Chapter 1

Chemistry: An Introduction
CHY 105: Fundamentals of
Chemistry
Chapter Outline
Chemistry defined
Examples of chemistry in everyday life
Chemistry in context
The natural sciences
Branches of chemistry
Chemistry in history
Methods of science
Basic vs. applied science
Public vs. private funding
Chemistry
Chemistry study of the matter (materials)
of the universe and the changes that this
matter undergoes
Matter anything that has mass and occupies
space
Examples of matter and non-matter
Chemistry
What chemists study about the matter:
Composition
Structure
Properties
Related to composition and structure
Chemical changes the matter will undergo
Relationship between the matter and:
The environment
Human health

Chemistry and Everyday Life
Better (?) living through chemistry
Wrinkle-free cotton
Dr. Ruth Benerito
CFCs and the ozone layer
Lead paint



Chemistry in Context
Natural Sciences
Physical Sciences
Study of matter and
How energy affects
matter
Biological Sciences
Study of living
organisms
Chemistry in Context
Physical Sciences

Biological Sciences
Branches of Chemistry
Inorganic
Study of matter this is primarily of mineral
(non-living origin)
Organic
Study of carbon containing compounds
Once believed that all carbon containing
compounds were of living origin
Branches of Chemistry
Analytical
Study of matter to determine the identity and
quantity of its components
Forensic chemistry is a sub-branch
Physical
Study of the structure of matter and the
influence of energy on matter
Materials chemistry is a sub-branch
Kevlar Inventor Joins Women's
Hall of Fame

Chemical Week, October 8, 2003 Retired DuPont
scientist Stephanie Kwolek, whose research led to the
discovery of Kevlar aramid fiber, was inducted into the
National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY,
on October 4. Kwolek joined DuPont in 1946 as
laboratory chemist in Buffalo, NY and spent 40 years
with the company, mostly at its experimental station at
Wilmington, DE. DuPont says nearly 3,000 law
enforcement officers have survived potentially fatal or
disabling injuries because they were wearing body
armor made from aramid fiber. All U.S. combat soldiers
have worn Kevlar helmets since the 1991 Gulf War, it
says.

Branches of Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Study of pollutants to identify their sources, to
determine the quantities present , and to
discover ways to address the issues
associated with them

Often considered a branch of _____________
Branches of Chemistry
Biochemistry
Study of reactions that take place in living
organisms
Links the biological and physical sciences
Branch of science most important to the medical
sciences
History of Chemistry
Metals
Gold, copper (3000 BCE), bronze (copper/tin
alloy, 2000 BCE), iron (1500 BCE)
History of Chemistry
Chemical Arts
Pottery
Ceramics
Dyes
Embalming techniques
Perfumes
Brewing of alcoholic beverages
History of Chemistry
Greek Philosophers, ~400 300 BCE
First to speculate about the nature of matter
Proposed that all matter is composed of 4
elements
Air, earth, fire, water
Aristotle added a 5
th
element
Ether to glow

History of Chemistry
Greek Philosophers, ~400 300 BCE
Democritus proposed an alternate explanation
of the matter of the universe
All matter is composed of tiny indivisible particles
called atomus
theory not well supported by Aristotle
Therefore, Democritus theory was not widely
accepted at the time
History of Chemistry
Alchemy - Two pursuits
1. Search for a means to convert base metals
into gold
2. Search for the elixir of life
Substance that would lead to immortality

History of Chemistry
Advances from Alchemy
Many new substances where identified
Plaster of Paris, nitric acid.
New lab techniques and equipment
developed
New medicines identified
History of Chemistry
Modern Chemistry, ~1600 on
First to use scientific method
Methodical approach to problem solving
Based on hypothesis testing



Modern Chemistry, ~1600 on

Boyle (1600s)
Studied the affect of pressure on the volume of
gases
Priestly (1700s)
Among other things, first to discover and study the
properties of oxygen
Came to US to avoid religious persecution
Some give Schele in Sweden credit for discovering
oxygen


Modern Chemistry

Lavoisier (mid/late 1700s)
Called the father of modern chemistry
Proposed the law of conservation of matter
matter can neither be created nor destoyed


Modern Chemistry

John Dalton (1800s)
Proposed atomic theory
Marie and Pierre Curie (1890 -1900s)
First to study radioactivity
Identified several new radioactive elements
Polonium and radium
Neils Bohr (1900)
Proposed theory of atomic structure



The Curies Niels Bohr

Scientific Method
Make observations
Observations must be recordable and
repeatable
Observations may be:
Quantitative
or
Qualitative

Scientific Method
Develop hypotheses to explain the
observations
Hypothesis tentative explanation of the
observations

Scientific Method
Perform Experiments
Make predictions based on the hypothesis
If the hypothesis is truewhat else will be true
Test accuracy of the prediction
Repeat for all hypotheses

Experiments often lead to new observations
and more hypotheses to test


Scientific Method
Analyze results and share findings and
conclusions
Publish results in journals
Present findings at conferences..

Public versus Private Research


Natural Laws and Theories
From scientific research come theories
and laws
Theory (also called a model) - explanation of
observed behavior based on significant data

Natural Law - statement/summary of
observed behavior
Law of conservation of matter

Types of Scientific Research
Basic research
scientific research for the sake of knowledge,
no immediate application in mind.
Applied research
scientific research with the short-term goal of
solving a specific problem
begin the research with an application in mind.
Chapter 1 Questions
#9 and #13 on page 13