Scritto da M. P.   

What is chemistry?

 

Chemistry is the branch of science that studies matter, that is to say properties, composition and structure of substances and the changes they undergo when they combine or react under specified conditions. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space,  anything we can touch or hold. Chemistry can be divided into fields, according to either the substances studied or the types of study conducted.

The primary division is between inorganic chemistry, the study of all the elements and their compounds with the exception of carbon and its compounds, and  organic chemistry dealing with the compounds of carbon that forms the greatest number of different compounds.

More specifically, inorganic chemistry investigates the characteristics of substances that are not organic, such as nonliving matter and minerals found in the earth's crust. Fields of inorganic chemistry include applications such as in coordination chemistry, geochemistry, inorganic technology, nuclear science and energy. Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with compounds of carbon and dealing with living matter.  Most organic substances contain Hydrogen (H) and Carbon (C) and many contain Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Sulphur (S) and Phosphorous (P).These and other elements are normally bonded to carbon by covalent bonds as opposed to ionic bonds which are typical of inorganic compounds. Because of the extraordinary bonding properties of carbon, there are more organic compounds than inorganic compounds.

Today, there are many areas where these two fields of chemistry overlap. For example, organometallic chemistry looks at compounds in which carbon - normally studied by organic chemists - bonds with a metal - normally studied by inorganic chemists.

Another classification can imply the distinction between Physical Chemistry, concerned with the physical properties of materials, such as their electrical and magnetic behavior and their interaction with electromagnetic fields, and Analytical Chemistry consisting in a collection of techniques that allows exact laboratory determination of the composition of a given sample of material.

 

 

Learn more:

http://www.chem1.com/acad/webtext/pre/chemsci.html

http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry

What is Chemistry? - Definition, History & Branches

 

Explore the Visual Elements Periodic Table:

http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000375/visual-elements-periodic-table

 

 

Watch the video "A Colorful Magic Trick with Acids and Bases" by Tyler DeWitt

The video deals with chemical changes. it introduces acids, bases, and indicators. You'll learn how to make a pH indicator solution with cabbage juice, and then test chemicals around the house. Watch the video and experiment it.

(If you don't see the video here click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujkuW-0cpNw&feature=youtu.be)

 

 

 

 

Cloze test

Complete the text with the words from the box:

are  as  at  biotechnology  central  chemistry  compounds  contain  cosmetics  important  industries  life  living  modern  organic  peptides  properties  the

Organic chemistry is that branch of _________ that deals with the structure, __________, and reactions of compounds that _______ carbon. Beyond our bodies' DNA, ________, proteins, and enzymes, organic compounds ___ all around us. They are _______ to the economic growth of ___ developed countries, in industries such __ the rubber, plastics, fuel, pharmaceutical, _________, detergent, coatings, dyestuffs, and agrichemicals __________. The very foundations of biochemistry, _____________, and medicine are built on _______ compounds and their role in ____ processes. Most all of the ______, high tech materials are composed, __ least in part, of organic _________. Clearly, organic chemistry is critically _________ to our high standard of ______.

(abridged and simplified from American Chemical Society: organic chemistry)