Chemistry is Confusing, and Has Been for Centuries

chemistry is confusing

Did you know chemists in the 1700-1800’s were confused by the elements they were discovering?  How are they related?  How can they be organized?

Even for chemists, chemistry is a difficult subject! Chemistry is confusing!

Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev grew up in a Siberian household around 16 brothers and sisters, so he knew a thing or two about confusion!

This isn’t Dmitri’s family, but a houseful of 11 children must have been a bit chaotic!

This isn’t Dmitri’s family, but a houseful of 11 children must have been a bit chaotic!

In 1869 Mendeleev sat down and made flash cards of all 65 known elements.  Surely there is a way to organize the elements in a pattern or chart! 

This is Mendeleev’s actual desk. He slept in his office also, of course.

This is Mendeleev’s actual desk. He slept in his office also, of course.

He sat for hours at his desk moving the flash cards around, until he fell asleep.  He awoke with the answer!  Here’s what he said: 

In a dream I saw a table where all the elements fell into place as required. Awakening, I immediately wrote it down on a piece of paper.

We cannot succeed in school by sleeping on our notes.

Chemistry is hard. Chemistry is tough. Chemistry is a difficult subject.

And, in reality, Mendeleev had been pondering the order of the elements for over 20 years. See, it takes work to learn or create something!

Dmitri Mendeleev. Chemist. Dreamer.

Dmitri Mendeleev. Chemist. Dreamer.

how to read the periodic table

Learn how to read the periodic table

Joy Lab has a FREE guidebook to understanding the periodic table! Download it, study it, and end periodic table confusion!

CHEMISTS CAN ALSO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR

CHEMISTS CAN ALSO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR

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Chemistry is Hard

062661756-student-work-laboratory-chemis.jpeg

Passing chemistry is possible, but it is not easy!

  • You take notes in class.

  • You do the homework.

  • You ask questions.

  • You go to your professor’s office hours.

It simply takes lots of time working many chemistry problems.

Here is a sample video tutorial. Use this to help you with your next dimensional analysis problem.

End periodic table confusion! Click for your free guide.

Chemistry is Hard

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Passing chemistry is possible, but it is not easy!

  • You take notes in class.

  • You do the homework.

  • You ask questions.

  • You go to your professor's office hours.

It simply takes lots of time working many chemistry problems.  Here is a sample video tutorial.  Use this to help you with your next dimensional anaylysis problem.

Click for ways we can help you succeed in chemistry!