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Thursday, October 6, 2011

History of chemistry and Influence of chemistry

History of chemistry
Chemistry as we know it today originated from early studies of alchemy and magic. Similar to modern day chemists, alchemists tried to change a certain substance into another; in this case it is gold. Alchemists also searched for secrets to eternal life. Alchemy slowly started to reach its peak in the late 1400's when people started to question and doubt the thoughts and theories of alchemy. Slowly, these scientists grew away from ideas of magic and became more dependant on what was facts, not theories based on superstitions. These scientists began recording and organizing their discoveries in books, which later would become the basis of chemistry.
Chemistry started to lift off once a British chemist known as Robert Boyle published his book The Sceptical Chymist. In this book, Boyle put down rules for a careful scientific investigation and he slowly proved how alchemy was just a myth. He provided clear and vivid details on how a pure element can not be split to form simpler substances. He also described how the four elements alchemists believed in could not explain the behavior of many substances on Earth. Slowly, alchemy started to die and people realized the reality of chemistry. They put aside their beliefs of magic and alchemic methods to focus more on purifying substances and investigating their many properties. Chemists started to become fascinated with chemical reactions and the composition of matter.

Today, there are 92 natural elements and 23 synthetic elements throughout the world. Elements are either metals or non-metals and have many other descriptions to classify them further in the periodic table. Each elements has their own one or two letter symbol which helps chemist from all over the world to classify them without misinterpretations of different languages. Every element has their own atomic number which symbolizes how many protons and neutrons are in the element's nucleus. 

Chemists also focus heavily on chemical reactions. Chemical reactions change the chemical make-up of different substances to break down substances into smaller more simpler parts, or even create more advanced and complex substances. In a chemical reaction, the substances that are present before the reaction starts are reactants. When the chemical reaction process is over, the final result of the mixing of the substances are the products. Chemical reactions may be very fast or even extremely slow; for example rusting. Catalysts are substances the speed up the process of chemical reactions. They can help manufacture many items including margarine and vegetable oils. There are many different types of chemical reactions today that are still unknown to us. This is what keeps chemistry a thriving subject for many scientists around the world.

Chemistry started from the ancient studies and theories of alchemists and magicians thousands of years ago. Still to this day there are many things we have yet to discover and learn more about through chemistry.

Influence of chemistry

 Chemistry has a reputation for being a complicated and boring science, but for the most part, that reputation is undeserved. Fireworks and explosions are based on chemistry, so it's definitely not a boring science. If you take classes in chemistry, you'll apply math and logic, which can make studying chemistry a challenge if you are weak in those areas. However, anyone can understand the basics of how things work... and that's the study of chemistry. In a nutshell, the importance of chemistry is that it explains the world around you.
Chemistry Explains...


Cooking


Chemistry explains how food changes as you cook it, how it rots, how to preserve food, how your body uses the food you eat, and how ingredients interact to make food.


Cleaning


Part of the importance of chemistry is it explains how cleaning works. You use chemistry to help decide what cleaner is best for dishes, laundry, yourself, and your home. You use chemistry when you use bleaches and disinfectants and even ordinary soap and water. How do they work? That's chemistry!


Medicine


You need to understand basic chemistry so you can understand how vitamins, supplements, and drugs can help or harm you. Part of the importance of chemistry lies in developing and testing new medical treatments and medicines.


Environmental Issues


Chemistry is at the heart of environmental issues. What makes one chemical a nutrient and another chemical a pollutant? How can you clean up the environment? What processes can produce the things you need without harming the environment?
We're all chemists. We use chemicals every day and perform chemical reactions without thinking much about them. Chemistry is important because everything you do is chemistry! Even your body is made of chemicals. Chemical reactions occur when you breathe, eat, or just sit there reading. All matter is made of chemicals, so the importance of chemistry is that it's the study of everything.


Importance of Taking Chemistry


Everyone can and should understand basic chemistry, but it may be important to take a course in chemistry or even make a career out of it. It's important to understand chemistry if you are studying any of the sciences because all of the sciences involve matter and the interactions between types of matter. Students wanting to become doctors, nurses, physicists, nutritionists, geologists, pharmacists, and (of course) chemists all study chemistry. You might want to make a career of chemistry because chemistry-related jobs are plentiful and high-paying. The importance of chemistry won't be diminished over time, so it will remain a promising career path.
Non-specifically, the impact of chemistry cannot be overstated. Every single material thing in the universe is a chemical, and the ability to understand and manipulate these chemicals is responsible for everything from modern food and drugs to plastics and computers. Without our knowledge of chemistry, the world would be a far more mysterious place and far, far less advanced place.


Stars are chemical. The atoms in us were once in ancient stars. Dust to dust is very accurate. Food is chemical. You are what you eat, right down to the molecules of fat from that french fry you ate last week. Air is chemical. All matter is chemical. And all matter has energy.
Chemistry is involved in everything, it is the basis of life, without chemistry we wouldn't exist.



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