What Is Chemistry?

Chemistry is the study of matter and energy and the interactions between them. This is also the
definition for physics, by the way. Chemistry and physics are specializations ofphysical science.
Chemistry tends to focus on the properties of substances and the interactions between different types
of matter, particularly reactions that involve electrons. Physics tends to focus more on the nuclear part
of the atom, as well as the subatomic realm. Really, they are two sides of the same coin.

Why Study Chemistry?

Because understanding chemistry helps you to understand the world around you. Cooking is chemistry.
Everything you can touch or taste or smell is a chemical. When you study chemistry, you come to
understand a bit about how things work. Chemistry isn't secret knowledge, useless to anyone but a
scientist. It's the explanation for everyday things, like why laundry detergent works better in hot water
or how baking soda works or why not all pain relievers work equally well on a headache. If you know
some chemistry, you can make educated choices about everyday products that you use.

What Fields of Study Use Chemistry?

You could use chemistry in most fields, but it's commonly seen in the sciences and in medicine. Chemists,
physicists, biologists, and engineersstudy chemistry. Doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physical
therapists, and veterinarians all take chemistry courses. Science teachers study chemistry. Fire fighters
and people who make fireworks learn about chemistry. So do truck drivers, plumbers, artists,
hairdressers, chefs... the list is extensive.

Importance of Chemistry
 Cooking
Chemistry explains how food changes as you cook it, how it rots, how to preserve food, how
your body uses the food you eat, and how ingredients interact to make food.
 Cleaning
Part of the importance of chemistry is it explains how cleaning works. You use chemistry to help
decide what cleaner is best for dishes, laundry, yourself, and your home. You use chemistry
when you use bleaches and disinfectants and even ordinary soap and water. How do they work?
That's chemistry!
 Medicine
You need to understand basic chemistry so you can understand how vitamins, supplements, and
drugs can help or harm you. Part of the importance of chemistry lies in developing and testing
new medical treatments and medicines.
 Environmental Issues
Chemistry is at the heart of environmental issues. What makes one chemical a nutrient and
another chemical a pollutant? How can you clean up the environment? What processes can
produce the things you need without harming the environment?

Branches of Chemistry

 There are several branches of chemistry. Here is a list of the main branches of chemistry, with
an overview of what each branch of chemistry studies.

Agrochemistry - This branch of chemistry may also be called agricultural chemistry. It deals with
the application of chemistry for agricultural production, food processing, and environmental
remediation as a result of agriculture.
 Analytical Chemistry - Analytical chemistry is the branch of chemistry involved with studying the
properties of materials or developing tools to analyze materials.
 Astrochemistry - Astrochemistry is the study of the composition and reactions of the chemical
elements and molecules found in the stars and in space and of the interactions between this
matter and radiation.
 Biochemistry - Biochemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical reactions
that occur inside living organisms.
 Chemical Engineering - Chemical engineering involves the practical application of chemistry to
solve problems.
 Chemistry History - Chemistry history is the branch of chemistry and history that traces the
evolution over time of chemistry as a science. To some extent, alchemy is included as a topic of
chemistry history.
 Cluster Chemistry - This branch of chemistry involves the study of clusters of bound atoms,
intermediate in size between single molecules and bulk solids.
 Combinatorial Chemistry - Combinatorial chemistry involves computer simulation of molecules
and reactions between molecules.
 Electrochemistry - Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that involves the study of
chemical reactions in a solution at the interface between an ionic conductor and an electrical
conductor. Electrochemistry may be considered to be the study of electron transfer, particularly
within an electrolytic solution.
 Environmental Chemistry - Environmental chemistry is the chemistry associated with soil, air,
and water and of human impact on natural systems.
 Food Chemistry - Food chemistry is the branch of chemistry associated with the chemical
processes of all aspects of food. Many aspects of food chemistry rely on biochemistry, but it
incorporates other disciplines as well.
 General Chemistry - General chemistry examines the structure of matter and the reaction
between matter and energy. It is the basis for the other branches of chemistry.
 Geochemistry - Geochemistry is the study of chemical composition and chemical processes
associated with the Earth and other planets.
 Green Chemistry - Green chemistry is concerned with processes and products that eliminate or
reduce the use or release of hazardous substances. Remediation may be considered part of
green chemistry.
 Inorganic Chemistry - Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the
structure and interactions between inorganic compounds, which are any compounds that aren't
based in carbon-hydrogen bonds.
 Kinetics - Kinetics examines the rate at which chemical reactions occur and the factors that
affect the rate of chemical processes.
 Medicinal Chemistry - Medicinal chemistry is chemistry as it applies to pharmacology and
medicine.
 Nanochemistry - Nanochemistry is concerned with the assembly and properties of nanoscale
assemblies of atoms or molecules.
 Nuclear Chemistry - Nuclear chemistry is the branch of chemistry associated with nuclear
reactions and isotopes.
 Organic Chemistry - This branch of chemistry deals with the chemistry of carbon and living
things.
 Photochemistry - Photochemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with interactions
between light and matter.
  Physical Chemistry - Physical chemistry is the branch of chemistry that applies physics to the
study of chemistry. Quantum mechanics and thermodyamics are examples of physical chemistry
disciplines.
 Polymer Chemistry - Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is the branch of chemistry
the examines the structure and properties of macromolecules and polymers and finds new ways
to synthesize these molecules.
Solid State Chemistry - Solid state chemistry is the branch of chemistry that is focused on the structure,
properties, and chemical processes that occur in the solid phase. Much of solid state chemistry deals
with the synthesis and characterization of new solid state materials.
Spectroscopy - Spectroscopy examines the interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation
as a function of wavelength. Spectroscopy commonly is used to detect and identify chemicals based on
their spectroscopic signatures.
Thermochemistry - Thermochemistry may be considered a type of Physical Chemistry. Thermochemistry
involves the study of thermal effects of chemical reactions and the thermal energy exchange between
processes.
Theoretical Chemistry - Theoretical chemistry applies chemistry and physics calculations to explain or
make predictions about chemical phenomena.

Summary

Chemistry is the scientific study of interaction of chemical substances that are constituted of atoms or
the subatomic particles: protons, electrons and neutrons. Atoms combine to produce molecules or
crystals. Chemistry is sometimes called "the central science" because it connects the other natural
sciences such as astronomy, physics, material science, biology and geology.

The genesis of chemistry can be traced to certain practices, known as alchemy, which had been
practiced for several millennia in various parts of the world, particularly the Middle East.

The structure of objects we commonly use and the properties of the matter we commonly interact with
are a consequence of the properties of chemical substances and their interactions. For example, steel is
harder than iron because its atoms are bound together in a more rigid crystalline lattice; wood burns or
undergoes rapid oxidation because it can react spontaneously with oxygen in a chemical reaction above
a certain temperature; sugar and salt dissolve in water because their molecular/ionic properties are
such that dissolution is preferred under the ambient conditions.

The transformations that are studied in chemistry are a result of interaction either between different
chemical substances or between matter and energy. Traditional chemistry involves study of interactions
between substances in a chemistry laboratory using various forms of laboratory glassware.

A chemical reaction is a transformation of some substances into one or more other substances. It can be
symbolically depicted through a chemical equation. The number of atoms on the left and the right in the
equation for a chemical transformation is most often equal. The nature of chemical reactions a
substance may undergo and the energy changes that may accompany it are constrained by certain basic
rules, known as chemical laws.
Energy and entropy considerations are invariably important in almost all chemical studies. Chemical
substances are classified in terms of their structure, phase as well as their chemical compositions. They
can be analyzed using the tools of chemical analysis, e.g. spectroscopy and chromatography. Scientists
engaged in chemical research are known as chemists. Most chemists specialize in one or more sub-
disciplines.