Branches of CHEMISTRY

 Organic Chemistry
 Inorganic Chemistry
 Physical Chemistry
 Biochemistry
 Analytical Chemistry

Organic Chemistry - This specific type of chemistry is concerned with elements containing carbon. Carbon is only the fourteenth most
common element on earth, yet it creates the largest number of different compounds. This type of chemistry is important to the
petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and textile industries. All living organisms contain at least some amount of carbon in their body.

Inorganic Chemistry - This branch of chemistry deals with substances not containing carbon and that are not organic. Examples of
such substances are minerals found in the earth's crust and non-living matter. There are many branches of inorganic chemistry. They
include bioinorganic chemistry, nuclear science and energy, geochemistry, and synthetic inorganic chemistry, just to name a few.

Physical Chemistry - This type of chemistry deals with the discovery and description of the theoretical basis of the behavior of
chemical substances. This means also that it provides a basis for every bit of chemistry including organic, inorganic, and analytical. This
chemistry is defined as dealing with the relations between the physical properties of substances and their chemical formations along
with their changes.

Biochemistry - Biochemistry is a science that is concerned with the composition and changes in the formation of living species. This
type of chemistry utilizes the concepts of organic and physical chemistry to make the world of living organisms seem much clearer.
Some people also consider biochemistry as physiological chemistry and biological chemistry. The scientists that study biochemistry are
called biochemists. They study such things as the properties of biological molecules, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and
nucleic acids. Other topics they focus on are the chemical regulation of metabolism, the chemistry of vitamins, and biological oxidation.

Analytical Chemistry - All these branches of chemistry must deal with each other one way or another. If they didn't work in unison it
would be impossible for these chemistries to perform the functions we need for experiments. For example you wouldn't be able
measure the change of an organic substance without knowing how to use analytical chemistry.

SCIENCE

Systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable type of outcome. In this
sense, science may refer to a highly skilled technique or practice.

In its more restricted contemporary sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on scientific method, and to the
organized body of knowledge gained through such research. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word. Science as
discussed in this article is sometimes called experimental science to differentiate it from applied science - the application of scientific
research to specific human needs - although the two are often interconnected.

Branches of SCIENCE

The Physical Sciences

Physics: The study of matter and energy and the interactions between them. Physicists study such subjects as gravity, light, and time.
Albert Einstein, a famous physicist, developed the Theory of Relativity.

Chemistry: The science that deals with the composition, properties, reactions, and the structure of matter. The chemist Louis
Pasteur, for example, discovered pasteurization, which is the process of heating liquids such as milk and orange juice to kill harmful
germs.

Astronomy: The study of the universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere.

The Earth Sciences

Geology: The science of the origin, history, and structure of the Earth, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that it has
experienced or is experiencing.

Oceanography: The exploration and study of the ocean.

Paleontology: The science of the forms of life that existed in prehistoric or geologic periods.

Meteorology: The science that deals with the atmosphere and its phenomena, such as weather and climate.

The Life Sciences (Biology)

Botany: The study of plants.

Zoology: The science that covers animals and animal life.

Genetics: The study of heredity.

Medicine: The science of diagnosing, treating, and preventing illness, disease, and injury.

Importance of CHEMISTRY

Chemistry is considered the central science due to its significant connections and overlaps with other sciences. If a scientific
discipline involves matter, chances are that chemistry is playing an important role.

A large amount of research breakthroughs in physics would not have been possible without the use of principles and methods of
chemistry. The development of specialized drugs to cure diseases and understanding of biological and geological systems would be
unimaginable if it weren't for the contribution from chemistry. The list of examples is potentially endless.

However, despite being readily accepted as such an important and fundamental science by the scientific community, especially those
who have depended on chemistry in their work, the natural science of matter is rarely seen as interesting or important by the general
public. Some university chemistry departments have faced the threat of closure, including Exeter's late chemistry department and
Sussex's recent survival. These threats have not been due to poor department standards but due to failure of attracting the interest
of enough new students. In response to this, the RSC recently acted as chemistry's PR team, successfully getting the issue mentioned
across in the media nation-wide.

I can remember once, when I told a friend of my choice of degree, being asked, "Are you sure you want to work in a chemist all your
life?"...he was serious...true story.

On this site I will talk about an example of an area of chemical research that has immense potential applications in all areas of science,
and everyday life - nanotechnology. The examples section of the site is an interactive, message board-like environment where visitors
can post brief examples of important areas of study/applications of chemistry.