YOUR NEXT DISCOVERY

Atoms, Molecules and All That Makes Up Matter: Chemistry 101

From everyday samples to atoms, formulas and evidence.

Complete the Course to Earn a Certificate and Join the Hall of Fame

An inviting sample vessel leads to enlarged separate particle models: a bent water group, an oxygen pair and a single atom marker. The entrance is a schematic invitation, not one literal mixture.
Three containers show the same six model particles: close and ordered, close but rearranged, and spread throughout the available space. This compares arrangements, not the exact density of any one real substance.

A CLOSER LOOK

Measure and reason

Understand familiar materials, read chemical descriptions and test claims with evidence instead of memorising isolated words.

See it. Try it. Make it yours.

  1. Measure and reason

  2. Particles, states and energy

  3. Atoms and periodic patterns

Complete chemistry beginners who can read short English sentences. · What to know before you start

Bring with you: Read short English sentences and count whole numbers. Add, subtract, multiply and divide small whole numbers. No chemistry is assumed.

Understand familiar materials, read chemical descriptions and test claims with evidence instead of memorising isolated words.

Build independent introductory chemistry reasoning from measurements and particle evidence through atomic structure, composition, moles, reaction quantities, solutions and acids/bases. Explain unfamiliar cases, calculate with units and audit claims through interleaved practice.

By the end, you can…

  • Use units, proportions, density and uncertain data to make a defensible comparison.
  • Explain particle motion, heat, state changes and controlled gas predictions.
  • Use atomic evidence, notation, isotope averages and electron counts to explain identities and patterns.
  • Read formulas, compare solution composition and design a justified separation.
  • Distinguish reactions from physical changes, conserve atoms and mass, and balance unfamiliar equations.
  • Use moles, molar mass, composition, reaction ratios, limiting supplies and yield to solve quantitative cases.
  • Calculate molarity and dilution, track aqueous ions and explain a stated neutralisation.
  • Combine measurements, formulas and reaction amounts into justified conclusions with explicit limits.

For another Course

  • Detailed quantum mechanics and nuclear reactions.
  • Advanced quantum orbital theory, equilibrium constants, logarithmic pH calculations, detailed thermodynamics and organic mechanisms.
  • Practical laboratory certification, medical advice or hazardous experiments.

YOUR LEARNING PATH

One idea leads to the next.

0 of 34 Missions completed or proven
Unit 1

Measure and reason

Use units, proportions, density and uncertain data to make a defensible comparison.

  1. What counts as matter?Mission 1 of 34Locked. Use mass and space to decide whether a sample is matter.
  2. The number tools chemistry needsMission 2 of 34Locked. Use decimals, fractions, percentages, ratios and unit conversions before chemical calculations.
  3. Mass, space and a fair comparisonMission 3 of 34Locked. Compare samples with mass, volume and mass per equal volume.
  4. What does a measurement really tell you?Mission 4 of 34Locked. Use repeated data, uncertainty and fair comparisons to test a chemical claim.
Unit 2

Particles, states and energy

Explain particle motion, heat, state changes and controlled gas predictions.

  1. A useful model of the unseenMission 5 of 34Locked. Use a particle model and explain what its drawings do and do not show.
  2. Solid, liquid or gas?Mission 6 of 34Locked. Relate shape, volume and flow to particle arrangement and motion.
  3. Heat, temperature and particle motionMission 7 of 34Locked. Distinguish energy transfer from temperature and interpret heating before using gas relations.
  4. The same substance, a new stateMission 8 of 34Locked. Explain changes of state without changing the substance into another one.
  5. Predict a gas change with controlsMission 9 of 34Locked. Use particle collisions and controlled gas ratios without confusing amount, pressure, volume or temperature.
Unit 3

Atoms and periodic patterns

Use atomic evidence, notation, isotope averages and electron counts to explain identities and patterns.

  1. Meet the atomMission 10 of 34Locked. Describe the parts of an atom and their relative locations and charges.
  2. Why believe an atomic model?Mission 11 of 34Locked. Connect measured patterns and scattering evidence to models while separating evidence from inference.
  3. What makes one element different?Mission 12 of 34Locked. Use proton and electron counts to identify an element and its charge.
  4. Same element, different mass numberMission 13 of 34Locked. Separate proton number, neutron number, mass number and charge.
  5. Read the periodic tableMission 14 of 34Locked. Use atomic number, group and period without memorising the whole table.
  6. Explain a periodic patternMission 15 of 34Locked. Use a limited electron-shell model to reason about main-group similarities and common ion charges.
Unit 4

Substances and mixtures

Read formulas, compare solution composition and design a justified separation.

  1. Separate atoms and joined atomsMission 16 of 34Locked. Distinguish an element, a molecule and a compound.
  2. Read a chemical formulaMission 17 of 34Locked. Count atoms from symbols, subscripts, brackets and numbers before formulas.
  3. Together is not always chemically joinedMission 18 of 34Locked. Distinguish pure substances, mixtures and solutions.
  4. How much can dissolve?Mission 19 of 34Locked. Separate concentration, saturation and dissolving speed and calculate simple solution composition.
  5. Choose a separation methodMission 20 of 34Locked. Choose a physical separation using a relevant property difference.
Unit 5

Reactions and conservation

Distinguish reactions from physical changes, conserve atoms and mass, and balance unfamiliar equations.

  1. Did a new substance form?Mission 21 of 34Locked. Distinguish physical and chemical change and judge the strength of evidence.
  2. Where did the mass go?Mission 22 of 34Locked. Track all matter across a system boundary and conserve atoms in reactions.
  3. Make a reaction equation balanceMission 23 of 34Locked. Balance simple equations by changing coefficients and preserving formulas.
Unit 6

Count and calculate chemical amounts

Use moles, molar mass, composition, reaction ratios, limiting supplies and yield to solve quantitative cases.

  1. Write very large and very small numbersMission 24 of 34Locked. Read powers of ten and scientific notation without treating an exponent as an ordinary multiplier.
  2. Count particles by the moleMission 25 of 34Locked. Use the mole as a counted amount and always specify the entity being counted.
  3. Turn grams into counted amountsMission 26 of 34Locked. Calculate molar mass and move between mass, moles and constituent atoms with explicit units.
  4. Find a formula from compositionMission 27 of 34Locked. Use mole ratios to find a simplest formula and distinguish it from a molecular formula.
  5. Use an equation as an amount ratioMission 28 of 34Locked. Convert a given reactant amount or mass into a required or predicted amount using a balanced equation.
  6. Which supply runs out first?Mission 29 of 34Locked. Find a limiting reactant, excess left over, theoretical yield and percent yield from supplied amounts.
Unit 7

Solutions, ions, acids and bases

Calculate molarity and dilution, track aqueous ions and explain a stated neutralisation.

  1. Count solute in a solution volumeMission 30 of 34Locked. Use molarity, dilution and reaction ratios with final solution volumes and explicit units.
  2. What happens to ions in water?Mission 31 of 34Locked. Distinguish dissolved molecules, mobile ions and precipitate formation using particle and charge accounts.
  3. Acids and bases without mysteryMission 32 of 34Locked. Explain aqueous acid/base reactions, read pH, separate strength from concentration and calculate a simple neutralisation.
Unit 8

Independent chemistry investigations

Combine measurements, formulas and reaction amounts into justified conclusions with explicit limits.

  1. Investigation: an unknown sampleMission 33 of 34Locked. Combine uncertain measurement, isotope composition and separation evidence to evaluate an unknown sample.
  2. Investigation: amounts, reactions and claimsMission 34 of 34Locked. Independently calculate finite-supply reaction and solution amounts, diagnose broken methods and defend conclusions with explicit evidence limits.Mastery Challenge

A Debsie Course · Complete chemistry beginners who can read short English sentences.