[00:00.00] Chemistry is sometimes called the central science. [00:03.00]This isn’t surprising, since most of the processes going on around us involve chemical changes. [00:10.40] Here are just a few of them:A plant grows by changing simple substances into more complex substances.[00:18.40]The steel in a car rusts.
[00:21.40]Eggs, sugar, flour, and baking powder are mixed and baked into a cake. [00:28.40]Emissions from a power plant cause the formation of acid rain.
[00:33.40]Chemistry is the science that deals with the materials of the universe and the changes these materials go through. [00:42.30]Chemistry is at the heart of our efforts to create new materials to make our lives better—for example, to produce new sources of energy. [00:52.40]Chemists work on a lot of different things. [00:55.90]Some examine the fundamental particles of matter. [00:59.40]Others are looking for molecules in space. [01:02.90]Still others are looking for ways to control the diseases that threaten our food supply or us.
[01:10.20]But whatever the work, all chemists need certain skills. [01:14.40]When my former students come back to visit me, they all say the same thing. [01:19.90]They say that what’s essential in their success is an understanding of the fundamentals, the ability to solve problems, and the ability to communicate.
[01:30.90]Some people think education is just storing information in the brain. [01:35.90]A lot of students just want to memorize lists of facts and then sort of spit it all out on tests. [01:42.90]Of course, storing facts in the brain is important. [01:46.90]The language of chemistry is unfamiliar at first, and you do have to memorize a lot of terms and definitions. [01:55.10]You have to learn the vocabulary before you can communicate. [01:59.90] Memorizing facts is important, but it’s just the beginning of education. [02:05.50] Don’t stop there. [02:07.40]Don’t be afraid to do some thinking of your own, and don’t be afraid to trust yourself to figure things out. [02:14.60]Analytical thinking is the center of education.
[02:18.60]Chemistry courses have a reputation for being difficult.
[02:22.90]This isn’t surprising, since chemical systems are, well, complicated. [02:28.60]Don’t expect to understand everything right away. [02:32.50]Just remember that even experienced chemists don’t understand everything at first. [02:38.80] It’s not a disaster to make a mistake, but it could be, if you don’t learn from your mistake.
[02:46.30]To solve a typical chemistry problem, you have to go through the given information and decide what information is really important. [02:56.10] If you can’t do one of the homework problems, don’t just look up the answer in the back of the book. [03:02.20]That’s not how you learn. [03:03.90]You’ll learn more if you go hack and review the relevant material, and then try the problem again. [03:12.20]Don’t be afraid to struggle with it. [03:14.40]If you do struggle with the problems, then find a classmate to work with, and struggle together. [03:20.70]Actually, this is kind of a good way to learn about how scientists work together, trying one thing and then another until they come up with a solution.
[03:31.40]It takes time to learn chemistry. [03:34.40]You might not understand everything at first, and you might not be able to do the problems the first time you try. [03:42.20]You might feel frustrated when you make a mistake. [03:45.20]Just keep working—and learning from your mistakes—and you’ll make steady progress.
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