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Get a periodic trend explained in three steps
Practice: Saying who it's for. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
In Chemistry you memorized that atomic radius shrinks across a period, but you don't get why. Get exactly 3 numbered sentences explaining it with the sodium-to-chlorine example from class, then one line starting 'Check:' with a question to test yourself, under 85 words, plain text. Don't use the terms you haven't learned (effective nuclear charge, Zeff, shielding constant).
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Asking why in general. The AI gives a textbook answer full of terms you haven't learned. Try: Point it to your example: "Use sodium to chlorine from my notes."
- Not saying how many sentences. The AI picks its own number, and it usually picks more sentences than you need. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 numbered sentences."
- Not banning new terms. AI reaches for effective nuclear charge, the standard textbook term your teacher said to skip. Try: Add: "Don't use effective nuclear charge, Zeff or shielding constant."
- No way to test yourself. The AI explains and stops, so you never check whether it stuck. Try: Add: "End with one line starting 'Check:' with a question, no answer."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over. Try: Cap each part: "each sentence under 18 words."
- Forgetting where it will be read. AI formats for a screen, with bold and headings that show up as stray symbols in your notes. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."
What a strong prompt includes
- Names the example
- Says how many sentences
- Bans new terms
- Asks for a check question
- Sets a length limit
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