Why is it hard to love chemistry while juggling other challenging courses?

[Delong]

Hi everyone I really like all of science but my two favorite sciences so far are physics and biology. I've always thought it odd that I like these two sciences but don't like chemistry as much. When I was first taking chemistry I found it boring, especially organic chemistry. But after a few months of it I learned to appreciate it more and chemistry in general. What made it change is that I started viewing chemistry as the study of substances and materials. Suddenly it became a more interesting science to me because everything around us is made of substances and materials. I became curious what things were made of and what properties that material had. I also liked learning about the chemistry of rocks and minerals and how different crystals were made. That said I still enjoy physics and biology more but I learned to appreciate chemistry more. I'm wondering if anyone is in the same spot as me? Did you find yourself like physics and biology more but oddly not interested in the more central science?

 

[Delong]

I guess my topic was kind of stupid.

 

[QuantumCurt]

My views are kind of similar. I'm a physics major, and I love learning about biology. Chemistry, although very interesting, just seems very tedious to me. I have a year of General Chemistry left to take, which I'm going to be doing the next two semesters. I'm looking forward to taking it, just to deepen my understanding of it...but at the same time I'm not looking forward to it. Writing out reactions and structures and whatnot is not my favorite thing to do. It's really not all that complicated, but it can be very tedious at times.

Anything that will deepen your understanding of science is worthwhile though. Having a solid grounding in chemistry will be beneficial in virtually any other scientific field.

 

[Delong]

Thank you for answering. General chemistry I thought was pretty easy.

 

[TheAbsoluTurk]

I had nearly the same experience but with the high school equivalents of those subjects instead. I only hope I will have the same experience as you when I enter university in September.

My not having a good grasp of chemistry almost led me to rule out a science degree but I'll give myself a chance. Maybe I will feel better with chemistry after seeing it from a new angle in a new setting.

 

[QuantumCurt]

Personally, I think I'd find chemistry a lot more fascinating if I wasn't taking chemistry classes at the same time as math, physics, and other GenEd courses. It really is a very interesting subject, and some of the labs I've had have been really cool. But, when it's on top of several other difficult classes, it's harder to enjoy it.

Thus far, I've only had an Intro Chemistry class, and I did enjoy it. I found it to be a really intriguing topic, but very tedious as well. The next two semesters are going to be General Physics, General Chemistry, Calculus, Anthropology, and Spanish, so I'm going to have a heavy work load. I know I'll enjoy Physics, Calculus, and Anthropology. Spanish, not so much, but I don't have a choice. Hopefully I'll manage to enjoy Chemistry too. I think I will.