Not a TA, but I know plenty in chem. Grading is intentionally tough. Nobody should be getting perfect scores and if they are, they are one of the 1 or 2 per section. The course is curved in case students don’t reach a certain average or exceed it.

Most likely, your scientific writing needs improvement or you’re taking from online sources to answer all your questions. VU intentionally writes questions that make it very obvious if you’re trying to google your answers. Going to lab office hours or recitation in case you can’t would be a good strategy to ask about your style of writing. Concise and precise writing are key. Most freshmen write short responses, but the language is either incorrect or imprecise.

If your TA makes you uncomfortable however, that is another story. The grading is going to be the same and it’s going to be an administrative chore to switch labs. Instead, talk to Dr. Todd about what’s going on. I know all the senior male students, so if it’s not a first year, I can at least guarantee you that they want to help you.