What is Chemistry 1

Stefanie sat nervously in the office as the doctor looked carefully at the iPad in front of her.  Finally, the doctor looked up with an emotionless expression and gave it to Stefanie straight: "I'm afraid to say that you have... chemistry."

"Chemistry?" Stefanie repeated, with a questioning voice.

"Chemistry," the professor repeated.  "The class meets three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Then you have labs on Tuesday and Thursday.  It's a five credit hour class."

"And what exactly is chemistry," Stefanie hesitantly asked.  "I know it has something to with science.  I've heard it's very hard, that half the class will drop out or fail.  I've also heard that Professor Martin likes to blow things up, which sounds okay."

"Chemistry is the study of stuff, what it's like and how it changes.  So, yes, explosions would fall into that category."

"What kinds of stuff?" Stefanie pursued.

"Everything.  It covers everything from atoms--the smallest building blocks of stuff--to mixtures of stuff in the air, in water.  It even covers the snot I'm about to put on this tissue."  And with that, the adviser blew her nose.  "You can buy the textbook in the book store and maybe read the first chapter this weekend.  The class starts Monday morning at 11."

Stefanie was not at all sure that she wanted to study snot, but it sounded like it could be interesting, if she had the right teacher.  Still, she was annoyed that she had to take this class.  "I want to be an athletic trainer, for heaven's sake," she muttered to herself.  "Why do I have to take chemistry?"

But she dutifully bought the book and headed home for the weekend...