1. INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY PART 1 WHAT IS CHEMISTRY?

2. OBJECTIVES When you complete this presentation, you will be able to Identify the five traditional areas of study in chemistry Relate pure chemistry to applied chemistry Identify reasons to study chemistry

3. WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? In the fall, the leaves in the eastern part of the US turn bright colors. These colors are the result of bright pigments produced by complex chemical processes. The pigments are an example of matter. Just like the leaves, the trees, and you. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

4. WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and the changes that matter undergoes. Here are some of the questions we can ask about the composition of matter. What is matter made of? How is it put together? What are its properties? Here are some of the questions we can ask about the changes that matter undergoes. How does one kind of matter become another kind of matter? How can we change one kind of matter to another kind? What conditions give us the best change?

5. WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? The scope of chemistry is huge. We can study the chemistry of nanotubes bacteria plastics planets and moons stars

6. AREAS OF STUDY There are five traditional areas of study in chemistry. Organic chemistry Inorganic chemistry Biochemistry Analytical chemistry Physical chemistry Let’s look a little more closely at each area of study.

7. AREAS OF STUDY Organic chemistry This is what most people think of when they think of “chemistry.” This is the study of most carbon compounds. We also look at hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen with the carbon. Plastics, petroleum compounds and pharmaceuticals are organic compounds.

8. AREAS OF STUDY Inorganic chemistry This is the chemistry of all non-organic compounds. Inorganic compounds include such things as common salts, metals, and semiconductors.

9. AREAS OF STUDY Biochemistry This is the study of the chemistry of living organisms. Biochemists look at DNA, RNA, proteins, and other chemicals produced by cells and viruses.

10. AREAS OF STUDY Analytical chemistry This is the identification of the components of matter. This is also where instruments and techniques are developed to identify matter. This is the area of chemistry that is shown in the TV show CSI or NCIS. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) developed from analytical techniques.

11. AREAS OF STUDY Physical chemistry This is the study of the properties and changes of matter. It is also the study of the relationship of energy to the properties of matter. Physical chemists can tell the speed of a reaction and how much energy is used or released by the reaction.

12. AREAS OF STUDY None of these branches is isolated from the other branches. Chemists within one branch work with others to reach the desired goal. Most chemical companies and universities hire chemists with expertise in each of these areas. They collaborate in their research to push out the boundaries of chemistry.

13. PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY Research in chemistry can usually be divided into two categories. Pure research Applied research

14. PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY Pure research is research for its own sake. The chemist finds a problem interesting and she starts looking into it. There is no expectation that there will be any immediate use for the results of the research. For example, she may want to explore new methods of synthesizing certain organophosphorous compounds. The results of the research might be useful for producing compounds that can remove radioactive contaminants from nuclear power waste water. But, that is not why she is doing the research.

15. PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY Applied research is research to solve a particular problem. Again, the chemist finds a problem interesting and she starts looking into it. However, in this case, she is looking toward a practical goal or application. For example, she may want to synthesize a new headache drug. The results of the research could very easily be commercialized by her employer.

16. PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY In most cases, pure research is necessary before applied research can be done. We look at pure research as the foundation that is used to support applied research. The applied researcher uses the techniques discovered by pure researchers. Without a large catalog of pure research, there will be only limited success in applied research. Pure research is supported by both the government and industry.

17. PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY The development of applied research into a useful product is called technology. Technology is the means by which a society provides its members with those things that are needed and desired. In any technology, scientific knowledge is used in ways that can benefit or harm people or the environment. Debates about how to use scientific knowledge are usually debates about the risks and benefits of technology.

18. WHY STUDY CHEMISTRY? There are many reasons to study chemistry. Explaining the Natural world. Chemistry is one of the sciences that most of us were naturally curious about as a child. We see chemistry in a wide variety of applications in the world today. The browning of apples when they are peeled The change in the texture of eggs when they are boiled or scrambled The expansion of water when it freezes The reason behind sugar dissolving faster in hot liquids than in cold liquids

19. WHY STUDY CHEMISTRY? There are many reasons to study chemistry. Preparing for a career Chemistry is a requirement (or at least useful) for many careers. How might a knowledge of chemistry be useful for these professions? Medical professionals Culinary arts Engineering Fire fighting Visual artist

20. WHY STUDY CHEMISTRY? There are many reasons to study chemistry. Being an informed citizen Science and technology play an increasingly important role in our society. Only informed citizens can be expected to be able to make the hard decisions about some of these issues. Funding additional scientific research Finding a site for a new chemical plant Deciding about clean air and water laws