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Original poster

What is the point of Chemistry?

109 replies

MealDealDreamz · 18/05/2025 12:14

Genuinely asking. I understand that it is essential for life and those that excel at science will love it. But my child is currently cramming for tomorrow and I'm looking at it thinking what really is the point of all this? My child will go into more business and languages subjects at A level hopefully. They like biology and physics but they asked me this morning to help them understand why Chemistry is so important. I just could not explain...

OP posts:
Loveduppenguin · 18/05/2025 12:21

stayathomer · 18/05/2025 12:19

I was shocked on leaving college that actually most labs want chemistry as opposed to microbiology/ immunology etc- building blocks of chemicals, reactions etc etc. Very necessary in those areas

Yep I’m a microbiologist…lots of chemistry modules in my course too.

WishItWasAlwaysFriday · 18/05/2025 12:20

TeenToTwenties · 18/05/2025 12:18

I agree.

It also helps to know why you don't put a random mix of chemical cleaning products down the toilet.

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Mrs Hinch style. Every time someone aska what's the point of basic chemistry, I remember her🙈

I would also add, explosive mixes an basic "do not lick" knowledge.

JillAndJenTheFlowerpotMen · 18/05/2025 12:20

It is one of the best subjects for giving you the potential to understand the world as an adult. It’s not the fact that when you’re a 30-something working in hospitality or retail you’ll ever need to know how to test for hydrogen or that magnesium burns with a brilliant white flame, but that everyone encounters chemicals while cleaning and doing DIY and dealing with their own medication, and that many elements of scientific progress are better understood if you have the building blocks that some basic chemistry knowledge provides.

i think that students aiming for pass grades are better off doing combined science so that they have an opportunity to consolidate a decent level of fundamental understanding but for high-achieving students the world is made better by people having a broad knowledge rather than stovepipes of specialism.

stayathomer · 18/05/2025 12:19

I was shocked on leaving college that actually most labs want chemistry as opposed to microbiology/ immunology etc- building blocks of chemicals, reactions etc etc. Very necessary in those areas

Queenonfleek · 18/05/2025 12:19

Hmmm maybe as existence is based on a lot of chemical and bichemical processes.. do you feel the same way about all the other subjects? No curiosity at all except on 2 topics?

TeenToTwenties · 18/05/2025 12:18

twistyizzy · 18/05/2025 12:16

Brcsuse it's important to have at least a basic understanding of many things, not just an indepth knowledge of a very few limited things

I agree.

It also helps to know why you don't put a random mix of chemical cleaning products down the toilet.

Mumofteenandtween · 18/05/2025 12:18

My dad had chemotherapy on Friday. His 6 cycles is expected to give him an extra 5+ years of life. (Which means that he will almost certainly die of something other than his cancer given his age.)

Without chemistry there would be no chemotherapy.

Fitzcarraldo353 · 18/05/2025 12:17

twistyizzy · 18/05/2025 12:16

Brcsuse it's important to have at least a basic understanding of many things, not just an indepth knowledge of a very few limited things

Yep. And also how will your child know they like biology but don't enjoy chemistry if they don't experience both?

twistyizzy · 18/05/2025 12:16

Brcsuse it's important to have at least a basic understanding of many things, not just an indepth knowledge of a very few limited things