What is the point of Chemistry?

Chemistry knowledge gained at GCSE can give a grounding in helping with
cooking
removing stains or cleaning things later in life
an awareness that you don’t just throw petrol and washing up liquid together without at the very least wearing goggles and gloves
medically treating burns or stings
understanding heat (tumble dryers) and the effects on fabrics

so it can be applied to a broad range of real life essential skills, and to apply those skills in a real life setting a groundwork knowledge of how substances react with each other forms the basis of an “educated guess”

Chemistry can teach practical life skills, such as why you should never mix bleach with anything acidic, as it creates toxic gas that can severely damage your lungs.
Chemistry explains why baking powder makes cakes rise, as the bicarbonate of soda reacts with acidic ingredients to produce carbon dioxide bubbles.
Chemistry reveals why rust forms on things like garden tools when left out in the rain, as iron oxidises when exposed to oxygen and moisture.
Chemistry demonstrates why non-stick frying pans work, thanks to polymers that prevent food from bonding to the surface.
Etc, etc...

We are talking about GCSE's which are chosen at about age 13, then studied for 2 years. I can't be the only person who opted for languages rather than science at age 13 and regretted it for the rest of my life. I went back and took GCSE chemistry and physics and then A level chemistry and maths at evening classes when my children were small but it was a financial impossibility to go on to do a degree by that point. Children should study as wide a range of subjects as possible for as long as possible in my opinion. My own children took International Baccalaureate instead of A levels (6 subjects including English, maths, a science, a humanity and a language to age 18).

There is a big difference between education and training. School is supposed to provide an all round education and teach people how to learn. Hopefully even get you to enjoy learning. Just telling you what you need to know to perform a task comes under the banner of basic training and has a place but not at school.

Good luck for tomorrow!

I guess my answer would be that some kids will go on to further study and careers that need chemistry and the school system doesn't know ahead of time who that will be, so everybody learns it.

Plus on top of that there is also a more idealistic purpose to education which is that giving kids knowledge about a broad range of topics (including chemistry) helps them to have a better understanding of the world around them and therefore grow up to be more well-rounded adults.

In my role, I have to use chemistry every single day to explain why doing A results in B and not Z. This is to people with average educations, and a poor understanding of basic science, resulting in significantly poor health and wellbeing. A lot of these people could have been spared a lot of misery and discomfort from having just a bit more understanding of basic science.

I cannot remember anything if what I learned in GCSE Chemistry (got a grade B) and although I obviously use chemicals in my everyday life I have no understanding of what they do or why apart from if I read the back of packet or if I look it up online. So I'd agree that what you learn in GCSE Chemistry (especially the endless equations) is pointless unless you are planning on a career in science. But then I think the same about maths. Much of what is taught to pass the exam is not useful maths for everyday life.

Your son needs GCSE chemistry in the same way my son needs German and history GCSE. It's all about understanding the world around you, and being able to access the wider world.

He does get that the chemical industry requires business specialists, and translators can work in scientific fields? Very few subjects work in isolation. They all need an appreciation of what the other cogs in the wheel can assist you with.

It's all a bit Maoist, isn't it? Learning only what you need to farm or work in a factory or rote learn the Little Red Book.
Mind you, some people obviously don't think History is essential, so wouldn't know that.

I think it is even more essential in this "social media" world where anyone can market anything. It helps you understand some things may be scams ( "science" of face creams, why "all natural" products are not necessarily healthier etc)
Then I think it helps with understanding political issues ( Do you want to vote for a party that will encourage fracking, how important is improving air quality, should we be investing massively in renewable energy, how good is our water quality and what should we do about it etc? ).

Finally it helps with domestic issues. ( So many tips encourage people to mix bicarb and vinegar to clean with - in actual fact these neutralise each other and any cleaning effect is likely to be just the scouring effect of the bicarb powder.
What kind of paint should you buy for your home - are "green" paints worth it or not? Are essential oils always the "healthy" option? What about carpets, should you go for all natural fibres or is a proportion of nylon/polypropylene ok? What do different types of washing powder do and are more expensive ones worth the money, what are the health effects of cooking over a gas flame rather than electric and are they significant?)

Even if the GCSE doesn't actually cover the issues specifically, a good understanding of the syllabus gives you the basics that will equip you better to understand whether some specific claim/campaign/product is likely to be true

What would you teach them?

Chemistry is the foundation of everything.

Why 14? Why not 12? Or 10? Or 5?

Interestingly most education systems (including the Scottish one) seems to have later specialisation than the English / Welsh one not earlier.

This ⬆️

You've seen how USA is turning out, right?

Science deniers, vaccine sceptics, RFK allowed to use federal resources to fund his own "vaccines cause autism" agenda?

Fluoride removed from public water supplies water supply resulting in worse oral health?

The greater the dissenimation of scientific facts, reasoning and logic, the better it is in the long run

With a GCSE qualification, it's proof your child isn't a complete dumb arse

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/cities-counties-start-remove-fluoride-public-drinking-water/story?id=120418245

I was much more into humanities, languages and creative subjects at school and would have dropped sciences like a hot brick if I could. But even I can see the point of them. Not necessarily as an obligatory GCSE subject, but that's a debate for another day.

At what age do you think it's appropriate to close off entire sectors and career options to yourself?

Currently it's 16 (and to some extent 14 when you make your GCSE choices), which seems pretty young... I'm not sure I'd be advocating for 11 year olds or 7 year olds or 13 year olds to be making decisions that impact their lifelong earning capabilities and chances of social mobility.

People use algebra all the time. They just don’t recognise it as algebra.

For example tiling your bathroom - how many packs of tiles do you need? Algebra teacher you to subconsciously manipulate variables to find the answer you need.

i agree you don’t need it above a certain point - that point is GCSE. After which you never need to study chemistry ever again if you don’t want. Isn’t that brilliant!

Or are you suggesting that kids should decide their careers aged 14 and be able to drop maths and science then?

Chemistry is a fascinating subject and a building block for subjects like biology and engineering. It's useful knowledge in daily life for all sorts of things like housework, gardening and cooking.

Yes I remember being in a toy shop with my dc and they had an interactive play area with an expanding snow type product…I asked about it, read the contents. We chatted and then he said “ and the best thing is, this is completely chemical free!” I stopped myself from launching into what I wanted to say to that sentence. But, instead I bit my tongue and I said “wow that’s great how did they do that?” I wasn’t in the mood that day, but other times I would’ve given him a little lesson.🤣🤣🤣

Education to 16 is General Education. You specialise later.
Kids today may live another 70+ years post GCSE.
Having a general foundation of basic stuff is potentially useful.

This. It's a good grounding, and opens your mind.
Just look at the stupid posts from anti vaxxers for a start. Or people who think they can "flush out harmful toxins" from their body by drinking water.

every single thing in this world...maybe even in the universe.... is made from chemicals and that includes Mothers in law.