Introduction to chemistry Part 1

1. Introduction to chemistryPart 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 compositionof 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 changesthat 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 carboncompounds. • We also look at hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogenwith the carbon. • Plastics, petroleumcompounds 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 identificationof the components of matter. • This is also where instrumentsand techniquesare developed to identify matter. • This is the area of chemistry that is shown in the TV show CSIor NCIS. • MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) developed from analytical techniques.

11. Areas of study • Physical chemistry • This is the study of the propertiesand changesof matter. • It is also the study of the relationship of energyto the properties of matter. • Physical chemists can tell the speedof a reaction and how much energyis 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. • Pureresearch • Appliedresearch

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 usefor 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 pureresearch, there will be only limited success in applied research. • Pure research is supported by both the governmentand 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 neededand desired. • In any technology, scientific knowledge is used in ways that can benefitor harmpeople or the environment. • Debates about how to use scientific knowledge are usually debates about the risksand benefitsof 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