Chemistry: What Do You Really Study?
Materials, reactions and the structure of matter - from the atom and the molecule to medicines, energy and advanced materials.
What Do You Study in Chemistry? Core Subjects, Year by Year
What do the degree courses cover?
Open a course to learn about its main topics and see what the work looks like in practice.
What do you learn in the course?Introduction to General Chemistry?
The course builds the basic language of chemistry: atoms, molecules, amounts of matter and reactions. You learn to balance equations, calculate stoichiometry and concentrations and understand gases, solutions, energy and equilibrium in preparation for all advanced chemistry courses.
Main topics
- Atoms, molecules and the periodic table
- Mol, mass and stoichiometry
- Gases, solutions and concentrations
- Energy, acids and bases and equilibrium
What does it look like in practice?
For example, balance a reaction and calculate which reactant will run out first, how much product can be formed and what the actual yield will be compared to the theory.
What do you learn in the course?Atomic structure and chemical bonding?
You learn how the behavior of electrons determines the structure of the atom, periodicity and the way in which atoms bind to molecules and solids. The course deals with orbitals, ionic and covalent bonds, molecular geometry, polarity and intermolecular forces.
Main topics
- Orbitals, quantum numbers and configuration
- Trends in the periodic table
- Ionic, covalent bonding and orbital description
- Geometry, polarity and intermolecular forces
What does it look like in practice?
For example, predict the shape and polarity of a molecule and use them to explain why one substance is soluble in water and has a higher boiling point than a similar substance.
What do you learn in the course?Good luck to the chemists?
The course teaches to describe rate, accumulation and optimization in chemical processes. Derivatives and integrals, functions in several variables and basic differential equations are studied and applied in kinetics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy and material balances.
Main topics
- Derivatives and rates of change
- Integrals and material balances
- Functions in several variables and partial derivatives
- Differential equations in chemical models
What does it look like in practice?
For example, one solves a rate equation for a first-order reaction and derives concentration as a function of time and half-life.
What do you learn in the course?Linear Algebra for Chemists?
You learn to work with vectors, matrices, systems of equations and eigenvalues that appear in molecular models, quantum chemistry and data analysis. The emphasis is on the interpretation of the structure and the solution alongside manual and computerized calculation.
Main topics
- Vectors, matrices and systems of equations
- Spaces, bases and copies
- Eigenvalues and slope
- Applications in quantum, spectrum and data
What does it look like in practice?
For example, one diagonalizes a matrix that represents an interaction between orbitals and interprets the eigenvalues as possible energy levels.
What do you learn in the course?General physics for chemists?
The course provides a foundation in mechanics, electricity, waves, light and heat to understand instrumentation and chemical phenomena. You study energy and motion, electric fields, vibrations and spectra and relate the principles to measurement, molecules and matter.
Main topics
- Mechanics, work and energy
- Electricity, fields and circuits
- Waves, light and optics
- Heat, vibrations and scientific instruments
What does it look like in practice?
For example, they explain how an electric field separates ions according to the mass-charge ratio and how this principle appears in an analytical device.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chemistry
Is a degree in Chemistry difficult?
There is no single answer — difficulty depends on your background, the institution, and your chosen study pace. According to this site's estimate, The degree is highly quantitative — mathematics and formal reasoning appear in nearly every course, and this is the part most students describe as challenging, and a large share of the reading material is in English. A good way to assess fit is to review the course map on this page: if most of the subjects interest you, the effort will usually feel worthwhile.
How long does a degree in Chemistry take?
Usually 3–4 years (Single-major or double-major). Exact duration varies by institution and depends on course load and the track you choose.
Chemistry or Biology — which is right for me?
The degrees most closely related to Chemistry are Biology, Physics, and Marine Sciences. Their differences are usually in emphasis rather than the overall subject, so the fastest way to decide is to compare their course maps — what you actually study in each program, year by year. You can also open the degree comparison tool to view the differences side by side.
What do chemistry graduates work in?
Pharma and cosmetics, analytical labs and quality control, biotech and advanced materials, and the public sector. R&D roles usually require an advanced degree — many continue to a master's.
What is the difference between chemistry and chemical engineering?
Chemistry is the science — understanding materials and reactions at lab scale; chemical engineering turns that into industrial production processes. Engineering generally pays more; the science goes deeper into research.
How much math and physics are involved?
A fair amount: calculus, general physics and physical chemistry with real mathematical tools. Expect 4–5 math units as background, with labs taking a large share of the week.
Where can you study this?
Chemistry is taught at all research universities. Those aiming at industry may also consider chemical engineering at the Technion, Ben-Gurion or Ariel.