Goldfish plants need lots of light, but direct sunlight will cause the leaves to burn. If you’re growing your plant indoors, place it in a window that faces north or east to prevent it from getting too much light during the day. These plants can also do well under an artificial grow light. These plants love humid conditions. To make sure your goldfish plant gets the humidity it needs, place the pot on a shallow tray or saucer with pebbles in it and pour a little water into the tray. The water will evaporate and create moisture for the plant.  Don’t put in so much water that it touches the bottom of the pot. This could cause the soil to become soggy. If your plant is in a hanging basket, you can instead mist it every day with lukewarm water. Don’t use cold water, since this will damage the leaves. Goldfish plants do well in warm conditions, but they are sensitive to heat and cold. Keep your plant in a temperature-controlled area so that it doesn’t get too hot or cold. If you notice the leaves of your goldfish plant turning brown or falling off, it may mean that your plant is too hot. In nature, the goldfish plant is epiphytic, meaning it usually grows in trees rather than on the ground. For this reason, it’s easiest to grow goldfish plants in planters or hanging baskets rather than in your garden. Choose a pot that is at least 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) wide to allow your plant to trail and spread out. Make sure to choose a planter with good drainage, since soggy soil can cause the roots to rot. It’s important to keep epiphytic plants in soil that drains well, since waterlogging can cause the plant to rot. Choose a soil that won’t retain too much water and allow your goldfish plant to become soggy. An orchid or succulent potting mix containing perlite and peat moss should work well.

Summary: Pick a spot with indirect sunlight. Plant your goldfish plant in a humid area. Maintain a temperature of around 65–75 °F (18–24 °C). Put the plant in a wide planter so it can trail. Give your plant a well-draining potting mix.


In naming compounds, Greek prefixes are used to indicate the number of atoms present for each element. Covalent compounds are written out as molecular formulas due to the fact that each compound is a distinct, separate molecule. Covalent compounds have the first element written out completely while the second element is named with the suffix “ide.” For example, diphosphorus trisulfide has a chemical formula of P2S3. Below are the prefixes for 1-10:  1: Mono- 2: Di- 3: Tri- 4: Tetra- 5: Penta- 6: Hexa- 7: Hepta- 8: Octa- 9: Nona- 10: Deca- When a compound has been written out, you must identify the elements and know their chemical symbols. The first element written is “first name” of the compound. Use the periodic table to find the chemical symbol for the element. For example: Dinitrogen hexafluoride. The first element is nitrogen and the chemical symbol for nitrogen is N. To identify the number of atoms present for each element, you simply need to look at the prefix of the element. Memorizing the Greek prefixes will help you to be able to write chemical formulas quickly without looking anything up.  For example: Dinitrogen has a the prefix “di-“ which means 2; therefore, there are 2 atoms of nitrogen present. Write dinitrogen as N2. The second element is the “last name” of the compound and will follow the first element. For covalent compounds, the element name will have a suffix of “-ide” instead of the normal ending of the element. For example: Dinitrogen hexafluoride. The second element is fluorine. Simply replace the “ide” ending with the actual element name. The chemical symbol for fluorine is F. As you did with the first element, identify the number of atoms present in the second element by reading the prefix. Using this prefix, write the number of atoms as a subscript to the right of the chemical symbol.  For example: Hexafluoride has a prefix of “hexa-“ which means 6; therefore, there are 6 atoms of fluorine present. Write hexafluoride as F6. The final chemical formula for dinitrogen hexafluoride is N2F6. When first learning chemistry, there is a lot of memorization involved. It is kind of like learning a new language. The more examples you practice with, the easier it will be to decipher chemical formulas in the future and learn the language of chemistry.  Sulfur dioxide: SO2  Carbon tetrabromide: CBr4  Diphosphorus pentoxide: P2O5

Summary: Memorize the prefixes for number of atoms. Write the chemical symbol for the first element. Add the number of atoms as a subscript. Write the chemical symbol for the second element. Add the number of atoms present as a subscript. Practice with some examples.


Rubbing alcohol, acetone, and paint thinner are all great options. You can also use a household cleaner with pine oil in it, like Pine-Sol. If you’re using rubbing alcohol, be sure to get the highest percentage that you can find: 91% or 99%. If the percentage is lower than that, the rubbing alcohol won’t have any effect.  If you have sensitive skin, it would be a good idea to wear plastic or vinyl gloves. Acetone may damage some types of plastic, such as Plexiglass or vinyl-based plastic. It’s safe for fiberglass and polyester resin, however. This is important, because different types of plastic react different types of solvents. Pick up a drop of your solvent with a soft paintbrush a Q-tip, or even a toothpick, and place the drop onto an inconspicuous area on your item. Wait a few minutes, then rinse the solvent off.  If nothing happens to the plastic, the solvent may be safe to use. Keep in mind that some solvents may need hours before they have an adverse effect on your item. If the plastic changes color or texture, don’t use the solvent. You might even want to press the area with your fingernail; if you see an indent, choose a different solvent. This will work the best with acetone, but you may be able to use rubbing alcohol as well. Simply soak your cotton ball with your solution, then rub it across the painted area until the paint comes off.  Discard the cotton ball when it gets dirty, and use a new one. Acetone evaporates fast, so you’ll have to re-soak the cotton ball often. If you don’t do this, the fuzz will stick the the paint. If the cotton ball is not working, pour your rubbing alcohol or acetone over the painted area, then scrub it with a stiff-bristled brush. Keep applying your solvent and scrubbing until the paint comes off. Avoid nylon brushes if you are using acetone, or the bristles may melt. Place your item into a container, then fill the container with enough of your solution to submerge the item. Leave the item in the solution for 15 to 60 minutes, then pull the item out. Scrub the paint off with a stiff-bristled toothbrush or manicure brush. Clean the item with soap and water afterwards, then let it dry.  This method works best with paint thinner and household cleaners. You can soak most plastic items in household cleaner for up to 24 hours.  If there’s still residue on the item, dip it into the solution, then scrub it again. Think of this as scrubbing dried food off of a plate.
Summary: Choose your solvent. Test your solvent in an inconspicuous area. Wipe small areas down with a cotton ball soaked in your solution. Use a stiff-bristled brush for stubborn stains. Soak fully-painted items in your solution, then scrub the paint off.