Introduction to Science and its Branch – Chemistry: Science, as a subject, has not only fascinated many in the past, but several have taken up stringent efforts to unleash its mysteries and secrets over the years. Science can also be viewed as the effort of humans to understand and describe nature and naturally occurring phenomena. Science is something that we face in every minute of every second of our day, from the food we eat to our digestive system to the lights and fans and anything and everything surrounding us.

In order to make it easier for the learners and also to systematise the things that come under science, it is divided into many sub-groups, and the primary amongst them are Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, which is again sub-divided into botany and zoology. There are other disciplines such as geology, astronomy and so on, which are again a combination of or parts of one science or another. Chemistry, as a sub-division of science, according to Roald Hoffmann is “the science of molecules and their transformations”. He further went on to specify that Chemistry just is not the study of the one hundred-odd elements, but it is the quest for the way they are combined to make a variety of molecules from them.

Chemistry and its Development

According to experts, Chemistry as a part of science was not studied individually but rather to explore two very interesting things:
a. Philosopher’s stone or Paras, which was believed to have converted the base metals such as iron and copper to Gold.
b. Eliexir of life, again a belief wherein it would have given the person immortality.

In India, the land of Ayurveda and natural medicines, there were many who understood and had knowledge of the natural phenomenon way before the scientific theories were put forth. They not just used it in various forms in their lives but had written about them too.

In other parts of the world, Chemistry as a science developed in the form of Alchemy and Iatrochemistry during \({\rm{1300 – 1600}}\,\,{\rm{CE}}\). People practising or searching for the knowledge of Chemistry were called the ‘alchemist’ a term which actually means a person is developing something magical. Modern Chemistry started taking shape in the \({\rm{18th}}\) century, in Europe, when the Arabs brought some of their alchemical traditions to the continent.

Other cultures around the world, such as India and Chinese, had their own alchemical traditions, which were much more advanced even then, although they were never recorded. According to Indian traditions, Chemistry was known as the ‘Rasayan Shastra’ or the Ras kriya or Ras Vidya and involved experiments or practices based upon metallurgy, medicine, preparations of cosmetics, dyes, glass, and many more. There is enough evidence in the excavations carried out in Mohenjodaro in Sindh and Harappa in Punjab, which proves that the alchemical traditions were much advanced in their times. Items such as baked bricks, glazed pottery, gypsum cement, etc., are some of the evidence unearthed to prove the claim.

There is also other evidence, such as the use of copper metallurgy by the chalcolithic cultures and the use of Iron during a similar period. Similarly, the Rigveda also talks about the tanning of leather in \({\rm{1000 – 400 BCE}}\). There are some old alchemical traditions, such as the golden gloss of the black polished ware of northern India which remains a mystery to date.

Again, the use of golden coins, utensils, terracotta discs and so on, and the preparation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid by the ancient Indians as mentioned by Charaka Samhita also gives enough proof of the fact that the ancient Indians had advanced quite a bit in their findings. There are also mentions of the importance of alkalis in Susruta Samhita. So, the science of chemistry with its mysteries have been slowly unravelling for centuries, both in the Indian subcontinent and in other parts of the world.

Chemistry and its Importance

When it comes to Chemistry, it is specified as the science of atoms and molecules. This is because Chemistry is basically a science that studied intricately the matter, whatever it may be, and also researches upon what it is made up of, the atoms and molecules that make up the matter.
Chemistry, therefore, plays a very vital and central role in Science and is intertwined with other sciences. The principles of Chemistry are applied to various areas such as:
1. Weather patterns
2. Functioning of the brain
3. Computer operations
4. Production of chemicals in chemical industries
5. Manufacturing fertilizers and other chemicals such as acids, salts, etc.
6. Polymers and their science
7. Manufacture of soaps, detergents, toothpaste and many more.
8. Alloys and their science

The list is never-ending and the principles are applied everywhere, from the purification of the water to controlling air pollution and preparation of medicines too. Not only does Chemistry is a significant part of manufacturing, but it is also a part of the food we eat. The large-scale production of fertilisers and insecticides are done to meet up with the human need for food. The use of these has improved the production of food for humans and also our ability to produce anything from the soil, provided they are given the correct nutrients. Again here, studying the nutrients in not just the soil, but in our body and analysing its requirement is also one of the biggest achievements of Chemistry.

Chemistry has also helped largely in the manufacturing of life-saving drugs and antibiotics. Many of these drugs such as taxol and cisplatin, for example, are derived from their natural sources and used as life-saving medicines in cancer therapy. The growth of the chemical industry and the in-depth knowledge of Chemistry are a part and parcel of a nation’s growth. A better understanding of Chemistry has helped nations build a solid infrastructure in terms of introducing new materials such as superconducting polymers, optic fibres, etc., which are very much a part of today’s world of electronics and computers. With the industries coming up to produce these and much more, Chemistry and chemical industries generate employments in several areas too.

Over the last few years, the world is working towards reducing pollution and minimising the effect of greenhouse gases, pollutants and also global warming. Safer alternatives for refrigerants such as CFCs which cause the greenhouse effect and others have been synthesised with the help of chemical principles.
Similarly, Chemistry is extensively used to produce bio-polymers and other green alternatives to minimize the effect of pollution on Earth.

Types of Chemistry

While Chemistry is a part of Science, there are several types or branches of Chemistry and each deal with different principles or parts of Chemistry.

• Inorganic Chemistry – Study of periodic table, its elements, molecules and compounds formed by them, types of bonds in them, and many more.
• Organic Chemistry – Study of organic compounds or carbon containing compounds and their structures, reactions, etc.
• Physical Chemistry – It deals with basic principles of physics involved in chemical interactions.
• Analytical Chemistry – Study of analysing and processing information on composition of compounds and molecules and getting a detailed information about them.
• Biochemistry – Study of chemical components in nature or biological processes at molecular level.

Summary

There are several branches of science, and the primary ones amongst them are Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Chemistry is the study of chemicals, elements and molecules and their interactions with each other. Chemistry and its principles have evolved over the centuries all around the world. While modern Chemistry is said to have originated in the \({\rm{18th}}\) century in Europe, there is evidence to prove that Indians have been using it for several centuries, way up to the time of Rigveda. There are many artefacts that have been unearthed from ancient excavations, which show the use of alchemy principles to generate surprising outcomes. Chemistry, as a branch of Science, is extremely important since it is used in the manufacturing of life-saving drugs, food, other commodities that we use and also is useful in understanding the interactions in the brain. There are several branches in Chemistry, including Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry.

FAQs

Q.1. What are the 5 branches of Chemistry?
Ans: The five branches of Chemistry are physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Q.2. Why is Chemistry so important?
Ans: Chemistry, as a branch of Science is extremely important since it is used in the manufacturing of life-saving drugs, food, other commodities that we use and also is useful in understanding the interactions in the brain.

Q.3. What is Chemistry and its uses?
Ans: Chemistry is a branch of science that studies atoms and molecules and their interactions with each other. It is extremely useful in the manufacturing of essential commodities, food production and many more.

Q.4. Does Chemistry improve your life?
Ans: Yes, Chemistry has improved our lives to a greater extent. It has taught the use of nutrients to improve food production, given life-saving drugs and other essential items and knowledge that we apply in our lives every day.

Q.5. Where did modern Chemistry originate?
Ans: Modern Chemistry is said to have originated in the \({\rm{1}}{{\rm{8}}^{{\rm{th}}}}\) century in Europe.

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