Chemical science

Chemical Science is a branch of physical science that studies the composition, structure, properties and change of matter. It involves elements and compounds composed of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during a reaction with other substances.

History of Chemical Science

The history of chemistry represents a time span from ancient history to the present. 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 making alloys like bronze.

Branches of Chemical Science

Chemical Science is divided into several branches. These include:

• Analytical chemistry: The study of the chemical composition and structure of materials.
• Biochemistry: The study of the chemical reactions occurring in biological organisms.
• Inorganic chemistry: The study of the properties and behaviors of inorganic compounds.
• Organic chemistry: The study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds that contain carbon atoms.
• Physical chemistry: The study of the physical and fundamental basis of chemical systems and processes.

Chemical Reactions

In a chemical reaction, the bonds between atoms are broken and new ones are formed. This results in one or more new substances, often with properties different from the original substances. Chemical reactions are described with chemical equations, which symbolically present the starting materials, end products, and sometimes intermediate products and reaction conditions.

Chemical Bonds

A chemical bond is a lasting attraction between atoms, ions or molecules that enables the formation of chemical compounds. The bond may result from the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions as in ionic bonds or through the sharing of electrons as in covalent bonds.

See Also

• Chemical compound
• Chemical element
• Chemical formula
• Chemical substance