Read the Review Skills section. If there  is any skill mentioned that you have not yet mastered, review the material on that topic before reading the present chapter.

 Read the chapter quickly before the lecture that describes it.

 Attend class meetings, take notes, and participate in class discussions.

 Work the Chapter Exercises, perhaps using the Chapter Examples as guides.

 Study the Chapter Glossary.

 Study all of the Chapter 6 Objectives. You might want to write a description of how you will meet each objective. (Although it is best to master all of the objectives, the following objectives are especially important because they pertain to skills that you will need while studying other chapters of this text: 7, 8, 12, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 33, 36, 37, 38, and 39.)

 Reread Sample Study Sheet 6.1: Converting Between Mass of Element and Mass of Compound Containing the Element, Sample Study Sheet 6.2: Calculating Empirical Formulas, and Sample Study Sheet 6.3: Calculating Molecular Formulas and decide whether you will use them or some variation on them to complete the tasks they describe.

 Memorize the following. Be sure to check with your instructor to determine how much you are expected to know of the following.

Names and formulas of some binary covalent compounds.

water, H₂O

ammonia, NH₃

methane, CH₄

ethane, C₂H₆

propane, C₃H₈

Prefixes

1, mon(o)-

2, di-

3, tri-

4, tetr(a)-

6, hex(a)-

5, pent(a)-

7, hept(a)-

8, oct(a)-

9, non(a)-

10, dec(a)-

Roots of nonmetallic elements

C, carb-

N, nitr-

O, ox-

F, fluor-

P, phosph-

S, sulf-,

Cl, chlor-

As, arsen-

Se, selen-

Br, brom-

I, iod-

Charges on monatomic ions

Names and formulas for polyatomic ions

NH₄⁺, ammonium

PO₄^3-, phosphate

SO₄^2-, sulfate

OH^-, hydroxide

NO₃^-, nitrate

C₂H₃O₂^-, acetate

CO₃^2-, carbonate

 Learn how to use a periodic table to classify the elements with respect to the following categories:

Groups 1 to 18

Groups 1A to 8A

Alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, and noble gases

Metals, nonmetals, and metalloids

Representative (main‑group) elements, transition metals, and inner transition metals

Periods 1 to 7

Solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature

 To get a review of the most important topics in the chapter, fill in the blanks in the Key Ideas section.

 Work all of the selected problems at the end of the chapter, and check your answers with the solutions provided in this chapter of the study guide.

 Ask for help if you need it.