Fundamentals of Chemistry
1. General Introduction to Chemistry
Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, properties and transformations of matter. Everything around us, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the medicines we take, and our own bodies, is a subject of chemistry. It is often called the central science because it links physics with the life sciences, geology and engineering.
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space (volume), and that can be perceived by our senses. Matter exists in three physical states: solid, liquid and gas.
1.1 Divisions of Chemistry
For convenient study, chemistry is divided into several branches:
- Physical chemistry: the physical principles behind chemical behaviour (energy, rates, equilibrium, states of matter).
- Inorganic chemistry: the compounds of all elements except most carbon compounds (metals, minerals, acids, bases, salts).
- Organic chemistry: the compounds of carbon (hydrocarbons and their derivatives).
- Analytical chemistry: the qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances.
- Biochemistry: the chemistry of living organisms.
- Industrial (applied) chemistry: large-scale manufacture of useful chemicals.
2. Importance and Scope of Chemistry
Chemistry touches almost every field of human life:
- Medicine and health: synthesis of drugs, antibiotics, vaccines and antiseptics.
- Agriculture: fertilizers, pesticides and improved seeds to raise food production.
- Industry: manufacture of plastics, textiles, cement, paints, soaps, glass and fuels.
- Energy: petroleum, natural gas, batteries and hydrogen fuel.
- Environment: understanding and controlling pollution (of air, water and soil).
- Everyday materials: cooking gas, detergents, cosmetics and food preservatives.