Chemistry what type of science




















Alchemists used symbols to represent substances, some of which are shown in the accompanying figure. This was not done to better communicate ideas, as chemists do today, but to maintain the secrecy of alchemical knowledge, keeping others from sharing in it. In spite of this secrecy, in its time alchemy was respected as a serious, scholarly endeavor.

Isaac Newton, the great mathematician and physicist, was also an alchemist. The study of modern chemistry has many branches, but can generally be broken down into five main disciplines, or areas of study:. In practice, chemical research is often not limited to just one of the five major disciplines. A particular chemist may use biochemistry to isolate a particular chemical found in the human body such as hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells.

He or she may then proceed to analyze the hemoglobin using methods that would pertain to the areas of physical or analytical chemistry. Many chemists specialize in areas that are combinations of the main disciplines, such as bioinorganic chemistry or physical organic chemistry.

The American Chemical Society ACS has designed a series of videos illustrating the different fields that a chemist could pursue. Please watch this 2 minute and second video and answer the questions below:. Elizabeth R. Gordon Furman University. Learning Objectives To recognize the breadth, depth, and scope of chemistry. Define chemistry in relation to other sciences. Identify the main disciplines of chemistry. Alchemy Is in No way Chemistry! The first affinity table.

Table of different relations observed in chemistry between different substances; Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences, p. Alchemists used symbols like these to represent substances.

Areas of Chemistry The study of modern chemistry has many branches, but can generally be broken down into five main disciplines, or areas of study: Physical chemistry: Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic properties, atomic properties, and phenomena in chemical systems.

A physical chemist may study such things as the rates of chemical reactions, the energy transfers that occur in reactions, or the physical structure of materials at the molecular level. Many scientists study in laboratory settings, using equipment and computers to gather and analyze data. Most professionals in the field study chemical compounds and reactions.

Chemists help improve lives by providing scientific discoveries and optimizing many of the products people use daily. Related: What Is Forensic Chemistry? If you're interested in becoming a chemist, here are branches of the chemistry field you can consider:. Agrochemistry: Chemists in this field study chemistry as it pertains to crops and livestock.

They may study feed and animals to increase yields, reduce farming costs and improve the quality of the food produced. Analytical chemistry: The goal of analytical chemists is to define matter and determine how much exists in the universe. Chemists in this field gather data on the structure and composition of matter and use it to pose theories on the volume and nature of that matter.

Astrochemistry: This is the interdisciplinary overlap of astronomy and chemistry. Chemists in this field study molecules throughout the universe, with a focus on interstellar molecules and reactions. Biochemistry: Scientists in this field study the nature of chemical reactions within living beings.

It's the interdisciplinary overlap of chemistry and biology, and the goal of this study is to understand and remedy diseases and biological defects.

Environmental chemistry: Environmental chemists study how chemical properties and reactions happen in nature as well as how chemicals affect and exist in water, soil and air. Forensic chemistry: Forensic chemists specialize in identifying various chemicals in crime scenes. Specialists in this field may focus on DNA testing or identifying materials in soils or microorganisms that can help identify the location of suspects or victims. Geochemistry: Geochemistry is the study of chemicals and reactions within rocks and minerals.

Geochemists not only study minerals and rocks on earth, but materials from the moon, other planets and spaces between those planets. Industrial chemistry: Chemists in this field usually work in the private sector and use methods that chemically improve products, like adhesives and cosmetics.

Inorganic chemistry: Inorganic chemistry is the study of chemical compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, such as salts and metals. Materials chemistry: Materials chemistry is the study of chemicals and reactions.

A chemist in this field may work to make a material magnetic or water-resistant. Nuclear chemistry: Specialists in this branch of chemistry study nuclear processes like radioactivity and the transformations of atoms. They understand the complexities of nuclear properties and may use their knowledge to develop alternative methods of harnessing nuclear energy.

Organic chemistry: Organic chemistry is the study of materials containing hydrocarbons. Chemists in this field study plastics, detergents and medicines. Bioinorganic chemists study the function of metal-containing compounds within living organisms.

Students who concentrate in inorganic chemistry often go on to work in industry in polymer or materials science, do research or teach in inorganic chemistry, or pursue other related job opportunities. Biochemistry Biochemistry is the study of the chemical principles underlying basic biological systems.

Fundamentally, biochemical research aims to characterize the link between the structure and function of biological macromolecules. Students who concentrate in biochemistry go on to pursue extremely successful careers in medicine, research, and business. Some students may go on to professional schools directly after completing their undergraduate degrees, while others may enter academic or governmental research settings.

The combined study in biochemistry and business provides these students with the unique ability to better weigh the cost to profit margin during biochemical product generation. For information on the Biochemistry major, click here. Graphics Legend: Organic chemistry : Reduction of camphor by sodium borohydride. Analytical chemistry : Mass spectrum of diethylamine.

Physical chemistry : Illustration of the moment of inertia of a molecule such as ethane. Inorganic chemistry : X-ray crystal structure of a novel solid state inorganic compound synthesized by Dr. Rob McGaff's research group. Biochemistry : Schematic drawing showing the structural elements of lactate dehydrogenase domain I. Contact info Back to top Analytical Analytical chemistry is the science of identification and quantification of materials in a mixture.

Back to top Physical Physical chemistry is the study of the fundamental physical principles that govern the way that atoms, molecules, and other chemical systems behave.



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