Chemistry labs in college are way different compared to chemistry labs in high school. No longer are you making your paper mache volcanoes erupt harmless water vapor or celebrating Mole Day on October 23rd by eating animal mole-shaped cookies; you are in the big leagues now working with real chemicals that have real consequences. Sometimes, you are required to take a chemistry course (or two, or three) when you are not even a chemistry major.
If this situation applies to you, then you have probably questioned why you are even required to take an intense chemistry course when it feels like this class has absolutely nothing to do with your degree or career aspirations.
Here are 33 thoughts that non-chem majors have while in a chemistry lab.
1. "I hope this doesn't explode."
2. "What is a mole?"
3. "Why does everything have to be in moles?"
4. "I am so nervous to mix this together."
5. "If I fake my data on my lab report, will anybody really know?"
6. "Who cares about the light spectrum?"
7. "I know that I sure don't."
8. "There is way too much math is chemistry."
9. "Where is the emergency shower?"
10. "Should I be wearing gloves?"
11. "When I schedule my lab from 6-9 p.m., I never actually thought we would be here from 6-9 p.m."
12. "Oh good, my lab partner is actually a chemistry major. I have nothing to worry about."
13. "Why am I literally doing everything when my lab partner is the actual chemist?"
14. "I can barely unlock my lab drawer, how am I supposed to know how to use all of the equipment stored inside of it?"
15. "People actually do this for a living?"
16. "I'm the first one to leave lab tonight... did I do something wrong?"
17. "I'm spending more time on this lab report than it actually took to complete the experiment."
18. "My professor is so happy teaching chem. How?"
19. "I want to like him, but the fact that this difficult subject makes him so excited is an automatic turn off."
20. "This is only an intro level course?!?"
21. "Which faucet is the deionized water?"
22. "What is the purpose of using deionized water, again?"
23. "How many mL are in a L?"
24. "How am I supposed to empty this thing?"
25. "Oh, chemistry can actually be cool!"
26. "I love chem!"
27. "OK, maybe not so much. I take that back."
28. "How many people in this lab are actually chem majors?"
29. "When concepts from lecture and experiments from lab actually connect, life is so good."
30. "How truly dangerous are these chemicals?"
31. "I wonder if I can keep this compound we've been testing."
32. "The professor is standing way too close to me... probs judging my lack of chemistry knowledge."
33. "How many labs are left in this semester?"
