CP Chemistry: What is Chemistry? August 26, 2011

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What is chemistry?   "the study of the composition of matter

and the changes that matter undergoes” - Addison-Wesley Chemistry

  "the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions” - Wikipedia.org

  "the science that helps us learn about the material world around us, from the tiniest particles within our bodies to the largest objects in the universe” - American Chemical Society

Chemistry: “The Central Science”   Chemistry is often referred to as the "central science"

because it joins together physics and mathematics, biology and medicine, and earth and environmental sciences.

CP Chemistry: What is Chemistry? August 26, 2011

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Chemistry: “The Central Science”???   Not everyone agrees:

“All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” - Ernest Rutherford

… he ended up winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908!

Types of chemistry: Analytical chemistry   compositions of

substances, usually involving very small amounts

  can be tedious and difficult   requires excellent lab skills   forensics (i.e. CSI) relies

heavily on analytical chemistry!

CP Chemistry: What is Chemistry? August 26, 2011

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Types of chemistry: Biochemistry

  involves living organisms, cells and DNA

  overlaps with organic chemistry and biology

  requires knowledge of complex molecular structures and interactions

  biotechnology is one of the hottest career choices right now, especially in northeast Ohio!

Types of chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry

  materials not containing carbon, primarily metals, minerals and oxides

  the opposite of organic chemistry

  “oldest” area of study   critical to materials

science, which is closely related to engineering

CP Chemistry: What is Chemistry? August 26, 2011

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Types of chemistry: Organic Chemistry

  usually complex substances made mostly of carbon, including plastics and medicines

  predecessor to biochemistry, very closely related

  most of what you interact with is made using organic chemistry

  usually considered the “weed-out” course in pre-med programs

Types of chemistry: Physical Chemistry

  behavior of chemicals at the atomic scale (or smaller!)

  very closely related to chemical physics

  often involves explaining behavior of complex chemical structures and the effects of heat

  experimental work helps explain theories in other areas of chemistry