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What is Chemistry? Definition, Branches, Books and Scientists

Hello Friends! I hope you all are doing well. Today, I am going to share with you a very basic and detailed tutorial on What is Chemistry? We will also discuss Chemistry types, popular Chemistry books, famous Chemists and their great inventions in the field of Chemistry etc.  When you hear the word Chemistry, you may think, it is only concerned to the study of chemicals, dangerous substances etc. But let me surprise you, Chemistry is also known as the Central Science means it is the insight study of almost everything around us. I just remembered very comprehensive Chemistry definition by American Chemical Society, “Everything you touch, see, smell and hear involves Chemistry and chemicals”. Scientist divided Physical sciences in 5 major disciplines in the 19th century.

• Chemistry.
• Physics
• Astronomy.
• Meteorology.
• Geology.

What is Chemistry?

Chemistry is one of the most vital & fundamental branches of science, concerned with the deep study of matter, its properties, composition (chemical) and use. And you must know that everything around us is matter. It means Chemistry involves in our everyday life task, from cooking to cleaning. Chemistry is actually the mixture of physics and biology. Because of its fundamentally understanding with the basic and applied scientific disciplines. Now, let’s have a look at the proper definition of Chemistry.

Chemistry Definition

• Chemistry deals with the study of elements (i.e. atoms, molecules, compounds, ions etc.) and their chemical composition, characteristics, structure, and chemical reactions.
• Chemistry also studies the chemical interaction (bonding) between elements, atoms and molecules. It studies the reasons of bonding and their effects.
• Further, chemistry is also concerned with the energies released or abosrbed by different molecules.

Why is Chemistry important?

• Chemical reactions are taking places every second around us. From the digestion food to making of food from plants, everything is happening due to chemical reactions. Our whole body is made up of chemical compounds. And it is Chemistry, concerned to study these reactions for our betterment. Let’s discuss the most common examples:
• The creams and sunscreens, we used in our daily life to protect our skin form UV radiation from sun, are made of organic and inorganic compounds, and directly related to Chemistry.
• The process of photosynthesis is a chemical reaction; plants use water, carbon dioxide and sunlight to prepare food.
• The detergents we are using for hygienic purpose are also examples of emulsion, which is also chemical reaction. The soaps are made from the chemical process call saponification.

Chemistry Branches

On the base of the studying matters, changes and types of the systems, Chemistry is sub-divided into the following categories. Let’s discuss branches of Chemistry briefly for better understanding.

1. Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry is the field of study, mainly focuses on the characteristics study about carbon atom. Including the experimental study on the structure and composition of other atoms such as oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H) etc.

2. Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry is the branch of Chemistry, not focused on the study of carbon. But you know carbon is essential atom in many inorganic compounds. Therefore, there has been investigated another field of study is organometallic Chemistry, a mixture study between organic and inorganic Chemistry.

3. Analytical Chemistry

This branch of Chemistry is the insight study of elements in mixture form. Its main focus is to identify and analyze these materials. It invents the materials & methods to analyze these material. As well as discovered the separation techniques.

4. Physical Chemistry

The physical Chemistry is the branch of Chemistry to deeply examine the behavior of atoms, elements, chemicals, compounds and molecules, and proposed the fundamental laws of Chemistry.

5. Environmental Chemistry

It is basically the study of environmental chemical and their composition.

6. Bio-chemistry

This branch of Chemistry mainly focuses on discovering the inner information during the examination of biological systems using chemical laws. It also provides the revelation of the link between the functional properties and structure of biological systems.

7. Nuclear Chemistry

It is the type of Chemistry, concentrated in the experimental study about the radioactive elements, their reactions and properties. Simply, this field is all related with the study of radioactivity.

8. Biophysical Chemistry

It is the sub-discipline of Chemistry, basically deals with the biological macromolecules and their properties.

9. Polymer Chemistry

It is the field of Chemistry, fundamentally related on the study of formation of chemical, properties, and structure of macromolecules & polymers.

Chemistry top concerns

Chemistry also provides insight to the chemical bonds and formation of their interaction with each other. It studies the chemical bonding through which atoms are linked. There are 2 types of chemical bonds:

• Covalent bonds (also named as primary chemical bond).
• Metallic bonds.
• Ionic bonds.

Above are the primary bonds, whereas the secondary chemical bonds are:

• Hydrogen bonds.
• Van der Waals force.

Relationship of Chemistry with Other Areas of Science

Due to the immense areas of concerns in the universe, science sub-divided into the following areas, mainly focus on the universal aspects. The primary three categories under science are discussed below:

1. The Formal Sciences

Also named as “language of science”. Because of its main focus on the studying of languages. For example, the logic and math are the example of this area of science.

2. The Natural Sciences

This category involves the experimental study about occurring of natural phenomena in the universe. Physics, Biology and Chemistry are lying under this discipline.

3. The Social Sciences

The social sciences studying the human nature and behavior as well as their relation with the societies. The main disciplines falls under this category are: Psychology, economy and sociology. Have a look on below picture; it will help you to understand the relationship of branch chemistry with other disciples of science.

Chemistry books

Chemistry is one of my favorite subjects. Now I am going to share some famous and best reading text-books of Chemistry. You can download or buy these books, I am sure it will be worth reading Chemistry books.

1. An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological

It is a precise and easy Chemistry book to understand written by Karen C. Timberlake. As form the name of book, you have got an idea about the content of this book. This book of Chemistry is all about the organic area of Chemistry as well the biological Chemistry. This book has revealed the relation of Chemistry with health and environment.

2. A Molecular Approach (4th Edition)

This is the book of Chemistry, many institutes loved to recommend to their students. The written by if this book is Nivaldo J. Tro.  It is generally a well written book, and got very fame. The written by explained about the data interpretation and analyses. It gives the digital and analytical experience to students.

3. Chemistry For Dummies

Let’s talk about another impressive Chemistry book written by John T. Moore. This book explains all the chemical reaction happening in the formation of soap, oil and soda. This book provides insight study of chemical methods, techniques, basic principles and fundamental concepts of Chemistry. The language used also very simple and easy to understand for students.

Few other Chemistry books

Some other famous Chemistry Books are:

Popular Books of Chemistry
No.	Book Name	Author
1	Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History	Penny Le Couteur
2	The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe	Theodore Gray
3	The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York	Deborah Blum
4	Uncle Tungsten	Oliver Sacks
5	General Chemistry	Linus Pauling
6	A Chemical History of a Candle	Michael Faraday
7	A Short History of Nearly Everything	Bill Bryson
8	The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus	John Emsley
9	Blue Dreams: The Science and the Story of the Drugs that Changed Our Minds	Lauren Slater
10	The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements	Sam Kean
11	Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything	Theodore Gray
12	Chemistry of Space	David E. Newton
13	Periodic Tales: The Curious Lives of the Elements	Hugh Aldersey-Williams
14	Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products	Steve Ettlinger
15	The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler	Thomas Hager
16	Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home - But Probably Shouldn't	Theodore Gray
17	The Double Helix	James D. Watson
18	Oxygen: The Molecule That Made the World	Nick Lane
19	Connecting the Drops: A Citizens' Guide to Protecting Water Resources	Karen Schneller-McDonald
20	Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World	Tom Zoellner
21	Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution	Beth Gardiner
22	What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained	Robert L. Wolke
23	Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy	Seth Fletcher
24	Strange Chemistry: The Stories Your Chemistry Teacher Wouldn't Tell You	Steven Farmer
25	The Electric Life of Michael Faraday	Alan W. Hirshfeld

Popular Chemists of All Times

There is a long list of famous scientist whom contributed the field of Chemistry. Let’s have a look of top chemists and their achievements below:

Famous Chemists
No.	Chemists Name	Achievement
1.	Amedeo Avogadro	First time give the idea about elements can exist in molecular form, as well as individual form. Also give Avogadro’s law.
2.	Jacob Berzelius	He is the founder of measurement of atomic weights of chemicals. He also revealed new elements i.e. thorium, cerium &. selenium
3.	Niels Bohr	He discovered the theory of quantum mechanics when he observed electrons orbiting around the shell.
4.	Robert Boyle	He founded the two sub-fields of chemistry, named as alchemy and mysticism. He also discovered many elements, defined them. He invented the Boyle’s law also known as first gas law.
5.	Lawrence Bragg	He invented the position of different atoms using x-ray diffraction in solids.
6.	Hennig Brand	He founded the elements, phosphorus. And was the first scientist in chemistry history, discovered the chemical element.
7.	Georg Brandt	He is the first Chemists who discovered the new metal ‘cobalt’. He proposed the theories for people of making gold.
8.	Robert Bunsen	He invented the following elements (cesium & rubidium). He also discovered the zinc & carbon batteries, he was the inventor of flash positioning. He also proposed hoe the geysers works.
10.	Marie Curie	He invented the radium and polonium elements. He gives s important information about radioactivity and radioactive elements. He first time performed the tumour treatment using radiations.
11.	John Dalton	He gives the Dalton’s theory, considered as the base of Chemistry. Moreover, discovered Gay-Lussac’s law with respect to volume, temp & pressure of gas.
12.	Democritus	He proposed the atomic theory about the motion interaction of tiny particles. He did search and study on the starts and their milky appearance.
13.	Empedocles	He gives the natural sciences theories, invented four elements.
14.	Michael Faraday	He invented the electromagnetic induction. More he discovered the Faradays law, link between the magnetism & light. He also explains the first room temp of a gas. And discovered benzene.
15.	Rosalind Franklin	He gives the experimental data about the DNA structure. He also discovered the two forms of DNA.
16.	Willard Gibbs	He invented the vector concept and modern science. He also focused on chemical thermodynamics.
17.	George de Hevesy	He discovered 72 elements. He also invented pioneered isotopes to find the chemicals process as well as biological one. He discovered about animals and plant utilization of chemical elements as nutrients.
18.	Fred Hoyle	He invented the naturally founded elements. And set them on the periodic table.

Few remarkable Chemists

Here's the list of few other remarkable Chemists:

• Natalie Ahn, American.
• English Chemist, A. Aikin.
• H. C. Allen, American.
• German Chemist, R. Abegg.
• German Chemist, F. Accum.
• American expert, J. Alexander.
• Swedish Chemist, S. Arrhenius.
• American Chemist, P. Agre.
• American Chemist, A. Almutairi.
• American Chemist, H. Burton Adkins.
• Kuwaiti Chemist, F. Al-Kharafi.
• American Chemist, L. A. Cohen.
• American Chemist, E. Lucille Allen.
• S. Altman won Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
• V.Ashby, American.
• Fr. W.Aston won Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
• G. L. Anderson, American.
• Australian Chemist, A. Albert.
• B. Christian won Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
• American Chemist, A. J. Arduengo.
• American Chemist, B. Askins.
• German chemists, G. Agricola.
• Dutch Chemist, A. Eduard van Arkel.
• Physical English Chemist, J. Albery.
• Brazilian Chemist, O. A. Ceva Antunes.
• American N. Chemist, L. B. Asprey.
• Italian Chemist, A. Angeli.
• Johan August A., Swedish Chemist.
• German Chemist, K. Alder.
• Swedish Chemist, Ka.Aurivillius.
• English Chemist, F. Abel.

I hope this article will be helpful for you all to understand the basics of chemistry, its branches, importance, and famous books & chemists of all times. Try to read the refer books above for more knowledge, those are really worth reading.