English Learning Content for Beginners: Chemistry Basics

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, still staring at that chemistry textbook? You look like you just saw a ghost!

Bob: Alice! Oh, it’s worse than a ghost. It’s… atoms! They’re everywhere, and I don’t get them.

Alice: Haha! Well, you are made of atoms, you know. Everything is!

Bob: So, this coffee cup? Atoms. My sandwich? Atoms. Even my confusion? Atoms?

Alice: Exactly! Think of atoms as tiny, tiny building blocks. Super, super small.

Bob: Okay, building blocks. Like Lego? Can I build a house with them?

Alice: You could, but it would be the smallest house ever! When atoms join together, they make molecules.

Bob: Molecules! Is that why water is H2O? Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom make a water molecule?

Alice: Ding ding ding! You got it! That’s a molecule of water.

Bob: So, air is also molecules? Like, a bunch of different atoms dancing around?

Alice: Pretty much! Mostly nitrogen and oxygen molecules. They’re just floating everywhere.

Bob: Wow. So, I’m breathing nitrogen and oxygen molecules right now. And my brain is thinking about atoms… which are also atoms. My head hurts.

Alice: Don’t worry, Bob. Chemistry isn’t so scary once you understand the basics. It’s just about what everything is made of!

Bob: So, if I understand chemistry, does that mean I can finally turn my homework into pizza?

Alice: Hmm, not quite, but you might understand why pizza tastes so good! It’s all chemistry!

Current Situation

Chemistry might sound like a difficult subject, but it’s actually all around us! From the food we eat to the air we breathe, everything is made of chemicals. Understanding basic chemistry helps us understand the world better. For beginners, learning about atoms and molecules is like learning the alphabet of the universe – it’s the first step to understanding how everything is put together and how it works.

Key Phrases

• staring at: looking at something for a long time.
  • Example: She was staring at the beautiful painting for a long time.
• made of: constructed or produced from.
  • Example: My new shirt is made of cotton.
• Exactly!: used to say that something is completely correct.
  • Example: “Is this the correct answer?” “Exactly! You’re right.”
• Think of… as…: to consider something in a particular way.
  • Example: I think of my dog as a member of my family.
• join together: to connect or unite.
  • Example: The two teams will join together for a big project.
• You got it!: informal way to say “You are correct!” or “Understood!”.
  • Example: “Is the meeting at 3 PM?” “You got it! See you then.”
• Pretty much!: informal way to say “almost entirely” or “yes, generally”.
  • Example: “Are you finished with your homework?” “Pretty much! Just one more question.”
• Don’t worry: used to tell someone not to be anxious or afraid.
  • Example: Don’t worry, it’s not a difficult exam.
• scary: frightening, causing fear.
  • Example: The movie was a bit scary for me.

Grammar Points

1. The Simple Present Tense (for facts and general truths)

We use the simple present tense to talk about things that are always true, facts, or habits.

• Examples from dialogue:
  • “Everything is!” (Fact)
  • “When atoms join together, they make molecules.” (General truth)
  • “Water is H2O.” (Fact)
• Structure:
  • Positive: Subject + Verb (base form) for I, You, We, They. (e.g., I understand, They make)
  • Positive (He, She, It): Subject + Verb + -s/-es. (e.g., It is, He makes)
  • Negative: Subject + do/does + not + Verb. (e.g., I don’t get them.)
  • Questions: Do/Does + Subject + Verb? (e.g., Do you understand? Does it work?)

2. Using ‘So’ to show consequence or conclusion

‘So’ is often used to connect ideas, showing that the second part is a result or conclusion of the first part.

• Examples from dialogue:
  • “My sandwich? Atoms. So, this coffee cup? Atoms.” (Bob is making a conclusion)
  • “So, air is also molecules?” (Bob is asking if his conclusion is correct)
  • “So, if I understand chemistry, does that mean I can finally turn my homework into pizza?” (Bob makes a humorous conclusion)

3. Using ‘Everything’ and ‘Everywhere’

• Everything: refers to all things. It is a singular pronoun.
  • Example: “Everything is atoms!”
• Everywhere: refers to all places. It is an adverb.
  • Example: “They’re everywhere.” “They’re just floating everywhere.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Use words from the box below)

[ exactly, made of, staring at, don’t worry, join together ]

1. He was ____ his new toy for hours.
2. This cake is ____ flour, sugar, and eggs.
3. “Are you hungry?” “____!”
4. If we ____, we can finish this faster.
5. ____, it’s just a small problem.

Show Answers

1. staring at
2. made of
3. Exactly!
4. join together
5. Don’t worry

Exercise 2: True or False (Based on the dialogue)

1. Bob thinks atoms are easy to understand. (True/False)
2. Alice says everything is made of atoms. (True/False)
3. A molecule is smaller than an atom. (True/False)
4. Water is a molecule. (True/False)
5. Alice believes chemistry can turn homework into pizza. (True/False)

Show Answers

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in Simple Present Tense

1. The sun ____ (shine) every day.
2. We ____ (live) in a big city.
3. He ____ (not like) studying late.
4. ____ you ____ (understand) this lesson?
5. My sister ____ (work) at a hospital.

Show Answers

1. shines
2. live
3. doesn’t like
4. Do, understand
5. works