Thread: Is Chemistry just All Restaraunt Business?

I have Introduced myself to Chemistry and I am finding It difficult to make sense out of any of it. What I am trying to do is to find Patterns. What is shown to me resembles nothing but a bush or maybe hazy or whatever that does not resemble any pattern. The Manual does not state any Organized Laws as in other Sciences or maybe I have not reached the Part Yet. Are there Mathematical translations to it as if it had Laws? I am a Cheater, not that way as in a test, but I like to know in a simple, easy way other than Work. Once I find the Patterns, I can pretty much figure it all out. Or Is Chemistry pretty much Restaraunt Business where you just have to know all the Ingredients, How to Heat, Refrigerate, Prepare, I don't know it all, but I hope you Understand my Terminology.

Chemistry is full of patterns. But it is also a vast field that covers many different subjects.

However, I would recommend learning about the periodic table (including how it was developed) as this tells you an awful lot about the organization and patterns in the elements. There are patters as you go across the rows and down the columns.

I'd agree with Strange here. If you're having trouble with getting a picture or a pattern giving an overview or framework for chemistry, the periodic table is the way to go.

google it and then click on images. There are some very useful representations which you might find helpful.

Originally Posted by Perplexion

but I like to know in a simple, easy way other than Work.

I'm not sure this is the best mindset with which to approach chemistry.

That point aside, the periodic table is basically an organized chart of patterns within elements. Once you understand why it is laid out and how it can demonstrate electronegativity, atomic size, weight, etc you really get an appreciation for how much has been fit so neatly into one simple table. It's almost architectural in design.

Man, I'm a nerd.

It may take a while to get the bigger picture when it comes to chemistry. In the beginning you jump straight into an ocean of (quite inaccurate) models. But they will be useful! Later, if you are patient, you may begin to see the bigger picture

As I recall the introductory idea that helped me was that most everything was either an acid, a base or a salt and that combinig an acid and a base reacted to make a salt. I can hear the chemist shuddering at the gross over simplification but it worked for me when I was 10.

In organic chemistry, acids and bases are crucial to understanding pretty much everything else.

I'm a bit more experienced with inorganic crystal chemistry, but most chemistry learning will begin with acids and bases. It comes right after learning the structure of the molecules and stoichiometry.