Did you know that challenges in understanding Chemistry are not exclusive to India and can be observed in students across countries? Overcoming these difficulties often requires a combination of supportive teaching methods, interactive learning approaches, practical demonstrations, and personalized attention to cater to individual learning needs.
According to Neetu Negi, PGT Chemistry at Apeejay School, Kharghar, who teaches classes X to XII, a student will find a subject tough only if the basics for the subject are not clear. “Therefore, it is imperative that the most commonly used terms, which are also reasons in themselves for most of the observations in Organic Chemistry, should be explained to the students with absolute clarity,” Negi shared.
“Students should make their strong points stronger. If they find solving numericals easy, they should work on improving their paper 1. If they can easily remember reagents, they should make their paper 2 stronger”
–Neetu Negi, PGT Chemistry at Apeejay School, Kharghar
Some of these topics include Resonance, Hyperconjugation, Inductive Effect, Electromeric Effect, Electrophilic Substitution/Addition, and Nucleophilic Substitution/Addition. “To understand Physical Chemistry, flowcharts are the best way to stay connected with the topics,” Negi said.
“Students usually find Electro Chemistry, Chemical Kinetics (completely new concept and numericals), Coordination Compound and D&F Block (many exceptions and reasons), Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids (lengthy chapter) as difficult chapters,” Negi said.
She added that many students find Chemistry difficult to understand because of the overlapping of information. “The easy way out is consistency. A well-distributed pattern of studying is what can help students score well. Fear of the unknown is another reason why students find the subject tough. Having a strategic way to create notes and maintain records of every topic will keep a student motivated. But most importantly, it is the teacher who needs to have a positive outlook in the class about the subject,” Negi said in conclusion.
Tips that can help students score well:
1. Students can write the most important formulas for each chapter and post them either in the space where they sit and study or behind the door, ensuring that they will be replaced by the next chapter. This will also guarantee a time limit.
2. Studying chapter by chapter always causes stress. The new approach is to study topic-wise. For example, for the chapter Solution, a student can complete the colligative properties and then move to the next chapter. The next day, the student can complete Raoult’s Law and Henry’s Law and their applications. Last but not least, on some other day, concentrate on solving numericals.
3. Students should make their strong points stronger. If they find solving numericals easy, they should work on improving their paper 1. If they can easily remember reagents, they should make their paper 2 stronger.
4. Maintain a book and bifurcate it into sections which include name reactions, formulae list, derivations, definitions, and distinguish betweens. This covers most of the material. This will also make it easy for students to revise quickly during exams.
5. Mnemonics and flowcharts really help. An example of a mnemonic is – using rhymes to remember rules of spelling like ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’.
Shalini is an Executive Editor with Apeejay Newsroom. With a PG Diploma in Business Management and Industrial Administration and an MA in Mass Communication, she was a former Associate Editor with News9live. She has worked on varied topics - from news-based to feature articles.
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