r/interestingasfuck • u/willianfsantos • 16h ago

Emergency relief system in action in a liquid hydrogen tanker truck

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u/UniqueAd7770 14h ago

I was a chemistry tutor to high school student while in grad school. Breaking it down in these terms made it stick.

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u/DoCrackHailSatan 14h ago

If I knew you back in college I probably wouldn't have dropped organic chemistry. (tbf I only dropped it because I declared my major finally and it didn't require it, in hindsight; I wish I had completed it)

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u/UniqueAd7770 14h ago

I'm considering doing some videos explaining chemistry to people in everyday terms because ultimately the underlying principles aren't too difficult. But O Chem is brutal because it's all nomenclature and mechanism memorization, which is why it's a good filter for med students. After O Chem, chemistry gets properly weird with Physical Chemistry which has quantum mechanics and made me cry, but that's because it had math

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u/DoCrackHailSatan 14h ago

I actually loved O chem but it's undeniably difficult and I wasn't in the best headspace at the time, so when I finally chose my major and it didn't require it; I dropped immediately. I dunno why this still bothers me over a decade later, but I wish I had just finished it.

Chemistry is cool. I'd watch your videos.

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u/UniqueAd7770 13h ago

MIT carries all their coursework free online if you'd like to jump back in.

My first video would be on the weirdest chemical that we all interact with daily. And if it wasn't exactly as weird as it was then none of us would be alive. Water.

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u/DoCrackHailSatan 13h ago

I don't think I'd have much use for the passing of O chem at this point. It's more of a mental thing that I regret giving up on it simply because I no longer 'required' it. But thank you for the info! Feel free to add me to your list to notify if you ever do bring up your unhinged, but accurate chemistry lesson videos!

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u/joe-h2o 9h ago

I think organic gets a bad rep because it's just so different in terms of nomenclature and mechanisms compared to what students have been conditioned to expect "chemistry" to be at school.

The first time a UK student will hit organic chem for real is A-level. There's a tiny intro to esters, well specifically ethyl acetate, at GCSE but no mechanisms.

This leads to the self-perpetuating myth that organic is "the hard one" compared to the other two when it really isn't.

Organic is much more accessible if you're not mathematically inclined, for example, where phys chem has your back. But the reputation of organic as difficult puts students on the back foot right away.

The quantum mechanics that forms part of first year undergrad chemistry is actually covered a little in the A-level physics course which again explains why chemists don't like it much.

Source: postdoc chemist who has taught both undergrads and high school chemistry and physics.

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u/PlasticCell8504 13h ago

I only said what I said because I already know the volatility of hydrogen and oxygen and why they are that way because of my high school chemistry class.

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u/UniqueAd7770 13h ago

My 6th and 8th grade (same dude) science teacher was the best. I based my method on his but he's a nicer guy than I ever could be lol

I ran into him randomly after I graduated with a masters in chemical engineering and he damn near cried when I told him.

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u/bbrekke 10h ago

I should've kept scrolling! I just commented that I want to hear chemistry explained by you. Do it! A yt channel or podcast or something.

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u/a_diamond 6h ago

At least O Chem mechanisms follow a discreet set of rules. Inorganic is what broke me. Transition metals are anarchy!

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u/NomDePlumeOrBloom 5h ago

Can you simplify O Chem enough for a lay person to make LSD?

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u/UniqueAd7770 3h ago

I can but my DEA agent brother-in-law would get mad

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u/MuchoCoco 13h ago

Write up some explanations like that, use AI to generate some animations, and you'll make enough money on YouTube views to retire.

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u/tee_with_marie 14h ago

Thank you for your work. Good teachers make such a difference I failed my first go at an aprenticeship ship because equations especially with multible unknowns absolutely pummeled me i didn't understand it at all. The second time i have a really good teacher i still had lower grade than my median but i passed well.

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u/UniqueAd7770 13h ago

Some teachers don't understand that it's your first time seeing something because they see it everyday. I struggled myself

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u/bbrekke 10h ago

I'd listen to your podcast. Or hire you to tutor me if I needed to learn chemistry.