Thinking Like a Chemist: Matter, Evidence, and Change

In this opening lesson, Professor Nathan Ward introduces chemistry as a practical way of studying matter, evidence, and change. Learners begin with the core habit of a chemist: looking closely at what can be observed, measured, compared, and explained.

The lesson distinguishes matter from energy, physical changes from chemical changes, and observations from interpretations. It also introduces the idea that chemistry connects everyday events, such as dissolving sugar, lighting a stove, rusting metal, and cleaning with vinegar, to changes in particles that are too small to see directly.