Has anyone taken Chemistry?

Question

i'm gonna start chemistry this year...... is it hard? and what do you do?

Answer 1

Whether or not chemistry is hard will depend on where your talents and interests lie. First off, if you are not interested and motivated to learn, you will find it hard no matter what. Now, about talent - if you struggle with math, you will very likely find chemistry (and physics) difficult. Conversely, if you're good at math, chemistry shouldn't be too hard.

Chemistry is the study of the structures, properties, and reactions of chemical substances. All materials which surround you are governed by the principles of chemistry.

You will learn about atoms, molecules, elements, compounds, and mixtures; the octet rule for predicting the reactivity of atoms; covalent and ionic bonding; different types of reactions (synthesis, decomposition, single displacement, double displacement, reduction and oxidation, acid - base, etc.); the stoichiometry of reactions ("how much?"); the states of matter (incl. gas laws); and other things.

Besides studying those things, you also get to carry out some experiments. For example, your teacher may add a small piece of metallic sodium to a beaker of water; it will fizz and give off hydrogen gas (which will burn) and move around the beaker. Afterwards, the solution will turn red litmus blue. And other such things.