Has anyone else looked at or learnt about the "Use X to explain Y" or Newman Method for answering questions in science or chemistry?

[Damaged Lady]

Sorry if I'm being ignorant and it's a thing learnt everywhere but I'm Australian and I thought maybe it's just a thing here or something.

 

Anyway, if anyone else knows of it, would you be able to tell me if this is a valid response for that rule (it's not for an assessment or anything, I'm just using it as an example, so it doesn't need to be perfect at all).

 

Question: Explain why copper sulphate is not on the periodic table

 

My answer:

Copper sulphate is made up of more than one element, therefore it is a compound. The periodic table consists only of elements and this is why copper sulphate is not on the periodic table.

(okay don't judge the basic work I'm doing)

 

I've been taught before to answer in the format of

 

"the (something theory or something) states that......therefore.... this is why....", but then I was told this was an okay response and I sort of need some clarity on what is acceptable for this answering format. I'm pretty sure I understand that it is basically using one statement (often a rule) to explain another statement (the one you are given to explain or answer) - and that starting with the rule of a certain (named) theory would be ideal.

 

Thanks for the help!

[ErikaEGO]

It sounds pretty good to me ! 

[SehunsTrophyWife]

Rule is: periodic table arranges each chemical element by its atomic number.

 

Copper sulphate is not an element, it is a compound, therefore it cannot be on the period table.

[SehunsTrophyWife]

u just have to know what the rule is. start with the rule, and use it to explain other things if you know ur rule is the right one.

[SehunsTrophyWife]

i think ur response is not as clear as it could be, you should use my response lol. you need to first state the rule of the periodic table, then you can talk about how copper sulphate is not an element and cannot be on the p.t.

[Damaged Lady]

i think ur response is not as clear as it could be, you should use my response lol. you need to first state the rule of the periodic table, then you can talk about how copper sulphate is not an element and cannot be on the p.t.

Thanks for your help!

It sounds pretty good to me ! 

Thanks