What Are the 5 Branches of Chemistry?

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide Question: What Are the 5 Branches of Chemistry? Here is a list of the 5 main branches of chemistry, along with an explanation of what each of the branches studies. Answer: There are many branches of chemistry or chemistry disciplines. The 5 main major branches of chemistry are considered to be organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry.
Overview of the 5 Branches of Chemistry

Organic Chemistry - the study of carbon and its compounds; the study of the chemistry of life. Inorganic Chemistry - the study of compounds not-covered by organic chemistry; the study of inorganic compounds or compounds which do not contain a C-H bond. Many inorganic compounds are those which contain metals. Analytical Chemistry - the study of the chemistry of matter and the development of tools used to measure properties of matter. Physical Chemistry - the branch of chemistry that applies physics to the study of chemistry. Commonly this includes the applications of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics to chemistry. Biohemistry - the study of chemical processes that occur inside of living organisms.

chemistry
chemistry, branch of science concerned with the properties, composition, and structure of substances and the changes they undergo when they combine or react under specified conditions.

Branches of Chemistry
Chemistry can be divided into branches according to either the substances studied or the types of study conducted. The primary division of the first type is between inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. Divisions of the second type are physical chemistry and analytical chemistry. The original distinction between organic and inorganic chemistry arose as chemists gradually realized that compounds of biological origin were quite different in their general properties from those of mineral origin; organic chemistry was defined as the study of substances produced by living organisms. However, when it was discovered in the 19th cent. that organic molecules can be produced artificially in the laboratory, this definition had to be abandoned. Organic chemistry. is most simply defined as the study of the compounds of carbon. Inorganic chemistry. is the study of chemical elements and their compounds (with the exception of carbon compounds).

Physical chemistry. is concerned with the physical properties of materials, such as their electrical and magnetic behavior and their interaction with electromagnetic fields. Subcategories within physical chemistry are thermochemistry, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics. Thermochemistry is the investigation of the changes in energy and entropy that occur during chemical reactions and phase transformations (see states of matter). Electrochemistry concerns the effects of electricity on chemical changes and interconversions of electric and chemical energy such as that in a voltaic cell. Chemical kinetics is concerned with the details of chemical reactions and of how equilibrium is reached between the products and reactants. Analytical chemistry. is a collection of techniques that allows exact laboratory determination of the composition of a given sample of material. In qualitative analysis all the atoms and molecules present are identified, with particular attention to trace elements. In quantitative analysis the exact weight of each constituent is obtained as well. Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the weights of the chemicals participating in chemical reactions. See also chemical analysis.

History of Chemistry
The earliest practical knowledge of chemistry was concerned with metallurgy, pottery, and dyes; these crafts were developed with considerable skill, but with no understanding of the principles involved, as early as 3500 B.C. in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The basic ideas of element and compound were first formulated by the Greek philosophers during the period from 500 to 300 B.C. Opinion varied, but it was generally believed that four elements (fire, air, water, and earth) combined to form all things. Aristotle's definition of a simple body as one into which other bodies can be decomposed and which itself is not capable of being divided is close to the modern definition of element. About the beginning of the Christian era in Alexandria, the ancient Egyptian industrial arts and Greek philosophical speculations were fused into a new science. The beginnings of chemistry, or alchemy, as it was first known, are mingled with occultism and magic. Interests of the period were the transmutation of base metals into gold, the imitation of precious gems, and the search for the elixir of life, thought to grant immortality. Muslim conquests in the 7th cent. A.D. diffused the remains of Hellenistic civilization to the Arab world. The first chemical treatises to become well known in Europe were Latin translations of Arabic works, made in Spain c.A.D. 1100; hence it is often erroneously supposed that chemistry originated among the Arabs. Alchemy developed extensively during the Middle Ages, cultivated largely by itinerant scholars who wandered over Europe looking for patrons.
Evolution of Modern Chemistry

In the hands of the Oxford Chemists (Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, and John Mayow) chemistry began to emerge as distinct from the pseudoscience of alchemy. Boyle (162791) is often called the founder of modern chemistry (an honor sometimes also given Antoine Lavoisier, 174394). He performed experiments under reduced pressure, using an air pump, and discovered that volume and pressure are inversely related in gases (see gas laws). Hooke gave the first

rational explanation of combustionas combination with airwhile Mayow studied animal respiration. Even as the English chemists were moving toward the correct theory of combustion, two Germans, J. J. Becher and G. E. Stahl, introduced the false phlogiston theory of combustion, which held that the substance phlogiston is contained in all combustible bodies and escapes when the bodies burn. The discovery of various gases and the analysis of air as a mixture of gases occurred during the phlogiston period. Carbon dioxide, first described by J. B. van Helmont and rediscovered by Joseph Black in 1754, was originally called fixed air. Hydrogen, discovered by Boyle and carefully studied by Henry Cavendish, was called inflammable air and was sometimes identified with phlogiston itself. Cavendish also showed that the explosion of hydrogen and oxygen produces water. C. W. Scheele found that air is composed of two fluids, only one of which supports combustion. He was the first to obtain pure oxygen (177173), although he did not recognize it as an element. Joseph Priestley independently discovered oxygen by heating the red oxide of mercury with a burning glass; he was the last great defender of the phlogiston theory. The work of Priestley, Black, and Cavendish was radically reinterpreted by Lavoisier, who did for chemistry what Newton had done for physics a century before. He made no important new discoveries of his own; rather, he was a theoretician. He recognized the true nature of combustion, introduced a new chemical nomenclature, and wrote the first modern chemistry textbook. He erroneously believed that all acids contain oxygen.
Impact of the Atomic Theory

The assumption that compounds were of definite composition was implicit in 18th-century chemistry. J. L. Proust formally stated the law of constant proportions in 1797. C. L. Berthollet opposed this law, holding that composition depended on the method of preparation. The issue was resolved in favor of Proust by John Dalton's atomic theory (1808). The atomic theory goes back to the Greeks, but it did not prove fruitful in chemistry until Dalton ascribed relative weights to the atoms of chemical elements. Electrochemical theories of chemical combinations were developed by Humphry Davy and J. J. Berzelius. Davy discovered the alkali metals by passing an electric current through their molten oxides. Michael Faraday discovered that a definite quantity of charge must flow in order to deposit a given weight of material in solution. Amedeo Avogadro introduced the hypothesis that equal volumes of gases at the same pressure and temperature contain the same number of molecules. William Prout suggested that as all elements seemed to have atomic weights that were multiples of the atomic weight of hydrogen, they could all be in some way different combinations of hydrogen atoms. This contributed to the concept of the periodic table of the elements, the culmination of a long effort to find regular, systematic properties among the elements. Periodic laws were put forward almost simultaneously and independently by J. L. Meyer in Germany and D. I. Mendeleev in Russia (1869). An early triumph of the new theory was the discovery of new elements that fit the empty spaces in the table. William Ramsay's discovery, in collaboration with Lord Rayleigh, of argon and other inert gases in the atmosphere extended the periodic table

Organic Chemistry and the Modern Era

Organic chemistry developed extensively in the 19th cent., prompted in part by Friedrich Wohler's synthesis of urea (1828), which disproved the belief that only living organisms could produce organic molecules. Other important organic chemists include Justus von Liebig, C. A. Wurtz, and J. B. Dumas. In 1852 Edward Frankland introduced the idea of valency (see valence), and in 1858 F. A. Kekule showed that carbon atoms are tetravalent and are linked together in chains. Kekule's ring structure for benzene opened the way to modern theories of organic chemistry. Henri Louis Le Chtelier, J. H. van't Hoff, and Wilhelm Ostwald pioneered the application of thermodynamics to chemistry. Further contributions were the phase rule of J. W. Gibbs, the ionization equilibrium theory of S. A. Arrhenius, and the heat theorem of Walther Nernst. Ernst Fischer's work on the amino acids marks the beginning of molecular biology. At the end of the 19th cent., the discovery of the electron by J. J. Thomson and of radioactivity by A. E. Becquerel revealed the close connection between chemistry and physics. The work of Ernest Rutherford, H. G. J. Moseley, and Niels Bohr on atomic structure (see atom) was applied to molecular structures. G. N. Lewis, Irving Langmuir, and Linus Pauling developed the electronic theory of chemical bonds, directed valency, and molecular orbitals (see molecular orbital theory). Transmutation of the elements, first achieved by Rutherford, has led to the creation of elements not found in nature; in work pioneered by Glenn Seaborg elements heavier than uranium have been produced. With the rapid development of polymer chemistry after World War II a host of new synthetic fibers and materials have been added to the market. A fuller understanding of the relation between the structure of molecules and their properties has allowed chemists to tailor predictively new materials to meet specific needs.

Bibliography
See I. Asimov, A Short History of Chemistry (1965); D. A. McQuarrie and P. A. Rock, General Chemistry (1984); L. Pauling, General Chemistry (3d ed. 1991); R. C. Weast, ed., CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (published annually).

Chemistry
Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the properties, composition and the structure of matter. It also deals with chemical reactions, changes in matter, and the principles which govern these changes. Lighting a fire, making ice cream, and riding in a hot air balloon all deal with chemistry. Below are the 6 MAIN Branches of chemistry.... but there are many sub-branches 1. Organic chemistry - the study of most carbon-containing compounds. 2. Inorganic chemistry - the study of all substances not classified as organic, mainly those compounds that do not contain carbon.

3. Physical chemistry - the study of the properties and changes of matter and their relation to energy. 4. Analytical chemistry - the identification of the components and composition of materials. 5. Biochemistry - the study of substances and processes occurring in living things. 6. Theoretical chemistry - the use of mathematics and computers to understand the principles behind observed chemical behavior and to design and predict the properties of new compounds. Examples of sub-branches include geochemistry and electro-analytical chemistry.

organic chemistry- the study of carbon and its compounds inorganic chemistry-the study of all the properties and characteristics of other elements. analytical chemistry-the analysis and identification of substance physical chemistry-the study of laws and principles govering physical and chemical changes biochemistry-the study of materials found in living organism

What Are the Branches of Chemistry

By: Jennifer Flaten

The branches of chemistry break down the broad study of matter into several subfields. The general principals of chemistry remain the same, whether you're looking at general chemistry theories or a specific subfield. Chemistry is about understanding the structure and composition of matter. Chemists use atoms, molecules and crystals to explore the various chemical reactions that change matter. Subfields allow intense study in particular areas and offer specific career opportunities. The major branches of chemistry include the following: Organic Chemistry: This branch deals only with organic matter that contains carbon and hydrogen. The study of organic chemistry gives us an idea of the structure, properties and compositions of the natural world. Industries that use organic chemistry include petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and textiles. Inorganic Chemistry: This branch looks at substances that do not contain carbon, such as minerals, to determine how they can be used and how they change in different situations . Industries that employ inorganic chemistry include nuclear science and energy. Physical Chemistry: This is the study of atoms and subatomic particles of matter. Here chemists test theories about the behavior of substances and the nature of chemical bonds. Physical chemistry provides the basis for every other branch of chemistry.

This field has several subfields, including thermodynamics, quantum chemistry and kinetics. Most of the research is conducted at universities, and the results of that research can be applied to many different industries. Biochemistry: In this science, the chemical process of living organisms is analyzed. Proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids are examined to learn how they interact or form cells. Organic and physical chemistry are used to map out the matter that makes up living organisms. Industries that use biochemistry are biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Analytical Chemistry: This branch looks at the chemical makeup of natural and artificial materials. Chemicals that are found in natural and man-made substances are analyzed to understand how they work together to form compounds. Analytical chemistry is used in many fields, including food safety, manufacturing and ph armaceuticals.

Different Branches Of Chemistry

Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 5:06 am

Chemistry has been divided into a number of different branches. They are generally recognised as Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Geochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry. While they may be positioned a being quite separate there is significant overlap between them and between the other different branches of chemistry. The following is a basic description of the different branches of chemistry: Analytical Chemistry The collection of techniques and methods used to gain an understanding of the chemical composition and structure of materials. Qualitative and quantitative methods are two of the more basic methods used in this discipline. The methods can be used in all the other branches of chemistry. Biochemistry The chemistry of life-processes and living organisms.Biochemistry and organic chemistry are closely related.Biochemists focus on the structures of biological molecules and their physical properties.Common biological molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Inorganic Chemistry The study of reactions and properties of compunds which do not contain hydrocarbons carbon and hydrogen and which are not organic. Organic Chemistry The study of compounds consisting primarily of hydrocarbons which provide the primary material of all organic compounds. Hundreds of thousands of carbon-based molecules exist becuase carbon atoms are able to form long branched chains and rings. Because they make up the majority of compounds in living organisms organic compounds are of special importance. They form coal and oil. Some of the most studied organic compounds are those that

contain nitrogen. This is because These have importance because they are linked to amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins and life. Physical Chemistry Physical Chemistry deals with the application of physical laws to chemical change and chemical systems. There are several subcategories of physical chemistry, including chemical kinetics, electrochemistry and thermodynamics. The later is widely studied and deals with the role of energy in chemical reactions. Chemical kinetics is concerned with mechanisms and rates of reactions. Electrochemistry is concerned with the effects of electricity on chemical changes as well of the conversion of chemical to electrical energy and vise versa. Nuclear Chemistry The study of the chemical effects of high energy radiation and the behaviour of radio-active isotopes. These are atoms of the same element that vary in the number of neutrons they contain. Geochemistry The chemistry ( and physics) of processes taking place in the earth. Examples are the formation of petroleum, the metamophosis of rocks and mineral formation.

Different Branches Of Chemistry

Chemistry is generally divided into two broad different branches of chemistry: organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Other types of chemistry include physical chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry, with each field branching off into several specific subfields. Heres a brief description of the most common: Organic Chemistry -Organic Chemistry has to do with the study of compounds that contain carbon (and sometimes hydrogen). Even though carbon is only the fourteenth most common element on the planet, it produces the greatest number of different compounds on Earth. Not surprisingly then, much of the study of chemistry involves organic chemistry. The most studied groups of organic compounds are those that contain nitrogen. These organic compounds are important because they are often linked to the amino group. When the amino group combines with the carboxyl group, amino acids are born. Amino acids are important because they are as the building blocks of proteins. Inorganic Chemistry -Inorganic chemistry involves the study the properties and reactions of compounds that do not contain carbon and which are not organic. Inorganic chemistry studies all non-living matter, such as minerals found in the Earth crust. There are many branches of inorganic chemistry, including geochemistry, nuclear science, coordination chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry. There is much overlap between organic and inorganic chemistry. For instance, organometallic chemistry studies the use of compounds that are capable of creating a covalent bond between carbon and metal.

Physical Chemistry -As its name implies, physical chemistry has to do with the physical properties of materials. Physical properties that are studied may include the electrical and magnetic behavior of materials, as well as their interaction with electromagnetic fields. There are several subcategories of physical chemistry. These include thermochemistry, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics. Thermochemistry studies the changes of entropy and energy that naturally occur during chemical reactions. Electrochemistry is concerned with the study of interconversions of electric and chemical energy of matter, as well as the effects of electricity on chemical changes. Chemical kinetics involves the study of chemical reactions. Specifically, chemical kinetics studies the equilibrium it reached between products and their reactants. Biochemistry- Biochemistry is a branch of chemistry concerned with the composition and changes of living matter. Biochemists commonly focus on the physical properties and structures of biological molecules. Common biological molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Biochemistry is sometimes referred to as physiological chemistry and biological chemistry. Biophysics, molecular biology, and cell biology are research fields closely related to biochemistry. Analytical Chemistry- Unlike the other main types of chemistry, analytical chemistry doesnt deal specifically with specific elements. Analytical chemistry is concerned mainly with the various techniques and laboratory methods used to determine the composition of materials. Qualitative and quantitative analysis are the two most basic methods used in analytical chemistry. Qualitative analysis has to do with identifying all the atoms and molecules in a sample of matter, with attention paid to trace elements. Quantitative analysis also involves determining the atomical and molecular structure of matter, but includes also measuring the exact weight of each chemical constituent. http://www.chemistrytalk.com is where you can get chemistry help, read our chemistry articles and check out our selection of chemistry lab equipment resources.

Different Branches of Chemistry

Chemistry, a study of the fundamental units of matter, is subdivided into branches that deal with specialized spheres of chemistry. Let us look at the different branches of chemistry.

Chemistry is the science that deals with the structure and composition of matter and the chemical reactions that are responsible for changing the state and properties of matter. Chemistry is the science of atoms, molecules, crystals and other aggregates of matter and the chemical processes that change their energy and entropy levels as also their structure and composition. Chemistry has been subdivided into distinct disciplines that deal with specific branches of chemistry. The different branches deal with different aspects of the study of matter. Take a look at them.

Organic Chemistry: This branch of chemistry deals with the study of the organic matter. The substances that primarily consist of carbon and hydrogen are termed as organic. The discipline that deals with the study of the structure, composition and the chemical properties of organic compounds is known as organic chemistry. This branch also deals with the chemical reactions that are used in the preparation of organic chemical compounds. Inorganic Chemistry: It is the branch of chemistry that relates to the structure, composition and behavior of inorganic compounds. All the substances other than the carbon-hydrogen compounds are classified under the group of inorganic substances. Oxides, sulfides and carbonates form the important classes of inorganic compounds. Industrial inorganic chemistry deals with the branch of applied science such as the manufacture of fertilizers, while the descriptive inorganic chemistry deals with the classification of compounds based on their properties. Analytical Chemistry: This is a very important branch of chemistry that deals with the analysis of the chemical properties of natural and man-made materials. The study does not restrict itself to any particular type of chemical compounds. Instrumental analysis is a prominent part of modern analytical chemistry. Analytical chemistry primarily deals with the study of the chemicals present in a substance, in what quantity they are, and how they define the chemical properties of the substance. Physical Chemistry: This branch of chemistry applies the theories of physics to atoms and subatomic particles. When physical chemistry is applied to the chemical interaction between atoms and subatomic particles, the study is known by the name, quantum mechanics. It is a relatively vast field that deals with intermolecular forces, rates of chemical reactions as well the conductivity of different materials. Biochemistry: This discipline of chemistry represents a peep of biology into chemistry. It deals with the structure and behavior of the components of cells and the chemical processes in living beings. The complex and large biomolecules are usually composed of similar units that repeat. The complex molecules are known as polymers and the basic units they are composed of, are known as monomers. Biochemistry deals with the study of cellular constituents like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids as also the chemical processes that occur in cells. Nuclear Chemistry: It is a popular and one of the very important branches of chemistry that studies radioactivity. It revolves around the study of the nuclear properties of and the chemical processes in radioactive substances. This branch also covers the study of the equipment used for the performance of nuclear processes. The effects of the absorption of radiation, the production and use of radioactive materials and radiotherapy come under this branch of chemistry. Nuclear chemistry also deals with the non-radioactive areas of life. Chemistry is a very vast subject as it delves into the enormity of the universe. While dealing with the study of the structure and behavior of matter, it makes an attempt to encompass the study of the fundamental units that make up the universe. By Manali Oak