If you want to learn chemistry step by step, you are at the right place.
Go through these 18 steps and chemistry will be a cakewalk for you. If you still find difficulty, feel free to connect with a highly knowledgeable and affordable online chemistry tutor.
It is a question that you will be asking yourself from the time you finish high school. You may or may not have been assured by your chemistry teacher when you were in high school that “Oh, it’s a simple subject, even a kid can understand the basic concepts!”
I am sure that some of you must have been lucky enough to be told by your teacher this, but for most students, chemistry is a tough subject and hence difficult to learn. But do not worry, all you need is a little guidance.
If you plan to pursue your graduation in chemistry after high school, I would suggest you follow the given steps to learn chemistry.
Before beginning with step-by-step instructions on how to learn chemistry, you must brush up on your basics of mathematics and physics because most of the concepts in chemistry are derived from these two branches of science. If you haven’t yet done so, then start working now! (Please note that “I” below means “It,” so read throughout this article as “chemistry is easy if…”).
Step 1: Start learning with a solid-state of matter.
The solid-state of matter can be defined as a phase in which particles are packed very tightly together with no space between them. This phase occurs at low temperatures where the kinetic energy of molecules is negligible. A few examples of solid matter are chalk, ice, table salt, etc.
Step 2: Learn about atoms
The next step is to learn about atoms and how they interact with each other to form molecules. It includes the formation of covalent and ionic bonds between different atoms. You should also know that different reactions occur depending upon the type of bonds formed, i.e., covalent or ionic. (For example- Rusting occurs when iron reacts with oxygen).
Step 3: Learn about elements
Now it’s time for you to study elements present in our world around us; their properties like colour, taste, solubility, etc.; this will give you great insights into why certain things remain dissolved in water while others don’t.
Step 4: Learn different compounds
You should also study the different compounds present in nature, their sources, and their uses. For example, rocks are composed of mineral matter; water is composed of H2O molecules; salt is NaCl, etc. The more you will learn about these compounds, the better your understanding of how all the chemical processes that occur around us are happening.
Step 5: Learn acids and bases
Study acids and bases at this stage because this phenomenon forms a very important part of chemistry. It includes all things classified as acids or bases, i.e., Arrhenius concept & Brønsted-Lowry concept for classification of Acids/Bases). It also includes reactions between an acid and a base (i.e., neutralisation).
Step 6: Learn RedOx reactions
Study the concepts of reduction and oxidation reactions in chemistry at this point because they form a very important part of chemical processes that occur around us, for example, rusting, respiration, etc. It will also include all things classified as oxidising agents, reducing agents, and how they cause redox reactions. (For example- Oxygen is an oxidising agent while Potassium is a reducing agent).
Step 7: Learn bondings
Now, learn these concepts: covalent bonding, ionic bonding, and hydrogen bonds. These three types of bondings underlie the explanation for physical properties like melting/boiling points of substances and soluble, among others. For instance, water is a polar molecule that contains two hydrogen molecules, and hence, it forms a weak bond with itself. It causes its boiling point to be very high compared to other compounds of similar molar mass.
Step 8: Learn ions
You should also study diatomic, polyatomic, and complex ions now because these have been the basis for forming different types of salts. For example, NaCl (table salt), HBr (Hydro bromic acid), HCN (hydrocyanic acid), etc.
Step 9: Learn Organic chemistry
Study organic chemistry now; because all our life processes are governed by organic compounds like amino acids and nucleic acids. Their structures and various reactions, including synthesis and decomposition, should be to you at this point.
Step 10: Learn states of matter
Learn about the matter and its states now. You should memorise and understand the different phases of matter, what all things require to change their state and why? For example- water turning into steam requires heat energy and breaking down intermolecular forces, i.e., hydrogen bonds between H2O molecules.
Step 11: Memorise properties of elements
Memorise the general properties of elements now, such as electronegativity, ionisation enthalpy, etc. Also, learn to draw Lewis Dot Structure for atoms and how it varies with periodicity (i.e., Group IA & IIA vs. Group VIIA). Besides, don’t forget to study metals and non-metals and common examples of each one of them.
Step 12: Study allotropes of elements
because it gives a deep insight into the structure and strength of various elements formed by different elements. For example, carbon can form graphite and diamond depending on the bonding angles between atoms. Similarly, hydrogen forms three different allotropic states, i.e., solid, liquid & gas.
Step 13: It’s time to learn oxidation numbers now
this would help you understand how does a compound behaves as an oxidising agent or a reducing agent in a redox reaction or not? Again remember that there are two types of oxidation numbers, i.e., Neutral Oxidation Number (often written as N#) and Roman Numeral Oxidation Number (often written as #IV). For example, if a compound is formed by P and O atoms, it would have #IV as its Roman Numeral Oxidation Number.
Step 14: You should study Lewis Structures
because this concept has been widely used to understand the electron dot structures of chemical compounds easily. So understanding how to draw Lewis structures for a different types of molecules is very important at this point. For example- CO2, MgO, etc. Besides, don’t forget to include resonance structures in your studies, too, because they give a crystal clear picture of the actual structure of a compound or molecule, which is not possible with Lewis Dot structures alone. This particular step will also help you learn about hybridisation and bond angles, i.e., single, double, triple, etc.
Step 15: Now, learn about Hydrogen bonds and Dipole-Dipole forces
which are responsible for the shape of Helium (i.e., its spherical structure). For example, when you heat a hydrogen bond containing a compound like water to a certain temperature, it takes up more space than normal because in that state, there is no hydrogen bond between H2O molecules, and hence the shape becomes non-spherical. On the other hand, when helium gas is heated enough to liquefy it, its originally spherical nature gets distorted too! So these concepts hold even at the microscopic level.
Step 16: Now study intermolecular forces
because these are responsible for the compounds formed by different elements. For example, Geometrical isomers are formed by carbon atoms because of their tetrahedral nature. In comparison, octahedral geometry explains why there would be no such isomer for carbon. Remember that there are three types of intermolecular forces, i.e., London Dispersion Forces (LDF), Dipole-Dipole Forces, and Hydrogen Bonds.
Step 17: Learn about steric hindrance
because it is the main reason for geometrical isomers in organic compounds formed by different elements, especially those containing 3 or more fused rings like benzene, etc. For example, 1,2-dimethyl cyclohexane has a boat shape while its 1,1-di methyl equivalent has a chair shape! This particular step will also help you learn about Kasha’s and Huckel’s rules, which play an important role in drawing Lewis structures for cyclic molecules.
Step 18: You should know about Nomenclature
i.e., how are chemical compounds named, what are the rules for naming them, etc. Besides, if you want to become a master in Chemistry, then learn about all possible types of chemical reactions as there is no limit to this branch as such! For example- Condensation, Substitution, Single Replacement, Double Replacement, and more.
For more tips check this article.
Now that you have completed all the steps mentioned above, it’s time to start learning chemistry.
We wish you all the best. If you have any doubts, please feel free to ask any questions in the comment section.
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