Branches of Chemistry
Chemistry is a branch of science which deals with the study of matter composed of atoms and molecules, investigation of their properties, composition, structure, behavior and interactions among the constituents of matter.
Chemistry involve in daily life
Chemistry is involved in our daily life practice in many aspects; production of food from farms to cooking them in a kitchen, from mobile to laptop, from bicycle to space rocket.
Iron and steel is used in the construction of our homes and other buildings, polymer is used in Plastic bags, Plastic bottles, Hydrocarbons (fuel), In mobile phone, Rechargeable batteries and Hybrid cars, Cosmetics, LED’s, capacitors, Nano tubes and sheets, Microwaves, Detergents, Photosynthesis, Clothes, Dyes and Paints etc. are some examples from our daily life where chemistry is applied.
Chemistry helps us to understand not only the planet earth but to the whole universe. In this topic we will learned about the Branches of Chemistry.
Branches of Chemistry
Chemistry has become very diverse subject with large number of branches. There are two main categories of chemistry, first one is Organic chemistry and Inorganic chemistry while second category is physical chemistry and Analytical chemistry.
There are large number of branches, but I will discuss five major branches of chemistry in this article.
Major branches of Chemistry
The five main branches of chemistry are Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry, Physical chemistry, Analytical chemistry and Biochemistry.
Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of how matter behaves at atomic and molecular level and how chemical reactions occur. As the name indicates that Physical Chemistry is the combination of Physics and Chemistry.
It is a sub-branch of science which investigate macroscopic features such as Pressure, Volume, Density, Viscosity etc. atomic properties like electro-negativity, valency, Ionization energy and atomic radius. It also deals with the structure of matter and energy
unlike, other branches it deals with the principles of physics underlying all chemical interactions, seeking to measure, correlate and explain the quantitative aspects of reactions.
Some of the main areas or sub disciplines of physical chemistry are mentioned below:
1. Chemical Kinetics: It is the study of rate of chemical reactions.
2. Thermochemistry: It deals with the heat change during chemical reaction.
3. Surface chemistry: It deals with the chemical processes occurring at inter-phase of two surfaces, particularly between liquid and gas phase is known as surface chemistry.
Surfaces play an active role in catalysis, colloid formation, electrode reactions, chromatography etc.
4. Photo chemistry: It is study of chemical reactions which take place in the presence of light.
5. Spectroscopy: It concerns with electromagnetic radiations and how they interact with atoms and molecules.
6. Quantum Chemistry: It is an application of Quantum Mechanics to the chemical system.
7. Electrochemistry: It is a branch of physical chemistry which deals with chemical changes involving the movement of electrons between the electrodes.
8. Femtochemistry: It is the study of chemical reactions in femto-scale (10−15 seconds). It helps to understand the movement of molecules.
Analytical Chemistry
It is a branch of Chemistry that deals with separation, identification and quantification of chemical compound. Basically, it deals with analysis of chemicals. It has numerous applications in chemical industries to maintain the quality of final product.
In separation, we separate the constituents from the mixture. After isolating the constituents of desired sample are identified by qualitative analysis. And finally, the concentration of analyte is estimated by quantitative analysis.
There are two types of Chemical analyses qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.
Qualitative analysis: is used for the identification of chemical component in a sample.
Quantitative analysis: is used to determine the amount of certain component in a sample.
Some of the common analysis methods are as follows
1. Flame tests: The test involves subjecting a given sample to the flame (reducing or oxidizing) and then observing the color of the flame. The color of the flame gives us an idea of a constituent present in the sample.
2. Chemical tests: It is used to identify functional groups in a given sample by conducting a series of chemical reaction on the sample.
3. Titrations (or Volumetric analysis): A titration is a technique in which a solution of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of unknown solution.
It involves the addition of a known titrant typically added from the burette to known quantity of analyte (known solution) until the equivalence point is reached and reaction is completed.
4. Gravimetry: Gravimetric analysis is a quantitative technique that is used to estimate the amount of analyte (the ion being analyzed) can be determined through the measurement of mass.
5. Chromatography: It is a separation technique that consists of mobile phase (a fluid carrying a given sample) which flows on the stationary phase.
Based on the affinity of the mobile phase ingredient towards the stationary phase, the retention of ingredients on the stationary phase takes place.
6. Spectroscopy: It is the study of how electromagnetic radiations interact with matter.
7. Electrochemical analysis: It is a method of analysis in which the analyte is studied by passing electricity and measuring voltage and current over time.
8. Electrophoresis: It is a separation method in which dispersed particles are separated under the influence of an electric field.
Inorganic Chemistry
It is a branch of Chemistry which deals with the study of inorganic compounds. Inorganic compounds are compounds which do not contain carbon-hydrogen bond.
Inorganic compounds largely found beneath the earth surface in rocks and minerals, and other are produced in chemical industries. Inorganic chemicals have applications in pigment, paint, coating, disinfectant, fertilizer, surfactant and solar power.
The largest inorganic chemicals produced in the world are sulphuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, ammonia, chlorine, nitrogen, phosphorus pentaoxide and sodium hydroxide.
Some of the major fields of Inorganic chemistry are as follows:
1. Coordination Chemistry: It involves in the study of coordination complexes. It is a study of compound having central atom surrounded by anions known as ligands.
The ligands are attached to central atom through dative bond, known as Coordinate bonds, in which both electrons in the bonds are supplied by the same atom on the ligand.
2. Organometallic Chemistry: It is the study of organometallic compounds which consist of compounds having a metal-carbon-hydrogen bond (organometallic bond). This field is included in both organic as well as inorganic chemistry.
3. Bioinorganic Chemistry: This covers the interaction of inorganic species like metals in cells and tissues.
4. Solid-State Chemistry (or Material Chemistry): It is the study of properties, structures of solid-state phase. It is a part of Solid-State Physics.
Organic Chemistry
It is a branch of Chemistry that deals with the study of organic compounds. organic compounds are compounds which contain carbon-hydrogen bond. Carbon is capable of forming long C-C chains (called catenation). Due to this property of carbon, it forms large number of compounds.
Other than carbon and hydrogen, the elements widely found in organic compounds are oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, and halogens (fluorine, chlorine and iodine). Organic compounds are used in agriculture, insecticide, food, medicine, polymer, fuel, textile, rubber, and pharmaceutical industries.
Some of the industrial important organic chemicals are methane, ethylene, propylene, 1,2-dichloroethylene, toluene, acetic-anhydride, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, butane, acetylene, urea, polystyrene, acetone, acetic acid, phenol, aniline, glycerol, glucose, fructose, starch etc.
Important areas in Organic Chemistry are mentioned below.
1. Polymer Chemistry: It deals with the synthesis and properties of polymers.
2. Organometallics Chemistry: It is the study of organometallic compounds which consist of compounds having a metal-carbon-hydrogen bond (organometallic bond). This field is included in both organic as well as inorganic chemistry.
3. Stereo-chemistry: It is a chemistry that studies stereo-isomers. It focuses on the spatial arrangement of atoms.
4. Medicinal Chemistry: It involves the application of chemistry for medicine and drug development.
5. Bio-organic Chemistry: It is the combination of Organic and Biochemistry.
Bio-Chemistry
Biochemistry is the field of science that emphases on the study of chemical processes inside the biological system. Biochemistry is a new field compare to the above branches of chemistry.
Biochemistry focuses on the uses of chemistry to better understand biological systems like respiration, digestion, cellular metabolism etc. Biochemists work on diseases like cancer to develop better treatment; they also study molecular genetics to improve genes.
The important areas of study in Biochemistry are as follows:
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