Better Living Through Chemistry

Cerritos College Earth Science Department On-Line Tutorial Center

Although many college students think they can avoid chemistry by taking an earth science course to satisfy general education requirements, such a strategy is doomed to failure. Chemistry is simply the scientific study of matter, and because the earth is composed of matter (well duh!), at least some knowledge of chemistry is necessary for understanding the earth.

This tutorial is no substitute for taking a full-blown chemistry course, but your understanding of earth science will improve dramatically if you can master just a few basic chemical concepts. Before you click on one of the links below make sure you have a copy of the periodic table of the elements on hand (click here to see on-line versions of the periodic table), and that you are familiar with the following basic vocabulary that chemists use to describe matter. 

When you have collected all of the information you need, click on one of the following links to practice on the types of chemistry questions a beginning earth science student should be able to answer on an exam. Check with your instructor to determine which of the following exercises are appropriate for your course.

Return to the Earth Science On-Line Tutorial page