Dr. Srabani Basu makes the study of chemistry simple through this story from the fictional land of Chemica,
Ishan returned home with a sullen face. On entering the apartment, he dumped his backpack on the divan, removed his shoes and socks in a haste, and dashed into the bedroom, flinging his lean body onto the bed. His mother, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen, immediately sensed that something was not right. She didn’t rush to him but allowed him the space to settle down. After a few minutes, she gently approached him, sitting on the edge of the bed, and asked, “Ishan, is everything okay? You look troubled.”
At first, he hesitated. He rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling, as if gathering his thoughts. After a long sigh, he finally admitted, “I’m finding chemistry really hard, Mom. Especially the elements. I just don’t get them. It’s like they all have these confusing personalities, and none of them make sense to me.”
His mother smiled, her eyes twinkling with a mix of understanding and warmth. “Oh! So, the elements are stopping you from being in your element, huh?” she teased lightly. “Well, I may not be an expert in chemistry, but I can tell you a story. Would you like to hear it?”
Ishan’s brows furrowed, and though his eyes reflected a spark of curiosity, he remained sceptical. His mom’s “bonding” with chemistry had always been weak, to say the least. Yet, he nodded his head, curiosity getting the better of him.
After dinner, his mother finished her chores and settled down on the couch with Ishan by her side. She looked at him with a soft smile and began her story:
“In a faraway land, long before textbooks and laboratories existed, there was a magical kingdom called Chemica, where the elements didn’t live in beakers or periodic tables. No, they were very much alive, walking and talking, just like us. But each one was different. And their differences shaped the world in extraordinary ways.
“Let me tell you about some of them,” she began, her voice weaving a spell.
“In the sky-high towers of Chemica lived the Noble Gases. These were the aristocrats of the land, independent and unbothered by the hustle and bustle of the world below. Helium, the youngest, was like a playful balloon—light, carefree, and always floating above everyone else’s problems. He didn’t really get involved with anyone; he preferred to drift alone. Then there was Argon, his older cousin, a quiet, reserved figure who enjoyed his solitude. He was like the kid who sits at the back of the class, content in his own company, never needing anyone else to make him feel complete.
“‘That’s the thing about the Noble Gases,’ Ishan’s mother explained, ‘They’re stable. They don’t need to bond with anyone to feel good about themselves. They’re perfectly happy alone. But sometimes, that makes them seem distant or even cold. Just like some people you might know, right?’
“Ishan nodded slowly, thinking of a few kids in his class who kept to themselves, always doing their own thing.
“‘But not everyone in Chemica was like that,’ she continued. ‘In fact, some elements were the complete opposite. In the city of Reactoria, the Alkali Metals lived. Now, these guys—well, they were something else. Always looking for excitement, always ready to jump into action, sometimes a little too ready.’
“Sodium, for instance, was like the wild kid in the neighbourhood—impulsive and always looking for something to react to. One minute he’d be calm, but introduce him to something new, like Water, and boom! You’d have chaos. That’s how Sodium was—fiery, excitable, and full of energy. His brothers, Potassium and Lithium, weren’t much different, always bouncing from one reaction to another, rarely thinking before they acted.
“‘They were like the kids who get into trouble without meaning to,’ his mother chuckled. ‘You know, the ones who are always in detention because they can’t sit still.’
“At this, Ishan smiled. He could definitely picture some of his classmates in the Alkali Metal family.
“‘But then,’ his mother went on, ‘there were the Halogens—the ones who needed to bond with others. They couldn’t stand being alone, not for a second. They were always on the lookout for someone to connect with, always searching for that missing piece to make them feel whole.’
“Take Fluorine, for example. She was intense, almost too intense. The moment she met someone, she’d latch on, refusing to let go until she had exactly what she wanted. Chlorine, her sister, was similar but a bit more reasonable. She was more likely to compromise, but she still had that desperate need to bond with others. The Halogens, you see, were never truly satisfied until they had someone else to complete them.
“‘They remind me of the people who are always looking for validation,’ his mother explained. ‘They’re the ones who hate being left out, always needing others to feel good about themselves. And sometimes, that desperation can be overwhelming.’
“Ishan nodded again, more absorbed in the story now. He could see how the elements weren’t just abstract symbols in a book. They were like people, each with their own quirks and tendencies.
“‘Now,’ his mother said with a soft smile, ‘let’s not forget about the Transition Metals. These were the reliable, adaptable ones. The Irons and Coppers of the world, who could fit in anywhere, with anyone. Iron was a strong leader, the kind of person everyone counted on, especially when things got tough. He could shape himself into anything the kingdom needed—strong, flexible, resilient. Then there was Copper, always the social one, great at making connections with different groups of people, bridging gaps between them.’
“‘They sound like the problem solvers,’ Ishan said, starting to get the hang of it. ‘Like, the kids who are good at everything, and everyone likes them?’
“‘Exactly!’ his mother said, beaming. ‘The Transition Metals are those friends who can fit into any group and make things work. They’re flexible, strong, and dependable.’
“Finally, she talked about the Nonmetals. Carbon, the creative genius, was a master of transformation. He could be soft like graphite or tough like diamond, depending on what was needed. Oxygen, always full of energy, brought life to the whole kingdom. And Nitrogen, quiet and thoughtful, balanced the chaos with his calm presence.
“‘The Nonmetals,’ she explained, ‘are like the dreamers and thinkers—the ones who come up with big ideas, sometimes a little unpredictable, but always full of potential.’
“As her story unfolded, Ishan’s confusion about chemistry began to dissolve. The elements were no longer just strange symbols and numbers on a chart. They were living, breathing personalities with their own strengths and flaws, just like people.
“‘So, you see,’ his mother said, ‘understanding chemistry isn’t just about memorizing facts. It’s about seeing how each element behaves, how they interact with each other, and how they contribute to the world. Kind of like how people are, too.’
“Ishan smiled, feeling the weight of his earlier frustration lift. ‘That actually makes sense, Mom,’ he said softly. ‘The elements are just like us. I guess I never thought of it that way.’
“His mother smiled, brushing his hair gently. ‘Exactly. You’ll find chemistry becomes a lot easier when you start seeing the elements as more than just atoms. They’re like little characters, all with their own story to tell.’”
And with that, Ishan drifted off to sleep, his mind no longer filled with dread over the elements but with the fascinating personalities that lived within them.
Dr. Srabani Basu, an interdisciplinary scholar and corporate trainer with 30 years of experience, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literature and Languages, SRM University AP. With a PhD in English, specializing in William Blake, and an MS in Psychoanalysis, her research bridges literature, psychoanalysis, and mythology. Known for her expertise in storytelling, she combines ancient myths with management principles in her training. A certified NLP practitioner and career coach, she has trained professionals across industries, inspiring creativity and growth. Her diverse research interests include Behavior Analytics, Metaphor Therapy, and the Science behind Mythology, reflecting her passion for narrative. She strongly believes that, where ancient stories meet modern minds, transformation begins.
