INPUT ARTICLE: Article: All chemicals have what you can call a first and last name. The first name is the cation (positive ion) while the last name is the anion (negative ion). Cations are written as the element name while anions are the element name ending with the suffix “ide.”  The chemical symbol for each element can be found on the periodic table. Unlike covalent compounds, Greek prefixes are not used to indicate the number of atoms of each element. You have to balance the charges of the elements to determine the atoms. For example: Lithium oxide is Li2O. Sometimes the cation or anion is a polyatomic ion. These are molecules that have two or more atoms with ionic groups. There’s no good trick to remembering these, you just need to memorize them.  There are only 3 cation polyatomic ions and they are ammonium (NH4+), hydronium (H3+), and mercury(I) (Hg22+). They all have a +1 charge (though, technically, 2 mercury atoms are bonded together, which creates a 2+ charge, with each mercury cation containing a 1+ charge).  The rest of the polyatomic ions have negative charges ranging from -1 to -4. Some common ones are carbonate (CO32-), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), and chromate (CrO42-). The valence charge can be determined by looking at the position of the element on the periodic table. There are a few rules to keep in mind that help you identify the charges:  All group 1 elements at +1. All group 2 elements are +2. Transition elements will have Roman numerals in parentheses to indicate their charge. Silver is 1+, zinc is 2+, and aluminum is 3+. Group 17 elements are 1-. Group 16 elements are 2-. Group 15 elements are 3-. Remember, when working with polyatomic ions, use the charge of the complete polyatomic ion, rather than the individual ions. Once you have identified the charge of each element (or polyatomic ion), you will use these charges to determine the number of atoms present of each element. You want the charge of the compound to equal zero so you will add atoms to balance the charges. For example: Lithium Oxide. Lithium is a group 1 element and has a +1 charge. Oxygen is a group 16 element and has a 2- charge. In order to balance the 2- charge of the oxygen, you need 2 atoms of lithium; therefore, the chemical formula of lithium oxide is Li2O. The best way to learn formula writing is to practice with lots of examples. Use examples in your chemistry book or look for practice sets online. Do as many as you can until you feel comfortable writing chemical formulas.  Calcium Nitride: Symbol for calcium is Ca and symbol of nitrogen is N. Ca is a group 2 element and has a charge of +2. Nitrogen is a group 15 element and has a charge of 3-. To balance this, you need 3 atoms of calcium (6+) and 2 atoms of nitrogen (6-): Ca3N2. Mercury(II) Phosphate: Symbol for Mercury is Hg and phosphate is the polyatomic ion PO4. Mercury has a 2+ charge as indicated by the Roman numeral II next to it. Phosphate has a 3- charge. In order to balance them, you will need 3 atoms of mercury (6+) and 2 molecules of phosphate (6-): Hg3(PO4)2.

SUMMARY: Identify the chemical symbols for the cations and anions. Recognize polyatomic ions. Determine the valence charge of each element. Balance the positive and negative charges of the ions. Practice with some examples.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: We're already assuming you know you have to be Catholic and a woman, but you also have to be single. If you are married, an annulment recognized by the Catholic church must be obtained. Widows are viewed as single in the eyes of the church. When you become a nun, you will receive a ring to denote you as God's bride. Because of this, you may not have another relationship distracting you from God's call. Back in the good ol' days, most nuns were straight out of high school or college. Now just about anything goes -- from 18 to your 40s. In certain circumstances, older women will be accepted -- it depends on the community you choose to enter. In general, most religious communities encourage their members to have some type of college education. Having at least a BA is preferable, but not necessary. Life experience, including professional experience, is also a plus. If you have children, they need to have left home. You must not have any dependents upon entering. Many nuns have children -- they're just fully grown. That is to say, be debt-free and healthy. Most institutions prefer candidates that aren't overwhelmed by other issues and can fully devote themselves to God. If you have debt, don't let it stop you. If you find a community you'd like to join, address the issue with your director. They may be able to help.

SUMMARY: Be single. Meet the age requirements. Let your children grow up. Be in good financial and physical standing.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are advantages to both options depending on how much you are prepared to care for it. Too much soil or fertilization can actually harm your plant. However, if you are using tap water and it has fluoride and other chemicals, you may want to use soil and fertilizer to prevent yellow tips.  If you are growing it in standing water, you will need some pebbles to hold it upright. If in soil, try mixing a third each of sand, peat moss, and regular soil to ensure excellent drainage. For water only, make sure that your plant has at least enough to cover the base of the roots. You should also change the water at least once per week to prevent the plant from rotting. It is a good idea to rinse the vase, pebbles, and plant each time you do this. If you are growing the plant in soil, water the plant just enough so that the soil is moist. Your pot should be about 2 inches (5 cm) larger in diameter than the plant. Most Lucky Bamboo plants already come in a pot, but you can use your own pot to make the plant more your own.  A clear container works well for water and will show off your plant and pebbles, but make sure that you keep it out of direct sunlight. You can also use a ceramic pot and grow it in either pure water or in soil. If you use soil, plant the bamboo in a pot with a drain hole. Too much fertilizer is worse than none at all, so use it sparingly. This is especially true of potted plants because the fertilizer will not become diluted by rain and can’t run off like it will for plants in the ground.

SUMMARY:
Decide between water or soil. Choose the right container. Add a very light fertilizer periodically for quicker growth.