Nyack High School

Chemistry is the study of matter's composition, structure, and properties. Matter is essentially anything in the world that takes up space and has mass. Chemistry is called “the central science,” because it bridges physics with other natural sciences, such as geology and biology.

Chemistry is a physical science, and it is the study of the properties of, and interactions between, matter and energy. In other words, chemistry is a way to study the properties, characteristics, and physical and chemical changes of matter.

The 5 main major branches of chemistry are:

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 carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond. Many inorganic compounds 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.

Chemistry provides a foundation for understanding both basic and applied scientific disciplines at a fundamental level. Examples include plant chemistry (botany), the formation of igneous rocks (geology), how atmospheric ozone is formed and how environmental pollutants are degraded (ecology), the properties of the soil on the moon (astrophysics), how medications work (pharmacology), and how to collect DNA evidence at a crime scene (forensics).

The use of chemical reactions begins with ancient history with the widespread use of fire, and the transformation of matter using energy. By 1000 BC, civilizations used technologies that would eventually form the basis of the various branches of chemistry. Examples include extracting metals from ores, making pottery and glazes, fermenting beer and wine, extracting chemicals from plants for medicine and perfume, rendering fat into soap, making glass, and mixing metals to make alloys with desirable properties, like bronze.