What is chemistry?

Chemistry – what is it?

Any dictionary contains a simple answer to the question posed in the title of this article. What is chemistry? The definition is as follows: it is the science of the structure and properties of various substances and the transformation of one substance into another. Chemistry belongs to the group of so-called natural sciences, which also includes biology, physics, and astronomy.

Chemistry is divided into two main areas: organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. The first of these sciences includes research on compounds containing carbon. Inorganic chemistry, on the other hand, applies to all other compounds in which there are no carbon bonds.

Chemistry and physical chemistry

Chemistry is one of the many sciences that are still developing. At the turn of the century, various fields of science, such as physical chemistry, emerged. This science, also called physicochemistry, combines elements of knowledge about the chemical and physical properties of various substances. The essence of physical chemistry is an attempt to justify a chemical reaction using the theory of physics.

Physical chemistry includes: such sciences as:

• electrochemistry,
• thermodynamics,
• photochemistry,
• phonochemistry,
• radiation chemistry.

There are also several other types of physical chemistry, for example magnetochemistry. In this science, the analysis of the relationship between the magnetic properties and the chemical structure of a substance plays the key role. Physical chemistry also includes colloid chemistry, which deals with the study of colloidal systems (non-homogeneous suspensions).

What is analytical chemistry?

Analytical chemistry is an example of interdisciplinary chemistry, combining various fields of knowledge. As the name suggests, this science is mainly concerned with the analysis of various substances. Researchers involved in the development of analytical chemistry are constantly developing new methodologies of operation. The aim of their work is to better understand and refine the characteristics of various chemical compounds – both known and completely new ones.

Chemistry: knowledge derived from observation of the natural world

Since the dawn of time, people have carefully observed the world around them and the phenomena taking place in it. The observations resulted in the rise to the scientific discipline of chemistry. However, the definition of this science did not arise immediately. The first explorers of the world of organic and inorganic matter were ancient Egyptians and Greeks, among others. They were the first to explore issues related to the structure and properties of matter: solids, liquids and gases. Greek philosophers of nature in their works focused mainly on the study of the sources of pre-matter. As early as in the 5th century BC, the Ionian philosopher Leucippus created the concept of an atom in relation to pre-matter. His research was continued by Democritus of Abdera.

In ancient times, chemistry was closely related to medicine and cosmogony. Observations of the human body led the first researchers to revolutionary discoveries related to the structure and properties of substances. The current state of knowledge in the field of physics and chemistry was collected by Aristotle in the 4th century BCE. This Greek philosopher was the continuator of the thought of the first philosophers of nature.

In the 1st century CE, Pliny the Elder (a Roman writer) was the first to compile a collection of 37 volumes called The Natural History. His work contains the essence of ancient knowledge about phenomena occurring and substances present in the natural world. Individual volumes by Pliny cover medical, mineralogical and cosmological issues.

Chemistry and alchemy

In the following centuries, research on matter was expanded by, among others, Arabs – the creators of alchemy. To this day, it is considered one of the most fascinating sciences created by man. It was a discipline focused on the search for pre-matter. Alchemists (Jabir Ibn Hajian, Rhazes) combined elements of nature with elements of philosophy to find the essence of all things. The primary goal of their research was to find the ‘philosopher’s stone’ that would turn ordinary metal into a precious metal.

The meaning of the word ‘chemistry’ and the development of modern chemistry

Zosimos of Panopolis is considered to be the originator of the term ‘chemistry’. He was a Greek alchemist who lived in the 4th century CE. He was the first to use the word chymia in relation to the study of matter. The real renaissance and the beginnings of modern chemistry are in the 17th century and the research of the English philosopher, chemist and physicist Sir Robert Boyle. He was the author of the work titled ‘The Sceptical Chymist’, in which he questioned the assumptions of natural philosophers and proposed his own, simplified definition of the ‘element and introduced the method of quantitative research.

In the last half century, many researchers have contributed to the development of the science of chemistry. They are, among others:

• Carl Wilhelm Scheele, chemist and pharmacist of German-Swedish origin, pioneer of various methods of chemical analysis, who separated nitrogen, lactic acid, ethanedioic acid, and who obtained chlorine,
• Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist, studied the behaviour of heated substances and subjected combustion derivatives to quantitative analysis, and explained the essence of the combustion process;
• Joseph Priestley, English chemist, discoverer of oxygen and photosynthesis.

Of course, the list of names of scientists and researchers thanks to whom the state of our current chemical knowledge is so impressive, should be much longer. It is worth mentioning, for example, Alessandro Volta, Dmitri Mendeleev, and Maria Skłodowska-Curie.

Chemistry – a science with a wide range of practical applications

It would be hard to imagine the modern world without the achievements of generations of thousands of chemists. It is not without reason that it is said that chemistry heals, nourishes, defends and clothes. Discoveries in the field of chemistry find very wide practical applications. It is thanks to them that we live comfortably. Knowledge about the properties of the substance means that we are able to fight diseases, produce clothing, food, cleaning products and many other products necessary on a daily basis, such as:

• fuel,
• fertilisers,
• cosmetics,
• dyes, etc.

Examples of using chemistry in business

Along with the development of discoveries in the field of chemistry was the accompanying development of business and many profitable industries, without which modern world economies could not function. Chemical knowledge is widely used in many branches of heavy and light industry. Thanks to it, the construction industry, the fuel industry, the electrotechnical industry, as well as the energy-generation industry and the medical, pharmaceutical, and plastics industries are developing.

Chemistry today: new directions of development

The twenty-first century proves that chemists have not rested on their laurels. Scientists are still looking for answers to various questions about the properties of organic and inorganic matter. We are discovering new elements (currently the so-called transuranium elements), and research is underway on the use of chemistry in the power industry and the production of renewable fuels. Knowledge about the properties of elements also lays the foundations for many new technologies. These technologies enable recycling, the production of renewable raw materials, food, clothing and the elimination of pollutants from soils, the atmosphere, and waters.

References:

Bronisław Seyda, History of medicine in outline (Dzieje medycyny w zarysie), Warsaw 1977.
Halina Lichocka, History of Chemistry (Historia chemii), available at:
https://depot.ceon.pl/bitstream/handle/123456789/12455/historia%20chemii.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y