Chemical Thinking

The Grammar of Reality

Welcome to Chemical Thinking

A revolutionary mathematics course for chemistry students

See reality. Recognize the pattern. Summon the tool.

Get Started Practice Now

What Makes This Course Different?

Traditional math courses say: “Here’s a tool. Find applications.”

We invert this: “See reality. Recognize the pattern. Summon the tool.”

Traditional Approach Chemical Thinking
Learn derivatives → Apply to kinetics See reaction rates → Recognize CHANGE → Derivatives emerge
Memorize matrix operations See molecular symmetry → Recognize ARRANGEMENT → Matrices emerge
Abstract vector algebra See bond angles → Recognize DIRECTION → Vectors emerge

The 9 Primitives

Before “math” or “chemistry,” there is human cognition parsing reality. We perceive through fundamental patterns:

Structure

  • COLLECTION — “There are many”
  • ARRANGEMENT — “Order matters”
  • DIRECTION — “It points”

Change

  • PROXIMITY — “Near vs far”
  • SAMENESS — “Unchanged”
  • CHANGE — “Becoming”

Probability

  • RATE — “How fast”
  • ACCUMULATION — “All together”
  • SPREAD — “Distributed”

Course Modules

“What is a molecule?”

Lecture Primitive Topic
1 — Orientation: Learning to See
2 EXISTENCE What Kinds of Numbers?
3 COLLECTION Counting Things
4 DIRECTION Bonds Point (Vectors)
5 DIRECTION Angles and Projections
6 DIRECTION Coordinates
7 ARRANGEMENT Grids of Numbers (Matrices)
8 ARRANGEMENT Transformations

“How do things transform?”

Lecture Primitive Topic
9 SAMENESS What Doesn’t Change?
10 SAMENESS Eigenvalues
11 SAMENESS Symmetry
12 PROXIMITY Functions and Limits
13 PROXIMITY Asymptotes
14 CHANGE Instantaneous Rate
15 CHANGE Differentiation Rules
16 RATE Kinetics
17 ACCUMULATION Integration
18 ACCUMULATION Techniques

“What happens with many particles?”

Lecture Primitive Topic
19 DYNAMICS First-Order ODEs
20 DYNAMICS Second-Order Systems
21 SPREAD Probability Basics
22 SPREAD Distributions
23 SPREAD Expectation & Variance
24 SYNTHESIS The Complete Map

How It Works

flowchart LR
    A[📖 Read Lecture] --> B[🔬 See Phenomenon]
    B --> C[🧠 Recognize Primitive]
    C --> D[🔧 Learn Tool]
    D --> E[💪 Practice]
    E --> F{Mastery?}
    F -->|No| G[Get Feedback]
    G --> E
    F -->|Yes| H[Next Topic]

Adaptive Practice System

Our IXL-style practice system:

  1. Attempt a problem based on real chemistry
  2. Get instant feedback from AI tutor
  3. If wrong → Worked example + similar problem
  4. Repeat until mastery (3 correct in a row)
  5. Progress tracked automatically