define all branches of chemistry
Answers
OVERVIEW OF THE 5 BRANCHES OF CHEMISTRY
1. Organic Chemistry - The study of carbon and its compounds; the study of the chemistry of life.
2. Inorganic Chemistry - The study of compounds not-covered by organic chemistry; the study of inorganic compounds or compounds which do not contain a C-H bond. Many inorganic compounds are those which contain metals.
3. Analytical Chemistry - The study of the chemistry of matter and the development of tools used to measure properties of matter.
4. Physical Chemistry - The branch of chemistry that applies physics to the study of chemistry. Commonly this includes the applications of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics to chemistry.
5. Biochemistry - This is the study of chemical processes that occur inside of living organisms.
What is Chemistry?
Chemistry is a subdiscipline of science that deals with the study of matter and the substances that constitute it.
It also deals with the properties of these substances and the reactions undergone by them to form new substances.
Chemistry primarily focuses on atoms, ions, and molecules which, in turn, make up elements and compounds. These chemical species tend to interact with each other through chemical bonds.
It is important to note that the interactions between matter and energy are also studied in the field of chemistry.
Relationship Between Chemistry and Other Branches of Science
‘Science’ can be defined as the systematic study of the natural universe, its structure, and everything it encompasses. Due to the immensity of the natural universe, science has been divided into several disciplines that deal with certain aspects of the universe.
The three primary subcategories of science under which these disciplines can be grouped are:
The Formal Sciences:
Involves the study of the language disciplines that concern formal systems. Examples of scientific disciplines that fall under this category include logic and mathematics. Can be thought of as the “language of science”.
The Natural Sciences:
Involves the study of natural phenomena through experiments and observations. Chemistry, physics, and biology fall under this category of science.
The Social Sciences:
Involves the study of human societies and the relationships between the humans that dwell in these societies. Examples of scientific disciplines that fall under this category include psychology, sociology, and economics.
Thus, chemistry can be viewed as a central science whose roots bore into several other subdisciplines of science.