Louis La Minh Hoang

In this chemistry lesson, I focused on a full-scale revision of all major topics, bringing together concepts we have learned over time rather than studying them separately. This kind of revision was challenging, not because the ideas were unfamiliar, but because it required switching quickly between different areas of chemistry and applying the right concepts in the right situations.

We reviewed atomic structure, including electron configurations and periodic trends, which form the foundation for understanding reactivity. From there, we revisited bonding — ionic, covalent, and metallic — and how bond type affects properties such as melting point, conductivity, and solubility. These ideas were constantly linked back to structure, forcing careful reasoning rather than memorization.

A large part of the revision focused on chemical reactions. This included reaction types, balancing equations, predicting products, and understanding why reactions occur rather than just what happens. We also revised acids, bases, and salts, paying attention to pH changes, neutralization, and the role of indicators, especially in experimental and calculation-based questions.

We moved on to metals and reactivity, comparing extraction methods and displacement reactions, and then to organic chemistry, where we revised functional groups, naming rules, and reaction pathways. Even small mistakes in identifying a compound could completely change the direction of a problem, so accuracy was essential.

Finally, we reviewed energetics and rates, focusing on interpreting energy changes, reaction profiles, and factors affecting reaction speed. Many questions combined multiple topics at once, which made the revision demanding but effective.

Overall, this lesson helped me see chemistry as a connected system rather than isolated chapters. Revising everything together strengthened my understanding and made it clear how important it is to think logically and apply concepts carefully, especially when dealing with complex, mixed-topic problems.