Since the beginning of time, people have been interested in the composition, structure and interaction of everything that surrounds them. This knowledge is combined into a single science - chemistry. In the article, we consider what it is, sections of chemistry and the need to study it.
What is chemistry and why study it?
Chemistry is one of several areas of natural science, the science of substances. She is studying:
- structure and composition of substances;
- properties of the elements of the world;
- transformations of substances that depend on their properties;
- changes in the composition of a substance during a chemical reaction;
- laws and laws of changes in substances.
Chemistry considers all elements in terms of atomic molecular composition. It is closely related to biology and physics. There are also many areas of science that are borderline, that is, they are studied, for example, in chemistry and physics. These include: biochemistry, quantum chemistry, chemical physics, geochemistry, physical chemistry and others.
The main sections of chemistry in the literature are:
- Organic chemistry.
- Inorganic chemistry.
- Biochemistry.
- Physical chemistry.
- Analytical chemistry.
Organic chemistry
Chemistry can be classified on the basis of the studied substances on:
The first area of study will be considered in the next paragraph. Why was organic chemistry separated into a separate section? Because she is engaged in the study of carbon compounds and the substances in which it is included. Today, about 8 million such compounds are known.
Carbon can combine with most elements, but most often interacts with:
- oxygen;
- carbon;
- nitrogen;
- gray;
- manganese;
- potassium.
The element also has the ability to form long chains. Such bonds provide a variety of organic compounds that are important for the existence of a living organism.
Objectives and methods that the subject of organic chemistry follows:
- the allocation of individual individual and special substances of their plant and living organisms, as well as from fossil raw materials.
- purification and synthesis of compounds of substances ;
- determination of the structure of matter in nature;
- study of the course of a chemical reaction, its mechanisms, features, and results;
- determination of the relationships and dependencies between the structure of organic matter and its properties.
Organic chemistry sections include:
- The chemistry of polymers, or the chemistry of macromolecular compounds. The field of science that studies the chemical and physicochemical properties of polymers and starting reagents used to produce them.
- Pharmacology. A branch of science that studies medicinal substances and their effect on the human body.
Inorganic chemistry
The inorganic chemistry section studies the composition, structure, and interactions of all carbon-free substances. Today, there are more than 400 thousand inorganic substances. Thanks to this particular section of science, the creation of materials for modern technology is provided.
Research and study of inorganic chemistry substances is based on the periodic law, as well as the periodic system of D. I. Mendeleev. Science studies:
- simple substances (metals and non-metals);
- complex substances (oxides, salts, acids, nitrites, hydrides and others).
Science Objectives:
- search and development of methods for creating new materials that will have the necessary properties;
- the study of the relationship between the structure of the ability to react with other elements;
- development and improvement of technologies for cleaning mixtures;
- search for new methods for the synthesis of elements.
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the most extensive branch of chemistry. She is studying the general laws of the structure, structure and transformations of substances using methods of physics. For this, theoretical and experimental ones are used.
Physical chemistry includes knowledge of:
- molecular structure;
- chemical thermodynamics;
- chemical kinetics;
- catalysis.
The sections of physical chemistry are as follows:
- Electrochemistry - the study of processes in conductors.
- Photochemistry - the study of chemical transformations under the influence of light.
- Physical chemistry of surface phenomena.
- Radiation chemistry - the study of processes caused by the action of ionizing radiation;
- Colloid chemistry - the study of systems and phenomena that occur at the phase boundary.
- Quantum chemistry - the study of the structure, properties, reactions of substances based on quantum mechanics.
- Crystal chemistry - the science of crystalline structures;
- Thermochemistry - a section of chemistry that studies thermoreactions, the relationship of physico-chemical parameters.
- The doctrine of the structure of the atom.
- The doctrine of the corrosion (oxidation) of metals.
- Chemical kinetics - the study of chemical reactions depending on external conditions.
- The doctrine of solutions.
- Nuclear chemistry - is engaged in the study of nuclear reactions and the processes occurring in them.
- Sound chemistry - the study of effects that occur when exposed to powerful acoustic waves.
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that develops the theoretical basis of chemical analysis. Science is developing methods for identifying, separating, detecting and determining chemical compounds and establishing the chemical composition of materials.
Analytical chemistry can be classified depending on the tasks to be solved for:
- Qualitative analysis - determines which substances are in the sample, their shape and essence.
- Quantitative analysis - determines the content (concentration) of components in the test sample.
If you want to analyze an unknown sample, then first a qualitative analysis is applied, and then a quantitative analysis. They are carried out by chemical, instrumental and biological methods.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is a branch of chemistry that examines the chemical composition of living cells and organisms, as well as the basic chemical processes of their life. Science is quite young and is at the crossroads of biology and chemistry.
Biochemistry is engaged in the study of such compounds:
- carbohydrates;
- lipids;
- proteins;
- nucleic acids.
Sections of biochemistry:
- Static biochemistry - studies the chemical composition of organisms and the structure of their molecules (proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, lipids, vitamins and others).
- Functional biochemistry - studies the basic chemical reactions that occur during the functioning of organs and systems of the body.
- Dynamic biochemistry studies the chemical reactions that occur during metabolism.
Chemical Technology
Chemical technology is a branch of chemistry that studies the economical and environmentally sound methods of processing natural materials for their consumption and use in production.
Science is divided into:
- Organic chemical technology, which is engaged in the processing of fossil fuels, the production of synthetic polymers, drugs and other substances.
- Inorganic chemical technology that processes mineral raw materials (except metal ore), producing acids, mineral fertilizers and alkalis.
In chemical technology, there are many processes (batch or continuous). They are divided into main groups:
- hydromechanical:
- chemical;
- mechanical;
- mass transfer;
- thermal.
It is interesting to know chemistry (facts)
The course of certain chemical processes and the properties of individual substances are of unusual interest to people.
Here is some of them:
- Gallium. This is an interesting material that tends to melt at room temperature. It looks like aluminum. If a spoon from gallium is lowered into a liquid at a temperature above 28 degrees Celsius, then it will melt and lose its shape.
- Molybdenum. This material was discovered during the First World War. Studies of its properties have shown high strength of the substance. Later, the legendary Big Berta gun was made from it. Its trunk did not deform from overheating during firing, which simplified the use of the gun.
- Water. It is known that pure H 2 O water is not found in nature. Due to its properties, it absorbs everything that occurs on the way. Therefore, a truly pure liquid can only be obtained in the laboratory.
- Another special property of water is also known - its reaction to a change in the surrounding world. Studies have shown that water from a single source under different influences (magnetic, with music turned on, next to people) changes its structure.
- Mercaptan. This is a combination of sweet, bitter and sour tastes that was discovered after researching grapefruit. It was found that a person notices this taste at a concentration of 0.02 ng / L. That is, it is enough to add 2 mg of mercaptan to a volume of water of 100 thousand tons.
We can say that chemistry is an integral part of the scientific knowledge of mankind. It is interesting and multifaceted. Thanks to chemistry, people have the opportunity to use many objects of the modern world.