Definition
Chemistry is a branch of natural science which deals with the scientific study of the properties, composition, structure and behaviour of matter. Chemistry explains:
- How the substances interact with each other
- How substances behave under different conditions
- The changes they undergo and principles governing these changes
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743–1794) was a French chemist widely regarded as the “Father of Modern Chemistry”. Lavoisier transforms chemistry from a qualitative science to a quantitative one. He is most renowned for his discovery of the role of oxygen in combustion.
Branches of Chemistry
Due to the vast scope of chemistry it can be categorised into several branches. Traditionally, five major branches of chemistry are:
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Apart from these five branches, chemistry can be divided into many sub branches that deals with cross-disciplinary study such as, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, etc.
Organic Chemistry
Definition: Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the study of carbon-containing compounds, which are often associated with living organisms. It deals with the study of structure, properties, reactions, synthesis, and applications of organic compounds (consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen).
Scope:
- Study the chemistry of life, including reactions occurring in living organisms.
- Study organic reaction, structure and property of organic molecules, polymers, hydrocarbons, drugs.
Sub-branches of organic chemistry include: Medical Chemistry, Physical Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Stereochemistry, and Polymer Chemistry.
Inorganic Chemistry
Definition: Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the study of inorganic compounds, which typically do not contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds.
Scope:
- Inorganic compounds encompass a diverse type substances, including minerals, metals, salts, organometallic compounds, cluster compounds, and solid-state compounds.
- It explores the properties, structures, synthesis, reactions, and applications of these compounds.
Sub-branches of inorganic chemistry include: Nuclear Chemistry, Geochemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, Solid-State Chemistry, and Organometallic Chemistry.
Analytical Chemistry
Definition: Analytical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the qualitative (measuring the amount or concentration of substances in a sample) and quantitative (determining the identity or presence of specific substances or components in a sample) determination of chemical component of the substances.
Scope:
- Includes Quantitative and qualitative analysis of chemical substances
- Includes separations, extractions, distillation, spectrometry and spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrophoresis of chemical substances.
- Discovery and development of standards, chemical methods, and instrumental methods.
Sub-branches of analytical chemistry include: Environmental Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Bioanalytical Chemistry.
Physical Chemistry
Definition: Physical chemistry applies the principle of physics to study the chemistry. It deals with the study of the physical properties and behaviour of matter at the molecular and atomic levels for example, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
Physical chemists typically study :
- The rate of a chemical reaction
- The interaction of molecules with radiation
- The calculation of structures and properties
Scope: Utilises concepts from thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
- Thermodynamics, deals with the study of energy changes in chemical and physical processes.
- Quantum chemistry, applies quantum mechanics to understand the behaviour of atoms and molecules.
Sub-branches of physical chemistry includes: Quantum Chemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Surface Chemistry.
Biochemistry
Definition: Biochemistry is a branch of science that combines principles and techniques from both biology and chemistry to study the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It spans molecular biology, genetics, biochemical pharmacology, clinical biochemistry, and agricultural biochemistry.
Scope: Studies key molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, drugs, and neurotransmitters. Closely related to molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics.
Sub-branches of biochemistry include: genetics, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and agricultural biochemistry.
