Create chemPad Questions for Electrochemical Cell Notation

When you create chemPad questions that are answered with electrochemical cell notation, your students must enter the notation in the manner prescribed by the answer key, so, for example, Zn(s) | ZnSO4(aq) || CuSO4(aq) | Cu(s) can not be substituted for Zn(s) | Zn+2(aq) || Cu+2(aq) | Cu(s). Your students can specify charges in various ways, for example, either Mg2+ or Mg+2.

  1. Click Questions > Create.
    The Question Editor opens.
  2. In Name, type a name for the question.
  3. In Mode, select Fill-in-the-Blank.
  4. In Question, type your question.

    Provide relevant information about assumptions or expectations for the question, for example, the conditions for the question — STP, SATP, or reaction/prevailing conditions — or whether states-of-matter should be specified in the response.

    Use the answer placeholder string <_> to specify where the answer box should be displayed.

  5. In Answer, type the following items on a single line: 
    <EQN $PAD='chem'; $CHEM='vcell'; ''>answer_key 

    where answer_key specifies the correct answer to the problem.   

    For example:  

    Answer

    Code

    H+ | H2 | Pt 

    <EQN $PAD='chem'; $CHEM='vcell'; ''>H^{+} | H_{2} | Pt
    Note
    • If an answer extends beyond the right side of the Answer box, it is wrapped to the next line, but it is still considered a single line so long as you do not press ENTER.
    • You can specify alternative answer keys separated by the characters {tab}.
    • For information about how to specify chemical notation in your answer key, see Creating chemPad Answer Keys.
  6. Optional: Type a Solution.

    The solution helps your students understand the steps they need to take to determine the correct answer to the question. Your assignment settings specify when to show the solution.

  7. Click Test/Preview to test the appearance and behavior of the question. See Test Questions.
  8. Click Redisplay to show certain kinds of errors in the Display section of the Question Editor. Make any needed changes to your question.
  9. Optional: Click Show Additional Information and change the question's sharing permission or add descriptive information.
    • By default, other instructors can use your question only if you provide them with the question ID, and only you can edit the question or find it in search results. To change the permission, see Share Questions With Other Instructors.
    • If you make your question publicly available, you might want to provide descriptive information to help others search for it. See Add Search Metadata to Questions.
  10. When your question displays and functions correctly, click Save.

    WebAssign assigns it a unique question ID (QID), which is displayed in parentheses after the question name.

    You can use your question in an assignment and see it in your My Questions list only after it is saved.

Example chemPad Question (Electrochemical Cell Notation)

The following table summarizes an actual question.

QID

1534320

Name

Template2 5.CHEMP.11.

Mode

Fill-in-the-Blank

Question

Write the standard line notation for the following cell. Assume 
all concentrations are 1.0 <i>M</i> and all partial pressures 
are 1.0 atm.<br >
<h:chemical>Zn(s) + Ag^+(aq) &#8652; Zn^2+(aq) + 
Ag(s)</h:chemical><br>
<_>

Answer

<EQN $PAD='chem'; $CHEM='vcell'; ''>Zn(s) | Zn^{2+}(aq) || 
Ag^{+}(aq) | Ag(s)

Display to Students

Question as displayed to students