Chemistry Introductions

Start learning chemistry with the basics. Learn what chemistry is, what chemists do, and why it's important to study chemistry.

Are you confused about how chemical engineering differs from pure chemistry or other types of engineering? Here's an explanation of what chemical engineering is and what chemical engineers do.

Learn about absolute zero and the Kelvin and Celsius temperature scales.

Here is a step-by-step tutorial for balancing chemical equations, along with a worked example. This is a must-read for students of general and introductory chemistry!

Get the definition for a crystal and learn about some common types of crystals.

Distillation is a common chemistry process used to separate materials by changing their states of matter. Learn more about how the process works and find out about different types of distillations.

Do you know what dry ice is? Learn about dry ice and find fun projects that use dry ice.

Find out what Earth Day is all about, when it is, and how it started.

Do you want to grow crystals, but you aren't sure where to start or what to do to make sure your crystals turn out well? Here's some basic information on crystal growing. I've provided links to recipes so you can start growing crystals. These instructions are general, so if your recipe calls for something special (like no vibrations or dark), be...

Lab reports are an essential part of all laboratory courses and usually a significant part of your grade. If your instructor gives you an outline for how to write a lab report, use that. Here's a format for a lab report you can use if you aren't sure what to write or need an explanation of what to include in the different parts of the report.

Learn about natural and induced radioactivity and alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

Learn what spectroscopy and spectra are, how spectroscopy works, and what it is used for. This article includes a list of several different spectroscopies, with brief descriptions of their characteristics.

Are you confused about atoms, elements, protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, and ions? Here's a basic look at the model of the atom. It's a great overview for kids or anyone looking to grasp the essentials of atomic theory.

Get the definition for a chemical element.

Learn what the greenhouse effect is and how it is related to climate.

Find out what the IUPAC is and learn a little about about what the IUPAC does.

Learn how the periodic table of the elements is structured. Get basic history about its development and learn how periods and groups relate to electrons and atomic mass.

Get definitions and examples of the main states of matter: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.