.

  2. [Optional] Click either add an additional correct answer or add an additional correct answer set and enter the additional correct answer(s).

For more about entering correct answers, refer to the handy reference links at the top of this page.

Closed[Optional] Add wrong-answer feedback to help students
  • Although optional, it is recommended that you provide wrong-answer feedback. Wrong-answer feedback can help students learn from their mistakes or incorrect choices.
  • Mastering provides the initial feedback "Incorrect; Try Again", followed by the follow-up text. ClosedExample of wrong-answer feedback in student view (Standard View)

Incorrect; Try Again Check the capitalization of the chemical symbols in your answer.

  • If the correct answer contains more than one term, set a single wrong answer response for each incorrect answer combination. Click add response as needed.
  • For incorrect student answers, enter any ChemTeX code directly using your keyboard. Supported ChemTeX renders in the "If the student gives this answer" text box. (If the ChemTeX does NOT render, the answer is not supported.) For the responses, you can choose the TeX option from the editing toolbar or pop-up menu, which encloses your TeX or ChemTeX code in highlighted tags.
  • Common wrong answer responses for chemical formula answers
Closed[Optional] Add follow-up text in response to correct answers

Follow-up text appears after students submit a correct answer, to reinforce learning by offering more information or providing an interpretation of the answer the student just submitted.

  1. Click the add follow-up text link.
  2. Enter your answer feedback, using your keyboard and options from the editing toolbar and menus.

To delete follow-up text: Click the remove follow-up link.

 

ClosedEdit chemical formula or expression answers

You can make the following edits to chemical formula or expression answers:

To edit chemical formula or expression answers:

  1. Open the Simple Editor so that the item you want to edit appears in the Edit Item window.
  2. Navigate to the Answer box for the chemical formula question you want to edit. (The chemical formula or expression answer type can be assigned to a part or a Socratic hint question.)
  3. [Optional] Change the number of correct answer terms: Click or clear the check box for Correct answer has. A cleared check box means that the default of 1 term is active. For more than one term in the answer, click the down arrow and choose the number of terms required.

  4. [Optional] Edit the content of answers or of any pre-text or post-text.

    • Change the content of answers: Click in the Correct Answer box for the term and make your edits to the ChemTeX code.
    • Change the content of any pre-text or post-text: Edit pre-text or post-text using either the editing toolbar or editing pop-up menu (right-click on Windows or Control-click on Mac OS). Any TeX or ChemTeX code appears inside highlighted tex tags.

  5. [Optional] Add or delete any additional correct answers.

    • Add an additional correct answer or answer set (if more than one term is required): Click either add an additional correct answer or add an additional correct answer set and enter the additional correct answer(s).
    • Delete an additional correct answer or answer set: Click either delete additional answer or delete additional answer set.
  6. [Optional] To check your edits without saving, click "" Validate (from the top toolbar) to verify the XML.
  7. To save your edits, click "" Save (from the top toolbar) or the Save & Preview link (top right). Do NOT press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command-S (Mac OS).

 

See also:

Basic ChemTeX codes

ChemTeX answer examples

Add and edit TeX

Evaluation of chemical formula answers

Common wrong-answer feedback (chemical formula answers)

Edit item elements

Specify chapter and section for items you create or edit

Mobile ready items

Answer types you can use in the Simple Editor

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