What is Chemistry?

Introduction:

Science is a systemized knowledge. Since the emergence of science, there arise the need to divide science into its various components which we call as division. Chemistry is one of the branches of science. It is sometimes referred to the ‘the central component of science’ as the knowledge of chemistry acts as a bridge in between physical and natural sciences such as biology.
Let us now look towards a proper definition of chemistry.

• “Chemistry is defined as a branch of science which deals with the properties of states of matter and their chemical relationship”.

Chemistry involves the study of different chemical reactions which finds its applications in industrial, physical, and biological processes. Chemistry is basically the knowledge of all form of matter especially at their atomic and molecular level.

History of Chemistry:

The study of chemistry has been employing since the emergence of life. Our ancestors were used to decorate and preserve their wares with beautiful glazes. Yet the study of chemistry on a different level initiate when Jabir ibn Hayyan (known as Geber to Europeans) put forward his services in the field of chemistry as especially related to pharmacy and health.

Since then, different scientist put forward their contribution for the establishment of modern chemistry. If you were asked about the father of chemistry, the most suitable answer which comes in the mind is ‘Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier’ who is the author of the book “Elements in Chemistry” which was published in 1787. He compiled all the elements known at that time and also give name to oxygen and hydrogen.

Many other scientists established the basic standard to consider chemistry at the present level. Some of them are Robert Boyle, John Dalton, Berzilius. Photo Credit goes to Chemistry at TEP.

Classification of Chemistry:

With the advancement in the field of chemistry, the scientists classified chemistry into three branches:

Physical chemistry:

• “Physical chemistry is the branch of chemistry which involves the physical structure of chemical compounds as related to their way of reacting with other matter and the study of formation of bonds.”

Inorganic Chemistry:

• “It is the branch of chemistry which is concerned with the compounds which does not contain carbon and hydrogen together in a molecule”.

Inorganic compounds include oxides, hydrides, salts, acids and bases etc. Some remarkable properties of inorganic compounds are that they have often high melting and boiling points, high or low electrical conductivity (based upon the structure of molecules) and their usage as pigments, varnishes and industrial uses.

Organic Chemistry:

• “Organic Chemistry is the branch of chemistry which is concerned with the study of compounds containing carbon and hydrogen and tcoheir derivatives.”

The compounds containing carbon and hydrogen together in a molecule are known as hydrocarbons. Organic chemistry has found its present value due to the vastness of organic compounds. There are millions of organic compounds known till now due to unique property of carbon to link with other carbon atom, the property called catenation. Organic compounds were first thought to exist only in living organisms. But later, after the preparation of urea from ammonium cyanide (an inorganic compound) by Fredrick Wohler, it now includes the compounds which are being prepared in laboratory.

These branches of organic compounds are further sub divided into different branches. Some of them are listed below:

• Analytical chemistry
• Thermochemistry
• Bio-chemistry
• Nuclear chemistry
• Environmental chemistry
• Industrial chemistry

Applications of Study of Chemistry:

Every knowledge has its advantages. Likewise, the study of chemistry has also bought us about many applications and benefits. These benefits include industrially as well as biologically blessings. Some of them are given below:

Chemistry and Health:

• Chemistry has played an important role in the advancement of standard of life. As we know, the basic unit of life is a ‘living cell’. However, the cell is further composed of molecular and sub-atomic particles. Therefore, the study of chemistry and biology are over-linked. The familiar example is of bio-molecules. Enzymes are biomolecules. They catalyses the bio-chemical reaction. Hence the study of chemistry enables us to have a look around these bio-catalysts as compared to other catalysts used in other non-living reactions.
• The study of chemistry has a wide application in the field of pharmacy. Since all the drugs are to somehow chemicals, therefore one must know about basic chemistry in order to establish a new medicine or a drug.
• Because of Chemistry, we got to introduced with new and unique elements, which are arranged in the periodic table with respect to their properties.
• The study of chemistry has been advanced. For example, to diagnose a particular disease, the physician refers a patient to have a test to know values of particular biomolecules, hormones, etc. in the body. Thus, after having a look upon the results, the particular disease could be diagnosed.

Chemistry and Industries:

• The study of chemistry is not only confined to the biochemical processes. in fact, it would not be false to say that our industries run to mostly upon the knowledge and principles of chemistry.
• Through the use of study of chemistry, we are now able to prepare many organic as well as inorganic compounds which are being used as pesticides, fungicides, waxes, paints, varnishes and many other compounds.
• Chemistry has taught us many other processes such as sublimation, distillation, purification etc. These processes are mainly based upon the principles of chemistry and involves our daily life processes.
• Chemistry has also been involved in the production and preservation of vast amount of food material. The familiar example is that we know how to preserve different vegetables by pickling them. Although we have been using these techniques from the very beginning of life but it has been evolved recently after knowing the chemistry behind the process of pickling. Production of malt beverages is also an example of food involving chemical processes. Chemistry and Separation and purification of fossil fuels and metals.
• Chemistry also helps in the development of new products, there's a method called Stoichiometry which is used to check the relation between ingrediants and products.
• Nowadays, we are extracting metals and separating different fuels by using techniques which are being based by the knowledge of chemistry. The separation of fuels has been done by using a process known as fractional distillation. This technique is based upon the separation of fuels from raw petroleum by using density gradient. Low boiling point fuels (such as gasoline) are being separated by high boiling point fuels (such as kerosine oil). Similarly, metals are being separated by non-metallic ores by using magnets and other processes which involve basic chemistry.

These are some of the familiar daily uses of chemistry. However, we are hoping for betterment in the chemistry sciences to benefit mankind.