welcome to Chemistry concept building
Concept Developed by Tufail Idris
- Chemistry is the scientific study of the composition, properties, and interactions/transformations of matter.
- Chemistry “Studies” anything which has mass and occupies space (i.e., Matter) like atoms, molecules.
- Chemistry “Explores” compositions of matter, arrangement/structure of constituent particles in the matter and the properties (Physical and chemical behaviours) of the matter.
- The core concept/aspect of chemistry is transformation of matter during a Physical change (change in states of matter) and chemical change (formation of new substances) and investigation of energy changes (absorption/release of energy) during a chemical reaction.
- Chemistry is sometimes referred to as the “Central Science” due to its interconnectedness with a vast array of other STEM disciplines (STEM stands for areas of study in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths fields) or it bridges with other scientific fields like Physics, Biology, Geology and Environmental Science etc.
Q.1. Why should we study Chemistry/What is Chemistry?
You may be studying chemistry because it fulfills an academic requirement, but if you consider your daily activities, you might find chemistry interesting for other reasons. Mathematics is the language of science, and we will use it to communicate some of the ideas of chemistry.
Most everything you do and encounter during your day involves chemistry. Making coffee, cooking eggs, and toasting bread involve chemistry. The products we use like soap and shampoo, the fabrics that we wear, the electronics that keep us connected to your world, the gasoline that propels our car, all of these and involve chemical substances and chemical processes. Hence, Chemistry is a part of our everyday world or day to day life. Chemistry is the scientific study of the composition, properties, and interactions/transformations of matter.
Chemistry “Studies” anything which has mass and occupies space (i.e., Matter) like atoms, molecules. Chemistry “Explores” the compositions of matter, arrangement/structure of constituent particles in the matter and the properties (Physical and chemical behaviours) of the matter.
Credits
30
Time to Complete
1 sem
Chemistry is all about transformation of matter. Throughout human history,
- People have tried to convert matter into more useful forms. Our Stone Age ancestors chipped pieces of flint into useful tools and carved wood into statues and toys. These endeavors involved changing the shape of a substance without changing the substance itself.
- As our knowledge increased, humans began to change the composition of the substances as well—clay was converted into pottery, hides were cured to make garments, copper ores were transformed into copper tools and weapons, and grain was made into bread.
- Humans began to practice chemistry when they learned to control fire and use it to cook, make pottery, and smelt metals. Subsequently, they began to separate and use specific components of matter. A variety of drugs such as aloe and opium were isolated from plants. Dyes, such as indigo and were extracted from plant and animal. Metals were combined to form alloys—for example, copper and tin were mixed together to make brass—and more elaborate smelting techniques produced iron. Alcohol was produced by fermentation and purified by distillation.
Credits
30
Time to Complete
1 sem
Q.2. What is Alchemy?
Ans- Attempts to understand the behavior of matter extend back to 2500 years. As early as the sixth century BC, Greek philosophers discussed a system in which water was the basis of all things. Greek postulated that matter consists of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Alchemy is a combination of Philosophy and Science.
- Before 1700, study of matter to manipulate or transmutate (change) matter is termed as “Alchemy” and was practised in Egypt, China, Arabia and Europe. The practitioners of Alchemy was called Alchemist (Robert Boyle and Newton was an alchemist).
- The alchemist thought that all matter was composed of different proportions of 4-basic elements-Earth, Air, Fire and Water and believed that if we change the relative proportion of these elements then we can change the substance. Alchemists developed techniques to transform “base metals” such as lead into “noble metals” like gold, and to create elixirs to cure disease and extend life.
The main goal of alchemy was to transmute base elements into gold, produce elixir of life that provides immortality to life and to understand the relationship between cosmos and earthly realm (Alchemy+Astrology). Alchemist uses symbol to represent substances, communicate ideas and maintain secrecy of alchemical knowledge and preventing its sharing to others.
Credits
30
Time to Complete
1 sem
Q.3. Is there any relation between Alchemy and modern Chemistry?
Ans- Alchemy is the precursor of Modern Chemistry. Alchemy began to fully evolve into chemistry in the 17th century. It contributed to the development of chemistry by exploring the nature of matter and experimenting with chemical reactions.
- Alchemists laid the foundation stone/groundwork for many chemical processes, such as the refining of ores, the production of gunpowder, the manufacture of glass and ceramics, leather tanning, and the production of inks, dyes, and paints.
- Alchemists made the first attempts at organizing and classifying substances so that they could better understand their reactions and be able to predict the products of their experiments. This eventually led to the modern periodic table.
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Q.3. Who is known as Father of Chemistry/Modern Chemistry & why?
Ans- Antony Laviosor is regarded as or known as the “Father of Modern Chemistry“. Lavoisier was born in Paris in 1743. Being the son of a wealthy Parisian lawyer, he followed in his father’s footsteps and earned a law degree. However, despite his law degree, his true passion was science. He was elected to the Academy of Sciences, France’s most elite scientific body, in 1768, at the age of 25. Lavoisier’s groundbreaking contributions that laid the foundation for modern chemistry is as follow:
- In 1778 He disproved the outdated phlogiston theory, which claimed that a fire-like substance was released during combustion. Instead, he identified oxygen as the key element in combustion and respiration.
- When Antoine Lavoisier found that mass is never created nor destroyed in chemical reactions, he formulated the Law of Conservation of Mass in 1789. The Law of Conservation of Mass, proved that matter is neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions. This principle became the cornerstone of modern chemistry and introduced a new level of precision to scientific research.
- Antoine Lavoisier classified Elements as Metals or Non-metals in 1789.
- Lavoisier developed a system of chemical nomenclature. By replacing alchemical terms with logical, standardized names, he enabled scientists to communicate their findings clearly.
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