Chemistry for IIT- An Insight

Dear Students/Aspirants,

In this blog, I'll try my best to give you an insight in Chemistry and to enhance your conventional approach so as to master it. It will be an interesting journey for you to understand Chemistry from its roots, with a clear approach. 

        In this competitive era, securing a seat in top Engineering/Medical Colleges in India is a tough task.

Almost every competitive exam has Chemistry as a core subject. Hence, letting chemistry aside would cost you plenty.

Chemistry is always a subject with little interest. A common survey can give you an idea that, it is the most hated subject by the IITs/NITs/AIIMS/NEET aspirants since its inception.

To understand ‘why’, let us go through some frequently asked questions.

Whether Chemistry is same as other Core Science Subjects?

• No, it isn't. Although it is a science subject but still its basis is far more different than other core science subjects like Mathematics/Physics, which are based on systematic study of environment. On the other hand, Chemistry relies on the "Systematic Study of Experimental Results". This criterion differentiates it from other science subjects.

• For example: Mathematics, as a discipline having time invariant (fixed) theorems, formulas and theory, is considered to be absolute and never going to change. Also, Physics is purely based on mathematical equations/expressions hence we get a clear view of the subject. On the contrary, Chemistry is based on experimental results which cannot be considered as absolute with time. Its result varies with how fast and accurately modern experimental instrument/variable performs and a new theory will be required to satisfy its need. This totally implies that the study of Chemistry somewhat varies with time. Hence, students generally get confused from lack of understanding and lose their interest in this extraordinary changing world of Chemistry.

• Another example to help you understand is "Dalton’s theory". I think all of you must have studied it in class IX but what happened in higher classes when you were told that some postulates of the theory are wrong and in class XI you have to study a different theory i.e. Bohr's Atomic theory. Thus, confusion occurs i.e. whether Dalton’s theory was correct or wrong? If it was wrong then why we had to study about it? 

• The conventional answer from the teachers when asked such questions is:

You have to mug things up in chemistry so try to remember it, after all this is a      general notion that “Chemistry is the study of Exceptional Cases”.

OR 

This is in your syllabus so in order to get good marks in exams you should remember it.

• Here comes a different approach for these questions which you need to develop in yourself in order to master it.

The correct answer should be “The Dalton’s Theory is an old theory, which was developed when very few aspects of Chemistry were known to people (even the term 'Atom' was first coined in this). There was lack of scientific research as well as instruments with high accuracy. Bohr's theory, whereas, was developed on the basis of recent experimental dates. Hence both the theories were correct in their own times. But Bohr's theory is considered to be more relevant because it based upon latest experimental results.

Whether we need to change the plan of study for Chemistry?

• Yes, we have to look it as a subject which is growing with time. That is, we have to study it with respect to time frames in order to remove confusions.

Just have a thought on this line:

• “Whatever, concepts or theories we consider now as irrelevant might have been relevant say 100 or 200 years before.”

• Once your study plan for chemistry is developed in chronological order you will feel much more confident with lesser doubts. Slowly your interest in the subject will grow.

• There exists no study material in the market which is based on this approach, thus, students get confused over time and drop the idea to study it. But let me tell you, if you study this subject in a proper order you will surely understand the links between various theories and can excel in it. As a mentor, I have always tried to guide students and they have showed better interest in the subject than before using this approach.

That's all for now, will come back soon with some more insights, tips, tricks, useful theory, advance problem sets etc. in Chemistry. Hope you enjoyed it!

Suggestions and discussions are always welcome!!

Would be glad to hear from you all,

Hridesh

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