Are you scientifically literate? Take our quiz

Re:Are you scientifically literate? Take our quiz by newsoundwave on Tuesday January 31, 2012 @11:09AM (#3533837)

I've been a programmer for a while and haven't taken a chemistry class in at least 6 or 7 years but neither question should be that difficult.

For the noble gas question, I've long since memorized the periodic table (since it's just a list and lists are easy to remember - especially using the method of loci).

As for CH4, methane is a basic elementary chemistry concept. I'm fairly certain it would qualify as basic scientific information.

Although I do agree there were some rather difficult ones I wasn't sure how I would know without having memorized it.

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Re:Are you scientifically literate? Take our quiz by enko on Sunday February 05, 2012 @08:44AM (#3554019)

I am familiar with the alkanes, it's just the inconsistent names that I can't remember. If the question had asked what C8H18 was called, then "octane" would roll off my tongue.

Also, I obviously haven't memorised the periodic table, nor do I immediately see why doing so is necessary for scientific literacy. Isn't understanding it enough? I bet there's plenty of scientists who can't remember the whole thing.

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