WHAT is CHEMISTRY and

WHY do we study it?

• I CAN define CHEMISTRY and tell what chemists study and why.

Defining CHEMISTRY

• CHEMISTRY is the study of matter:

– COMPOSITION – what it’s made of.

– STRUCTURE – how it’s put together.

– CHANGES – what changes can matter undergo.

Branches of Chemistry• There are FIVE commonly recognized areas of study

(branches) in chemistry:

• INORGANIC CHEMISTRY – studies compounds that DO NOT contain carbon.

• ORGANIC CHEMISTRY– studies carbon based compounds.

• BIOCHEMISTRY – studies chemical processes in living organisms.

• ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY – studies the composition of substances.

• PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY – studies the mechanisms (step by step how), rate (speed of) and energy changes that occur during chemical reactions.

Why do we study Chemistry anyway?

• While there are many reasons to study any science, they can be divided into two groups:

• PURE SCIENCE – scientific research simply to gain new knowledge.

• APPLIED SCIENCE – scientific research intended to solve a problem.– Applied Science is also known as TECHNOLOGY.

• As learners, we study both pure and applied science for several reasons:

• To understand how the natural world works.• To prepare for a career.• To be an informed citizen.

Test your understanding!

• Read each of the following scenarios and decide which of the FIVE BRANCHES of chemistry would be involved (could be more than one!)

• 1. A company does a clinical trial to study the effectiveness of a new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease.

• Biochemistry• 2. Mineral Labs technicians test a coal sample

from a new mine site.• Analytical Chemistry• 3. A research company creates a synthetic

motor oil substitute from coal.• Organic Chemistry

• 4. A university lab studies ways to increase the rate of photosynthesis using a catalyst.

• Physical Chemistry (Biochemistry)• 5. Archeologists want to find out the

composition of pottery found at a dig site.• Analytical Chemistry• 6. Researchers look for uses of a newly

discovered mineral.• Inorganic Chemistry

Test Your Understanding…again!

• For each of the following scenarios, decide if it involved PURE SCIENCE or APPLIED SCIENCE.

• 1. A drug company works to perfect a new drug to treat pancreatic cancer.

• Applied Science• 2. Astronomers study the gaseous

composition of a distant nebula.• Pure Science

• 3. British Petroleum (BP) tests a new gasoline mixture created to boost mileage.

• Applied Science• 4. An anthropologist studies the behavior of a

band of gorillas.• Pure Science• 5. The transportation director of a school

district studies the bus routes to determine the most efficient way to get student to and from school.

• Applied Science

Exit Slip

• 1. Which branch of chemistry would study the harmful effects of cigarette smoke?

• 2. Pure or Applied science? A cell phone manufacturer works to improve battery life for its newest phone models.