What is Chemistry and How to Tame It?

Chemistry is the study of matter and its changes.but now an independent science, which includes all
This includes everything in the universe from a simpleaspects of chemistry that apply to living organisms.
hydrogen atom to very large replicating molecules inThus, photochemistry is directly involved with
life processes. Chemistry is involved with thephotosynthesis and physical chemistry with osmosis,
development of medicines that control and curetwo phenomena that underline all plant and animal life.
diseases; food production through specific and safeOther important chemical mechanisms that apply
agricultural chemicals; consumer products such asdirectly to living organisms are catalysis, which takes
cleaners, plastics and clothing; new methods ofplace in biochemical systems by the agency of
energy production, transfer and storage; newenzymes; nucleic acid and protein constitution and
materials for electronic components; and newbehavior, which is known to control the mechanism
methods for protection and cleanup of theof genetics; colloid chemistry, which deals in part with
environment. Chemists are needed to help solvethe nature of cell walls, muscles, collagen, etc;
some of society's most difficult technologicalacid-base relations, involved in the pH of body fluids;
problems through research, development andand such nutritional components as amino acids, fats,
teaching.carbohydrates, minerals, lipids and vitamins, all of
A major branch of chemistry, known as 'Inorganicwhich are essential to life. The chemical organization
Chemistry', is generally considered to embrace alland reproductive behavior of microorganisms
substances except hydrocarbons and their(bacteria and viruses) and a large part of agricultural
derivatives, or all substances that are not compoundschemistry are also included in biochemistry. Particularly
of carbon (including some of the small molecules ofactive areas of biochemistry are nucleic acids, cell
carbon.) It covers a broad range of subjects, amongsurfaces (membranes), enzymology, peptide
which are atomic structure, crystallography, chemicalhormones, molecular biology, and recombinant DNA.
bonding, coordination compounds, acid-base reactions,Nuclear Chemistry is the division of chemistry dealing
ceramics, and various  subdivisions ofwith changes in or transformations of the atomic
electrochemistry (electrolysis, battery science,nucleus. It includes spontaneous and induced
corrosion, semi conduction, etc.). It is important toradioactivity, the fission or splitting of nuclei, and their
state that inorganic and organic chemistry oftenfusion, or union; also the properties and behavior of
overlap. For example, chemical bonding applies tothe reaction products and their separation and
both disciplines, electrochemistry and acid-baseanalysis. The reactions involving nuclei are usually
reactions have their organic counterparts, catalystsaccompanied by large energy changes, far greater
and coordination compounds may be either organic orthan those of chemical reactions; that are carried out
inorganic.in nuclear reactors for electric power production and
Regarding the importance of inorganic chemistry, R.T.manufacture of radioactive isotopes for medical use,
Sanderson has written: "All chemistry is the sciencealso (in research work) in cyclotrons.
of atoms, involving an understanding of why theyStoichiometry is the branch of chemistry and
possess certain characteristic qualities and why thesechemical engineering that deals with the quantities of
qualities dictate the behavior of atoms when theysubstances that enter into, and are produced by,
come together. All properties of material substanceschemical reactions. Stoichiometry provides
are the inevitable result of the kind of atoms and thethe quantitative relationship between reactants and
manner in which they are attached and assembled. Allproducts in a chemical reaction. For example, when
chemical change involves a rearrangement of atoms.methane unites with oxygen in complete combustion,
Inorganic chemistry (is) the only discipline within the16g of methane require 64g of oxygen. At
chemistry that examines specifically the differencesthe same time 44g of carbon dioxide and 36g of
among all the different kinds of atoms".water are formed as reaction productions. Every
Another major branch of chemistry is 'Organicchemical reaction has its characteristic
Chemistry' which embraces all compounds of carbonproportions. The method of obtaining these
except such binary compounds as the carbon oxides,from chemical formulas, equations, atomic weights
the carbides, carbon disulfide, etc.; such ternaryand molecular weights, and determination of what
compounds as the metallic cyanides, metallicand how much is used and produced in chemical
carbonyls, phosgene (COCl2), carbonyl sulfide (COS),processes, is the major concern of Stoichiometry.
etc.; and the metallic carbonates, such as calciumMany students treat chemistry as "too difficult to
carbonate and sodium carbonate. The total numberunderstand and prefer to escape and memorize even
of organic compounds is indeterminate, but a hugeon the expense of the realization that by doing so
number has been identified and named. Importantthey are bound to harm themselves now and deprive
areas of organic chemistry include polymerization,the society of their contribution later. Henceforth
hydrogenation, Isomerisation, fermentation,they should note that although it is somewhat
photochemistry, and stereochemistry. There is nochallenging, any reasonably intelligent and dedicated
sharp dividing line between organic and inorganicstudent can succeed in chemistry. They should also
chemistry, for the two often tend to overlap.realize that there is no use of wasting both money
Application of the concepts and laws of physics toand time for some thing that is either memorized
chemical phenomena is included under the headingbefore examination or forgotten thereafter or some
'Physical Chemistry' in order to describe in quantitativeportion of it is dropped under the pretext of
(mathematical) terms a vast amount of qualitativeselection of important topics for the purpose of
(observational) information. A selection of only thepreparation for examination. One must not waste his
most important concepts of physical chemistry wouldher valuables (money and time) just for the sake of
include: the electron wave equation and the quantumdegree and literacy as both of these are bound to
mechanical interpretation of atomic and molecularhave detrimental consequences not only for the
structure, the study of the subatomic fundamentalindividual concerned but also the society for obvious
particles of matter, application of thermodynamics toreasons.
heats of formation of compounds and the heats ofThose of the students who get their confidence
chemical reaction, the theory of rate processes andshattered whenever they come across chemistry
chemical equilibria, orbital theory and chemical bonding,may note Some Tips (given below) from tose who
surface chemistry, including catalysis and finely dividedhave succeeded in Chemistry
particles, the principles of electrochemistry and1. Develop good study habits.
ionization. Although physical chemistry is closely2. Attend all lectures and labs.
related to both inorganic and organic chemistry, it is3. Take all lecture notes and make your own notes
considered a separate discipline.after understanding things properly.
Analytical Chemistry is the subdivision of chemistry4. Use your lecture notes as a guide to your reading
concerned with identification of materials (qualitativein the textbook. Write your questions down if you
analysis) and with determination of the percentagedon't understand something. Ask your teacher if you
composition of mixtures or the constituents of adon't understand a concept.
pure compound (quantitative analysis). The5. Make flash cards of definitions, concepts, reactions,
gravimetric and volumetric (or "wet") methodsstructures, and nomenclature that are in the
(precipitation, titration and solvent extraction) are stilltextbook and are emphasized by your teacher in
used for routine work and new titration methodslecture.
have been introduced e.g. cryoscopic, pressure-metric6. Remember that writing something is equivalent to
(for reactions that produce a gaseous product),reading it ten times and notes are records for
redox methods, and use of a F-sensitive electroderecollecting the material and not something to be
etc. However, faster and more accurate techniquesmemorized in a capsule form.
(collectively called instrumental) have been developed7. Do all the homework problems sincerely and with
in the recent past. Among these are infrared,sincerity.
ultraviolet, and x-ray spectroscopy where the8. One of the best ways of learning is to find a
presence and amount of a metallic element isstudy partner or to form a study group and work on
indicated by lines in it's emission or absorptionproblems independently and then together.
spectrum; colorimetry by which the percentage of a9. Keep yourself up -to- date. If you get behind or
substance in soluble is determined by the intensity ofget a poor grade in class tests, either you want to
it's colour; chromatography of various types by whichdrop the class or may be made to drop the class.
the components of a liquid or gaseous mixture are10. Try to see the 'big picture; of the future instead
determined by passing it through a column of porousof being mean and escapist.
material or on thin layers of finely divided solids; and11. Practice applying what you have learned in class to
separation of mixtures in ion exchange columns andthe world around you.
radioactive tracer analysis. Optical and electron12. Try to foster your own scientific curiosity and
microscopy, mass spectrometry, microanalysis,wonder around 'why things are and how they
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Nuclearhappen'.
Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) spectroscopy all fall13. Have a positive attitude.
within the area of analytical chemistry. New and highly14. Realize that science requires more self discipline,
sophisticated techniques have been introduced inbut offers more rewards.
recent years, in many cases replacing traditional15. Try to be organized and recognized.
methods.16. Persevere and be determined to succeed.
Originally Biochemistry was a subdivision of chemistry