How Do You Make Chemistry Easy?

In chemistry, time and time again it is about understanding the fundamentals:

1) Protons, neutrons, electrons - the masses and charges of each.

2) How electrons arrange themselves into shells.

3) What an ion really is.

4) How the electrons in different atoms interact.

5) How to "USE" the periodic table as a tool.

6) Ionic and covalent bonding - how do they actually work?

All of these things can be covered in just four sessions and they pave the way for the complicated knot of chemistry to fall apart in front of the student`s eyes. ;

Naturally, students find this tremendously satisfying as they begin to realise how simple it all really is. They become empowered by knowledge and start to rise above topics rather than dreading them.

Later, when you explain that acids produce hydrogen ions (H+) and that ; alkalis produce hydroxide ions (OH-), they KNOW what you are talking about!

Imagine trying to understand a mystery novel if the first chapter is missing!

Imagine trying to understand a text-book if keys were missing from the keyboard on which it was written!

The fundamentals are taught early on but they are not repeated enough - it`s knowledge which needs to be refreshed ;

periodically (no pun intended!)