Have you ever wanted to learn chemistry, but just didn’t know how to go about doing it? Taking college courses and you don’t know how to find resources?
There is so much to this science that it can be hard to even know where to start! That’s why we put together this guide with recommendations for how to learn chemistry, plus tons of useful resources no matter what your level is.
What exactly is this guide?
Obviously you won’t learn chemistry reading this blog post by itself. This is more of a pedagogical article. However, we will point you towards tons of resources for learning this science, no matter if you are just a chemistry enthusiast or a college student.
This is a general introduction for approaching chemistry, from any level.
There is a very specific way of thinking that helps tackling the problems that chemistry has to offer. We will base our guide upon that cornerstone.
And you will find out what this theme is pretty soon if you keep reading.
An Introduction to Chemistry
But first, a quick introduction to the study of chemistry, what it is, and why you should make the effort to learn this awesome science.
What Is Chemistry?
Chemistry can be defined as the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. You’ll sometimes hear it called the central science because it is the connection between physics and all the other sciences, starting with biology. All that makes it sound abstract and esoteric, but really, chemistry is all around us. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it governs every aspect of your life.
Are you sitting inside? You’re surrounded by building materials that are structurally sound because of how chemistry holds them together. Reading this outside? Every living plant you see is consuming CO2 and releasing oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. The food you eat, the products you use to clean your house, the fuel you put in your car, the very air you breathe—it’s all chemistry.
What’s really incredible about chemistry is the seemingly infinite variety of stuff around us and the fact that it’s all just combinations of around 100 chemical elements. In reality, most of what we interact with in everyday life is made up of far fewer. When two or more of these elements are combined in a compound, the properties of the compound can be amazingly unlike the constituent elements. Would you guess that the table salt in your kitchen is made up of a chemical weapon and a metal that causes an explosion when it touches water?
What is Chemistry Used for?
It should come as no surprise, then, that chemistry is used for just about anything you can imagine. Life itself relies on chemistry, but humans have been harnessing it for our own benefit for thousands of years, knowingly or not. From our first combustion reaction (making fire) to the latest cutting-edge medical technology, this science has changed our lives in ways that are mind-blowing.
Long before we knew any scientific concepts that we take for granted today, we were performing basic chemistry. Some of the most important examples from the ancient world are processes that we still use today, such metallurgy and extracting compounds from natural sources, e.g. plants.
Many people consider alchemy to be the forerunner of modern chemistry. This is debatable, but regardless, the discipline that tirelessly sought a way to turn lead into gold fell out of favor among intellectuals right about the time when something closer to modern chemistry was beginning to catch on. The earliest publications in chemistry as a proper science date to the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Now, a few hundred years later, the field has positively exploded, with numerous subdisciplines. Today, we say that the five major branches of chemistry are general chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry. But there are tons of more niche areas of chemistry, too, like physical, materials, and nuclear chemistry, neurochemistry, chemical engineering, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology… The list goes on and on because chemistry is used for everything!
Why Should I Learn Chemistry?
So, aside from the fact that it is used for practically everything in life, why should you learn chemistry? There are tons of reasons!
Even if you don’t plan on a career in science, you’ll pick up a lot of useful skills and knowledge when you learn chemistry. Studying science helps you understand important issues, like climate change or food additives, more objectively. Chemistry is also great for developing problem solving skills.
More specifically, knowledge of chemistry unlocks some of life’s most profound mysteries… like how to make sure your baked goods come out moist and fluffy! Seriously though, it can make many routine tasks—like cooking—easier, and more importantly, it can help keep you safe. Knowing which cleaning products are okay to be used together and which should never be mixed is possible with chemistry, as is understanding how certain medicines work in your body, and much more.
This video sums it up really well:
Besides, chemistry is not a profession which seems to be going anywhere soon. Careers and jobs in chemistry, especially in research, are usually pretty fun, and creativity-driven.
Now that you’re convinced that you want to learn chemistry, how do you do it?
How to Learn Chemistry
I talked with many people that have studied chemistry, like myself, and everyone seems to have learnt this science very similarly.
There is a way of reasoning and thinking about chemistry which is common in chemical education.
Chemistry is an empirical science, so it is based on explaining observations, and taking what you extract from those observations to extrapolate and make predictions about other phenomena.
You can explain extremely simple chemistry questions, such as differentiating organic and inorganic compounds, to very complex scenarios with this same methodology.
This way of reasoning is, in my opinion, the best way to tackle chemistry problems. This goes from a kid learning basic science to a professional chemistry PhD working on ground-breaking research.
How to Rationalize, Explain and Extrapolate
To illustrate this, we will use a simple example:
First an observation: We observe that water freezes at a certain temperature (0 ºC at atmospheric pressure).
Then, rationalization/explanation: Thanks to previous knowledge, we can explain this observation in simple terms saying that at lower temperatures, molecules vibrate less, and can pack in a more efficient manner. The way water molecules can pack below 0 ºC, gives it a solid state structure.
We can generalize this to any other substance: Depending on how strong are intermolecular interactions between each molecule of a given substance, they will be able to pack in a solid state form more easily (at higher temperature).
Then we extrapolate to other systems/molecules: intermolecular forces between hexane molecules are much weaker (dispersion forces) than between water molecules (hydrogen bond). This will make it harder to pack them in a solid state structure, thus making its melting point much lower (-95 ºC, to be exact).
And this turns out to be true, as we can easily validate by determining (or consulting) the melting point of hexane.
And this can be made as simple as that or as complex as you would like your model to be.
This way of thinking fits perfectly with chemistry. That’s why I highly recommend it.
If you already took chemistry courses, you are probably familiar with this reasoning process, even if you didn’t really notice.
Where to Find Any Resource for Learning Chemistry
So you are already packed with a clear thinking process that you can adopt for tackling chemistry.
What do you need now?
Of course, you need information. Information is everything. You need books, resources and materials to study.
Well, we have good news for you! We live in the age of information technologies, and you can find literally everything anywhere. You can order a textbook from almost anywhere, and even find electronic versions of those books. You can find scientific research articles from home. You can visit Wikipedia and take a quick look about any subject you want. You can Google whatever you want and find tons of resources to learn from…
One might say, that there’s too much information out there! More than you can handle!
But I really don’t think there’s such a thing as ‘too much information’. Not if you are good at searching through it, and filtering what’s important. And this is a basic yet overlooked skill in our age. Focus on learning how to process, select and filter! And this not only applies to chemistry, but to every subject out there.
To be completely honest, even in 2020, I don’t think there is a better way to learn a natural science such as chemistry than starting from a good textbook.
Not get me wrong, there is plenty of info about chemistry. Heck, probably most of the university level course materials can be found in Google.
However, there is nothing like the great and didactical organization of a textbook. You can get one for your level, and when you are done going through most of it, you will be a master on that level. Of course, I encourage you to expand every topic that is not clear enough, or not covered deeply enough. For this purpose, or for a quick outlook, the internet is amazing.
There are plenty of different textbooks for any level. Which one is the best for me? What are my options? This is what we will cover next.
We strongly recommend you to navigate this site through the links on each section to check specific details and thorough comparison data.
The Best Books to Learn Chemistry at Any Level
No matter what your interest or level in this subject may be, there’s a great book out there to help you learn chemistry. This section won’t be too extensive, but you can find detailed write-ups on all of the books below in other posts.
Kids and Casual Learners
Our recent post on the best chemistry-themed gifts included three books that are a great fit for older kids or adults who have a casual interest in the central science.
Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe is visually stunning and chock full of cool information. It contains gorgeous photos and fun facts, and it would be an excellent introduction for people who are curious to learn about the chemical elements that make up our universe.
Ask a Science Teacher: 250 Answers to Questions You’ve Always Had About How Everyday Stuff Really Works is a book that is less focused on chemistry specifically, but which has still got tons of fascinating explanations in plain English. It’s a great book to show all the practical ways in which science affects us every day.
Chemistry for Everyone: A Helpful Primer for High School or College Chemistry is exactly what it sounds like. It’s definitely the most educational of the books in this section, although it is not intended to replace a complete chemistry course. We would recommend picking this up before taking your first chem class so that you have an idea of what to expect.
High School
We have two favorites when it comes to books for high school chemistry students. You can read more in our post on these and other high school chem textbooks, but here are our top picks in a nutshell:
Chemistry: Concepts and Problems: A Self-Teaching Guide is, of course designed for self-taught students. This makes it ideal if you end up in a class with a “teacher who doesn’t teach”, as students often report. It’s based on the programmed learning method for maximum learning effectiveness.
Chemistry for Dummies tracks a typical introductory chemistry course, making it suitable for high school and college intro to chem classes. No matter what your current level is, you can learn chemistry with this book.
We also published a separate review for the best chemistry books for self-study, which can be suitable for anyone, but especially to people at the high-school level.
University Level
At the university level, there are several types of chemistry courses you could be taking, each with its own separate textbook. Or, if you’re curious to learn chemistry but don’t need the credit to graduate, you could use one of these books to teach yourself!
If you’re learning General Chemistry, we’ve got a whole post dedicated to the best books for this class. But in the interest of time, our two top picks are Brown’s Chemistry: The Central Science and Tro’s Chemistry: A Molecular Approach. Both are top-notch textbooks, with the second one being a bit more expensive but also more accessible for most students, especially visual learners.
For people with a serious interest in learning chemistry, the next course is usually Organic Chemistry, or o-chem. Your professor has likely listed a book on their syllabus, but in our opinion, the best textbook to learn organic chemistry is Clayden’s Organic Chemistry. According to research, students value clarity above all else in textbooks, and this one is very easy to follow with plenty of practice problems. We also try to publish resources in which reaction mechanisms are well explained, here is an example with the Swern oxidation!
Your o-chem professor will probably also require or suggest you get a molecular modeling kit. This is highly recommended, even if it isn’t mandatory in your class. But remember, it doesn’t do any good to buy a kit if you don’t use it, so make sure you take full advantage of all the concepts it can help you understand.
By the time you get to Inorganic Chemistry, you’ve likely made a major commitment to studying chemistry. There are several inorganic chemistry textbooks that can help you learn more effectively, but our preference is Housecroft & Sharpe’s Inorganic Chemistry. It’s got just the right balance of detail and being easy to understand with very instructive graphics.
Two other main fields of chemistry are not forgotten. Here you can go and check for the best physical chemistry textbooks and the best analytical chemistry books.
Other important subfields such as biochemistry and electrochemistry are not left behind.
Also, it is mandatory that you start learning how to properly take notes in the form of a laboratory notebook, and writing good lab reports.
Online Resources
Apart from books, the second best resource for finding resources is clearly the internet. But what sites should I visit?
Of course, there are many university websites with plenty of information, but the easiest and quickest way find something, is of course, a search engine such as Google. But make sure to check what kind of site are you visiting, and if the information they provide is reliable. Many times, your query will take you to university sites that you can trust. But as we advised before, learning how to filter information is key!
As for other great websites to look for information, some of them are:
Wikipedia: Some criticize that anyone can edit it and write any information. This is true, but it is also true that it undergoes continuos review by experts, and inaccurate or undocumented information rarely goes unnoticed. The info sources or citations are usually great and often refer to original research.
Youtube: Just the same as Google, just search anything you want and you will most likely find a channel explaining everything about it to you! An example for Organic Chemistry is presented by Crash Course here.
As an example of this, we have collected some of the best chemistry lectures and conference talks in another article.
SciFinder and Reaxys: Professional scientific databases. They are paid tools, but if you study or work in a research institution, you will most likely have access to a subscription. These are great for looking through original research, and if you are serious about doing a career on chemistry, you’d better get used to playing with them!
Libretexts: Great repository for completely open access books online, which might not be accessible anywhere else. Lot’s of chemistry material there to find!
This list could go on forever, for example, our own place, Chemistry Hall, has plenty of resources to discover. But we really want to remark how important is to master search engine searches to look for exactly what you are looking for.
We will now finish with an important section for students: tips on taking on some of the most popular standarized chemistry exams in the US.
Taking Standardized Chemistry Exams
The single best thing you can do to prepare for most standardized exams is to take practice tests that are as similar to the real thing as possible. In addition to that, check out these tips for some of the major standardized chemistry exams.
Tips for AP Chemistry Exams
The AP chem exam is a college credit exam for high school students, so it literally pays to be prepared for this one. Your first step should be to buy one of the best AP chemistry review books, preferably one with lots of practice test so that you’ll feel comfortable with the structure of the exam and the formats of the different types of questions.
When taking your practice exams, make sure you do it under simulated testing conditions. Most of all, that means that you need to time yourself. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the topics that are covered on the exam are changed from time to time, so if you buy a review book, make sure it’s the most recent edition.
Similarly, make sure you get the latest version of exam logistics, such as when you will be allowed to use a calculator, the provided equation sheet, etc. And if your handwriting looks like chicken scratch, remember that your free response questions are being graded by humans, and doing your best to keep things legible could save you some points by making your grader’s life easier.
Tips for the SAT Chemistry Subject Test
Many colleges and universities do not require SAT II exams, i.e. subject tests, but they can be useful to present yourself as a better applicant. Usually, students are advised to take one science SAT subject exam and one humanities, and the SAT Chemistry Exam is one of the most popular science tests.
It should come as no surprise that your first step to success is to buy a chemistry SAT subject textbook. But it’s also important to realize that not all review books are created equal. There is one specific type of question on the SAT Chemistry Exam that is quite different from what most students are used to. They are called “relationship analysis”, and they can be confusing at first, so you need to make sure that your practice exams contain this type of problem.
When taking practice tests, always do it as close to real-life testing conditions as possible. That means setting a timer and being aware in advance of the things that are and aren’t allowed on exam day. For example, you are NOT permitted a calculator on the chemistry SAT II. If your algebra and basic math skills aren’t strong, it’s best to start working on them as far in advance of exam day as you can.
You will, however, be given a very basic periodic table of the elements. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to review periodic trends, groups, series, etc. and make a “brain dump” of all this information as soon as you are allowed to begin the test.
Tips for ACS Exams
Some college professors opt to give the American Chemical Society general chemistry or organic chemistry exam as their course final in lieu of preparing their own. This sounds like a terrifying prospect to lots of students, but it can actually be a blessing because you will be able to prepare yourself for it with more confidence.
Since the ACS exam is standardized, you can know in advance exactly what topics will be covered, the sorts of questions they tend to ask, etc. You can find official study guides and practice tests online, along with the rules for the test, provided materials, and so on.
We recommend that you start prepping well in advance so that you can space out the material and take your time with everything. Remember that active forms of studying, like doing practice problems or trying to explain concepts to someone else, are much more effective than just reading and rereading notes.
The ACS finals are cumulative, which means they are more about breadth than depth in terms of material. You can choose to go back to the beginning of your course work and study chronologically, or take a more tailored approach and first focus on material that you have a good, but not great, understanding of, before continuing on to any parts that make you feel hopelessly lost.
Tips for MCAT, PCAT, etc.
Pre-professional exams, like the MCAT and PCAT, are designed to measure your knowledge and aptitude in multiple subjects. On the MCAT, one section is called Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, while the comparable section on the PCAT is Chemical Processes (there is a separate section for biology).
The names of these sections give you a clue as to what you are expected to know on each exam. Understandably, there is a greater focus on chemistry in this section for pharmacy students and more of a biology focus for med school.
The two exams have totally different structures and rules, so you need to get all that information as soon as you can so that you know how to study and prepare. For example, the PCAT is now given on the computer at a testing center with a calculator built into the exam in the chemistry section and others. However, calculators are not allowed on the MCAT chemistry section, so part of your test prep may include practicing doing calculations by hand.
As with other exams, you’ll greatly improve your chances of getting into med school or pharmacy school if you make use of a good review book with plenty of practice problems.
Time to Learn Chemistry!
If you follow this guide and make use of the resources at your disposal, you’ll be well on your way to learning chemistry. Now, all you need is to dedicate some time to daily study—consistency will make the difference in how far you go!
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