Intro to Chemistry
What is chemistry? The study of the composition of matter and the changes that matter undergoes. Matter: anything that has mass and takes up space.
Areas of study Organic Chemistry: chemicals containing carbon Inorganic: do not contain carbon (generally non- living) Biochemistry: processes that take place in organisms Analytical: composition of matter Physical: mechanism, rate, and energy transfer that occurs when matter undergoes change
Pure and applied chemistry Pure chemistry: no immediate practical use for results of the study. Simply a pursuit of chemical knowledge Applied chemistry: research directed towards a practical goal or application Aspirin Nylon
Chemistry is in everything! Conservation, production, and storage of energy Medicine Biotechnology Ex: inserting human genes into bacteria to produce insulin and treat diabetes Agriculture – ensuring efficient productivity, safety, and use of land The environment Ex: identifying pollutants The universe – analyzing matter that is brought back to earth