I don't teach reactions to memorise. I teach what the atoms are doing.
14 years teaching chemistry across Grades 9–12 — physical, organic and inorganic, taught as the rules atoms obey rather than equations to cram. Mechanism first, memorising last, and never a reaction without balancing it.
Mechanism, not memoryEvery reaction conserves massBalance it, then believe itAtom · Bond · ReactionPredict · React · VerifyPhysical · Organic · InorganicMechanism, not memoryEvery reaction conserves massBalance it, then believe itAtom · Bond · ReactionPredict · React · VerifyPhysical · Organic · Inorganic
01The Catalyst
A reaction is just a story about electrons.
I was the kid who mixed things under the sink to see what would fizz — and got in trouble for it more than once. Nobody explained why the fizzing happened, just that I should stop. So I became the teacher who explains the why, then hands over the beaker.
Fourteen years on, I still teach for that curiosity, and just as hard for the student who's decided chemistry is 'just cramming reactions.' It isn't. Every reaction follows a handful of rules about how atoms share and steal electrons. Teach the rules and the reactions stop being a list to memorise.
If your school wants chemistry taught as mechanism, not memory, I'd love to talk.
— Rahul
Drop portrait / classroom photo here
Kochi, Kerala
02The elements I teach
A periodic table of expertise
Every branch of chemistry, arranged the way I think about it.
78physicalPh
Physical chemistry
thermo · kinetics · equilibrium
6physicalPh
Organic & mechanisms
thermo · kinetics · equilibrium
49physicalPh
Inorganic & periodicity
thermo · kinetics · equilibrium
LphysicalPh
Practical & lab work
thermo · kinetics · equilibrium
JphysicalPh
JEE / NEET coaching
thermo · kinetics · equilibrium
nphysicalPh
Numericals
thermo · kinetics · equilibrium
03The method
Every class is a controlled reaction
?
Reactant
+
Δ
Energy
⟶
⚗
Mechanism
⟶
✓
Understood
Rahul's view — A good chemistry class is a controlled surprise. You open with a reaction — a colour change, a flame, something that shouldn't happen but does — let them ask why, reach the turn where the mechanism explains exactly what they saw, then make them predict the next reaction on their own. Understanding isn't cramming equations; it's knowing what the atoms will do before they do it.
01Open with a reaction — a colour change, a flame, a small controlled surprise.
02Ask why: what are the atoms actually doing to make that happen?
03The turn — where the equation and the beaker finally agree.
04Verify by prediction. If they can call the next reaction, they own it.
04Reactions over time
Fourteen years, catalysed
2015 — PRESENT
Head of Chemistry
Rajagiri Public School, Kochi
Lead a 6-teacher department; built the microscale-lab program that made practicals safe and cheap. Board distinctions rose from 36% to 72% of the cohort, with twelve JEE and olympiad toppers.
2011 — 2015
Senior Chemistry Faculty
Choice School, Kochi
Grades 9–12 physical and organic chemistry; started the mechanism-first organic program and coached the school's first olympiad medallists.
2008 — 2011
Chemistry Teacher
Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Kochi
Grades 9–10; turned 'chemistry is just cramming' students into a cohort with the school's strongest practical scores.
05Where it began
Study
2008 — 2010
M.Sc. Chemistry
IIT Madras 9.1 CGPA
2010 — 2011
B.Ed. (Physical Science)
St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam 9.1 CGPA
2005 — 2008
B.Sc. Chemistry (Hons)
Maharaja's College, Kochi 9.1 CGPA
06Verified
Credentials
CBSE Board Examiner — ChemistryClass XII · since 2014
Green-chemistry & microscale labsClass XII · since 2014
NSEC / Olympiad trainerClass XII · since 2014
NCERT Resource Person (Chemistry)Class XII · since 2014
07Honours
Recognition, precipitated
01
State Award for Excellence in Science TeachingKerala Dept. of Education
2021
01
Board distinctions 36% → 72% in six yearsKerala Dept. of Education
2021
01
Twelve JEE & olympiad toppersKerala Dept. of Education
2021
01
Published — 'Chemistry Is Not Cramming'Kerala Dept. of Education
2021
08The lab
Where the chemistry happens
Swap these placeholders for real classroom photos in the admin panel.
Titration lab · senior chemistryReaction demo · open dayQual-analysis clinic · Gr 12Olympiad squad · state finalsThe microscale lab kitOrganic models · Gr 11
09Lab notes
Things worth writing up
JUN 2026
Chemistry is not cramming
It only feels that way when reactions come before mechanisms. The mechanism-first sequence I use to make it click.
Read note →JUN 2026
Balance it, then believe it
Teach conservation of mass as a habit and impossible answers vanish before they're written.
Read note →JUN 2026
Show the reaction before the equation
Why a two-rupee colour-change demo beats a slide — and the microscale kit that changed my classroom.
Read note →
10In their words
What the bench says
"
Sir showed us the flame test before the theory. Now I can name the metal before the colour fades.
KarthikGrade 12, 2025
"
My daughter went from fearing organic chemistry to topping the JEE screening. He made mechanisms make sense.
ParentGrade 12, 2025
"
He rebuilt our chemistry results and made the lab safe and busy at once. Remarkable.
PrincipalGrade 12, 2025
11For recruiters
The next compound
⚗ NEXT INTAKE APRIL 2027 · ONE DEMO LESSON, ANY TOPIC