Chemistry is often mentioned with a bad connotation. Most of the general public only hears about chemicals as the result of some tragic event such as water pollution or oil spills. The gaining popularity of climate change associates chemistry with greenhouse gasses using science as a descriptive medium to describe complex chemical pollution on a global scale. Chemistry is far more than tragic events. Chemicals are as common as a clean glass of water, or breath of fresh air.

Music we listen to is a result of molecules being pushed together and then spreading out to form pressure waves in the air. There are chemical reactions involved in the ear drum when it detects these pressure waves. A signal is then sent to the brain where its interpreted as sound. Even the emotions we feel when we listen to music are all a result of chemical reactions.

The very question itself when we ask what chemistry is…is only made possible through a series of chemical reactions in the brain. Chemistry is quite literally the fabric of reality as we know it.

Even if chemistry is outside your primary field of study, having the resources to gain a basic understanding of chemistry will serve you well.

A common scientific definition for chemistry is “the study of compositions, structure, properties, and reactions of matter”

There is a lot in that statement, so let me briefly break this down into smaller pieces.

Ok, chemistry is a study of matter, so what is matter

Matter is mass that occupies space.

Ok, so I know what space is, what is mass? Chemists often use mass synonymous with weight; however, this term will not be acceptable to a physicist, and there is a difference between mass and weight. Mass is the amount (pieces) of matter in an object. Mass does not change with a change in gravity. For example, the mass of something on the moon will have the same mass on earth. Weight is the result of gravitational force applied to an object. Weight does change with a change in gravity. For example, the weight of something on the moon will not have the same weight on earth.

Let me show you an example with a case of beer. Here we have a case of beer. The number of cans that are in the case of beer can be described as pieces of mass. If we took the case of beer to the moon, the number of cans (the mass) would not change. If we weighed the case of beer on planet earth and the 24 cans represented a weight value, even if we have the same number of cans in the case of beer, the weight value would not be the same because the moon has less gravity.

Takeaway: Mass is defined by amount. Weight is defined by gravitational force

 

Composition: is the arrangement, type and ratio of molecules. Looking at carbon dioxide, CO2, we can see there is a specific arrangement where two oxygen atoms are on either side of the carbon atom and this is the arrangement so long as the molecule is carbon dioxide, CO2. There will never be a carbon atom that is not in the middle or oxygen atoms paired- up on either side of a carbon atom.

There are clear types of atoms, carbon and oxygen.

There is a clear ratio, two oxygen atoms to one carbon atom.

This will always be the composition of CO2 carbon dioxide so long as the molecule is CO2 carbon dioxide.

Take away: Composition; is the arrangement, type and ratio of molecules.

 

Properties are characteristics that distinguish one substance from another. This includes but not limited to density boiling point, viscosity, reactivity, acidity, and flammability. There are different categories of properties that include physical and chemical. We will get into that more later.

Take away: Properties are characteristics that distinguish one substance from another.

 

Chemical Structure: is how the atoms are connected. Molecules can have the same number of atoms, but those same atoms can have different connectivity to each other.

Looking at these 4 molecules, you can clearly see they are all different in structure, but if you look closer, you can see they all have the same number and type of atoms, so the formula C4H10O would be correct. Tert-butanol has three methyl groups and one alcohol group that are all attached to a central carbon accounting for 4 carbons, 1 oxygen, and 10 hydrogens. Look how different the atoms are   connected between tert-butanol and the other three molecules. Taking 1-butanol for example, there is a 4-member carbon chain with an alcohol group at the end accounting for 4 carbons, 1 oxygen, and 10 hydrogens. We will have a closer look at this later.

Take away: The chemical structure is how atoms are connected.

A reaction is the interaction between 2 substances that produces a change in the product as a result of the interaction.

So going back to the previous statement of the scientific definition of chemistry

Take away: chemistry is the study of compositions, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.

 

What do chemist do and how do I get there

There are many different types and levels of chemists depending on his or her education. Generally speaking, chemists try to understand the tangible world around them by experimentally based results. To be a chemist, you should first get a degree in chemistry. Undergraduate degrees usually take 4 years after high school. The classes in this process would have individual areas of such as general, organic, physical, and analytical. Bachelorette holding employees are typically limited to technical work and bench work. Graduate degrees include Masters and Ph.D.’s. A master degree usually takes 5-7 years. In the graduate degree process, additional advanced classes would be taken that go into more chemical detail. At a master level and higher, students begin to see how individual branches of chemistry work together in a congruent manner. At a graduate degree level, chemists are more involve in projects. Research is drawn from knowledge that has been gained through out school, and the direction of the mentor.

Take away: chemists try to understand the tangible world. The level of schooling and type of education usually determines the work field, pay scale, authority, and responsibility level. Do you have what it takes? How bad do you want it? I can not answer these questions, only you can.                 

Chemistry is considered to be a central science that over laps with many different fields of study, such as mathematics, physics, biology, and computer science. Two growing fields that overlap with chemistry are biology and computer science. These areas previously known as two different fields have now merged into a focused area of expertise.

Ok so what are some the Chemical industries

Food industry:

Food chemists are involved in the processing, production, packaging and storage. Food chemists also work with additives and preservatives.

Pharmaceutical industry:

Chemists play a key role in drug discovery, drug development, and delivery systems that treat illness like cancer and infectious diseases

Petroleum and alternative fuels/ energy:

Chemists are constantly used to find or improve alternative and main stream energy production, cheaper, faster, more efficient.

Specialized Materials:

Chemists also play key roles in Specialized material, biodegradable plastic, heat resistant metals, and bullet proof clothing

So bringing the chemical industries together with the chemist branches we have already went over, we have the following:

Branches of chemistry:

Organic chemistry: can be found in pharmaceuticals and petroleum industries

Inorganic chemistry: would fit well with nuclear power and special materials industries.

Analytical chemistry: can work effectively in water quality industries or drug standard development in pharmaceutical industries.

Physical chemistry and computational chemistry: commonly work R&D at Pharmaceuticals companies. Many break throughs have happened in the pharmaceutical industry with advancements in computational chemistry. Thousands of tests can be done at once to find which compound will be suitable for farther research saving time and money. another popular area of study for computational chemistry is atmospheric science.

Biochemistry: work closely with the Medical and pharmaceutical industry.

This is by no means a definitive link between chemistry branches with industry, but it is a congruent specialty match.

• The purpose of science is to find the truth or the closest we can get to it.

• Mathematics is the purest form of science. 1 + 1 = 2, we know this to be true.

• There can be some ambiguity with chemistry. In fact, scientist will never know the absolute 100% truth about chemistry, but they can be very close. This can be very aggravating for some people. Especially those who are more comfortable in the mathematics end of science.

• To clarify and close the gap between what is actually happening and what we understand, chemist use what is called “The scientific method.” We will have a closer look at this soon.

• Review:

• What is chemistry: Chemistry is everything in the physical universe.

• What do chemist do: chemist try to understand the tangible world around them by experimentally based results

• What can chemistry do for me: determines your work field, pay scale, authority, and responsibility level.

• Scientific definition of chemistry: “chemistry is the study of                                   compositions, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.”

• Scientific questions are frequently answered through a process called “scientific method.”

• Matter: “Mass that occupies space.”

• Mass: is the amount (pieces) of matter in an object.

• Weight: is the result of gravitational force applied to an object.

• Composition: “Arrangement, type, or ratio of atoms.”

• Properties: “Characteristics that distinguish one substance from another.”

• Structure: “How the atoms are connected.”

• Reactions: “Interaction between substances that bring about change.”

• What do chemist do: chemist try to understand the tangible world around them by experimentally based results

• Chemistry branches: Organic chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Physical chemistry and computational chemistry, Biochemistry.

• Chemical industries: Food industry, Pharmaceutical industry, Petroleum and alternative fuels/ energy, Specialized Materials.