Scribd
Upload
73 views

Module 1 Lesson 1

Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, and transformations. It is considered the central science as it is interrelated and essential to nearly all other fields of science. Chemistry has developed over centuries through the contributions of scientists like Boyle, Priestley, Lavoisier, Dalton, and others. Modern chemistry is broadly divided into five main fields: inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. Other important fields include nuclear chemistry, theoretical chemistry, environmental chemistry, and green chemistry. Chemistry is important for living organisms and plays a foundational role in medicine and our understanding of everyday phenomena.

Uploaded by

Nataniel Doctolero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
73 views

Module 1 Lesson 1

Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, and transformations. It is considered the central science as it is interrelated and essential to nearly all other fields of science. Chemistry has developed over centuries through the contributions of scientists like Boyle, Priestley, Lavoisier, Dalton, and others. Modern chemistry is broadly divided into five main fields: inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. Other important fields include nuclear chemistry, theoretical chemistry, environmental chemistry, and green chemistry. Chemistry is important for living organisms and plays a foundational role in medicine and our understanding of everyday phenomena.

Uploaded by

Nataniel Doctolero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

3

Lesson 1

 Introduction to Chemistry

Chemistry is referred as the "central science" because it is


interrelated and essential to nearly all science fields. Chemistry is the study
of matter - its composition, properties, and transformations. Chemistry is
everywhere. Everything that we touch, taste, smell, see or feel is
chemistry, from simple to complex substances.

DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Science, over the centuries, has been continuously developing through


trial and error.
 Robert Boyle introduced the basic concept about the behavior of gases.
 Boyle also helped form the idea that small particles could combine to
form molecules.
 Joseph Priestly isolated and characterized several gases including
oxygen, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide. Nitrous Oxide worked as
an anesthetic.
 C.W. Scheele and Antoine Lavoisier also discovered other gases:
chlorine and nitrogen, respectively.
 Antoine Lavoisier has been considered the “FATHER OF CHEMISTRY”.
Among other accomplishments, he also discovered the role of oxygen in
combustion and definitively formulated the law of conservation of
matter.
 In 1800’s new compounds were discovered and science began to
develop a more theoretical foundation.
 John Dalton introduced his atomic theory which gave scientists the idea
that chemistry is in a much more systematic way.
 Amedeo Avogadro laid the groundwork for a more quantitative
approach to chemistry by calculating the number of particles in a given
amount of a gas.
 Invention of battery by Alessandro Volta
 Through the contributions of Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday the
field of electrochemistry elevated.
 Charles Goodyear discovered the process of vulcanization.
 Louis Pasteur pioneered the use of heat sterilization to eliminate
microorganisms in wine and milk.
 Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. The Nobel Awards was named after
him when he died for his contributions in the field of science.
 J.W. Hyatt developed the first plastic.

General Chemistry – Matter, Measurement and Energy Module I


4

 Leo Baekeland developed the first synthetic resin, widely used for
inexpensive and sturdy dinnerware.

Today, chemistry continues to be of great importance to the development


of new materials and technologies.

Fields of Chemistry

Chemistry is a vast field of science having diverse fields/areas. There are


five main fields/areas of chemistry including:
1. Inorganic Chemistry – the study of chemicals that, in general, are
not primarily based on carbon.
2. Organic Chemistry – the study of carbon and its compounds.
3. Physical Chemistry - the study of macroscopic properties, atomic
properties, and phenomena in chemical systems.
4. Analytical Chemistry - the study of composition of matter. It focuses
on separating, identifying, and quantifying chemicals in samples of
matter.
5. Biochemistry - the study of chemical processes that occur in living
things.

Other fields of Chemistry

 Nuclear Chemistry – the study concerning radioactivity, nuclear


transformations and processes in the nuclei of atoms.
 Theoretical Chemistry – the study that explains and examines
structural and dynamic properties of chemical systems using
mechanics; quantum, classical and statistical mechanics.
 Environmental Chemistry – the study of the relationship of the
chemical process occurring in the environment and human activities.
 Green Chemistry – the study of designing and application of chemical
products and processes to minimize or to eliminate the use and
generation of hazardous substances.

Importance of Chemistry

 Chemistry is important to all living organisms, for they can function


and survived through the chemical processes that undergoes in their
bodies. Digestion, respiration, cell production, reproduction and
excretion are some of the important processes living organisms
undergoes.

General Chemistry – Matter, Measurement and Energy Module I


5

 Chemistry is important in the field of medicine; it serves as its


foundation. Through chemical reactions, humans were able to
produce medicines for broad spectrum of illness by utilizing medicinal
plants and animals.
 The principles of chemistry explain and give answers to many
phenomena occurring and happening in our everyday living.

1. What is the importance of chemistry in your chosen course?


2. Give one concrete examples or application on the following fields of
chemistry:
a. Environmental Chemistry
b. Green Chemistry
c. Nuclear Chemistry
3. List and describe the important discoveries in the field of science that
developed chemistry into what we have now.

General Chemistry – Matter, Measurement and Energy Module I

You might also like