Finding Your Chemistry Groove In College

Is an ionic bond something out of Star Wars?

For anyone who has a hard time with chemistry homework Help, that question might as well be science fact as much as it is science fiction. Chemistry brings to mind the pop culture images of mad scientists, foaming beakers, and white lab coats. But it encompasses so much more!

Chemistry can be fun, but it is a lot of hard work in trying to understand the basic concepts. We can see chemistry in action, even if we can’t see an individual cation bond with an anion. Fortunately, for those students who want a career in the STEM fields, from medicine to weaponry to budding mad scientists, there are ways to survive—and thrive—Chemistry 101.

Peer PowerOf Connecting With A Tutor

I tutored in basic chemistry in college, and I agree: it can be tough to imagine the concepts going on at a subatomic level. Here’s some quick tips on how to jump-start a chain reaction in the chem lab:

Get a tutor early. Chemistry is filled with jargon, and if you think you’re going to have trouble learning the difference between electronegativity and an electron, then it pays to have someone at your side. According to one study, first-year chem students who found a study buddy who could walk them through the basics boosted their cognitive skills (Graham, Bohn-Gettler, and Raigoza).

A tutor is different than a teacher. A tutor isn’t there to grade you or judge how well you get along with others or if you’re late to class. Tutors are more like mentors and cheerleaders: one web-based tutoring program found that students really appreciated tutors’ feedback and positive reinforcement (Littlejohn, Suckling, Campbell, and McNicol). Tutors have been in the students’ shoes, and they know what works.

Required: A Chem Perm for Excellent Hair

But getting some good help doesn’t mean necessarily mean success. One of the hardest things about chemistry is that it’s so abstract and too irrelevant to daily life (Patall et al.). After all, we can’t all be doctors.

But even if you’re not going to split the atom anytime soon, chemistry is essential to a lot of professions outside the STEM fields. Take fashion and beauty products, for instance. How many commercials have you heard talk about “pH balance” when to soft, springy hair or creamy textures for skin?

That’s right, pH, proteins, amino acids, and other chemicals affect how we look, feel, and even smell. A hairstylist has to have a background in chemistry if they want to curl or harden hair. Some courses even specialize in working in chemistry through non-science methods, such as understanding how dyes work or how food is broken into nutrients—pretty hot stuff for any would-be chef.

Burt even making chemistry more relevant and even getting a tutor may not solve everything. We might have the passion but still have a hard time seeing how two atoms can share electrons. For visual learners who don’t have a high-powered microscope, does seeing science in action require a leap of faith?

Science actually has an answer!

Gaming In Chemistry

The techies out there might have already figured it out. CGI and VR—virtual reality—can already bring these concepts to life, and have been doing so for decades. I grew up old-school, where we had TVs that showed how these concepts played out in 2D animations, but VR chemistry classes can take it up to the next level, with 3D immersion that is hands-on.

Science simulators can be web-based, downloadable to work on a PC, or are self-contained portable units. Some are more advanced than others, but they’re all-ages. The main downside is that they work in isolation, meaning that they are a supplement for learning, but they can’t take the place of classroom interaction (Reeves, Crippen, and McCray).

Just Do It: The Old College TryOf Learning In The Lab

But even if video-game style learning isn’t your forte into fission, chemistry can be accessible. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy and understanding why some reactions happen and others don’t isn’t easy.

The oldest, and most reliable, way to get chemistry is to do it. Many studies have shown that labwork is where students put theory into practice (Josephsen and Kristensen). Whether using a real lab or using a simulated lab that mimics sights, sounds, and smells, performing chemical reactions on your own shows how these concepts play out in real life.

Plus, that’s often where the fun is.

Conclusion

The jargon is tough and the concepts can be abstract. But they don’t have to be. Whether learning with a friend, a tutor, an AI, or in a lab, chemistry can be made easier.

Beyond the flasks and smoking vials, chemistry is literally the stuff of life, and what we do in life requires some degree of chemistry. Whether you’re in the fashion industry, a photo bug, working in STEM, or wiping clean a restaurant floor, there are chain reactions going on all around. Knowing why they do what they do can be tough, but you don’t have to tackle it alone.