What factors make Chemistry so hard?

My observation is that people struggle in general chemistry because they do not have an adequate background in math. That's the #1 reason, bar none. I'm not even talking about advanced mathematics, but just basic algebraic manipulations and how to use a calculator effectively based upon that. There's just no way you can do the chem if you're struggling just to do the math. At least 3/4 of any general chem class is pure analytics. It's hard for people out of the educational loop to get into this mode of adjustment. It's unlike other courses where you explain things qualitatively, or just read a book and regurgitate information.. Theory of understanding is a small part of the coursework and even that you don't really gain unless you describe relationships analytically. My advice is to enroll in lower (remedial) level math courses even if your ego goes against that. You'll be better prepared. In an exam situation, you can't spend 20 minutes doing one problem. you need to whip out an answer very quickly as there are a lot of questions, else you'll never finish. Hard science courses are normally graded almost entirely on exam scores alone so falter on that and you pretty much fail. It's not like social science courses where you can do a paper or whatever to recover some of your losses.

Aside from that, the typical issues like not devoting enough study time, fooling around, and not taking the class seriously. If you're older, you're probably past these factors though; most of the younger students are the ones with these issues.

I'd say balancing chemistry, because I've had more experience with math than chem