Chemistry

At first glance, Chemistry may seem like a disorganized field of study. We jump from one subject to the next, including:

• atoms, ions, compounds, and molecules
• the periodic table, electron configurations, and periodic trends
• types of chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, metallic, van der Waals, etc.)
• types of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, combustion, etc.)
• pH, acids, and bases
• the mole and Avogadro’s number
• balancing chemical equations and stoichiometry
• empirical formulas, molecular formulas, percent composition, and limiting reactants
• gas laws including Boyle’s Law, Charles’s Law, Gay-Lussac’s Law, and the Ideal Gas Law
• phase changes and phase diagrams
  …and much more.

What do all these topics have in common? Chemistry is the study of how matter behaves.

This series of videos gives an overview of the essential topics from a first-year college chemistry course. The level of study is also appropriate for advanced high school and homeschool students. Many of these subjects will be important prerequisites for further study in other scientific fields, including biology, physics, geology, astronomy, engineering, etc.

This is a video-based course that allows you to learn at your own pace. Many of the videos include example problems worked in full. You will find additional handouts and activities for most videos. There are also full-length practice tests available in our digital store. We welcome you to  sign up for the Chemistry Club mailing list to receive free course updates.

Video: What is Chemistry?

Handout: Video Notes Worksheet

Join Socratica’s Chemistry Club for free updates to this course.

Full-length Practice Tests with Answer Keys