Main Branches of Chemistry

Although many would say that there are FIVE main branches of chemistry, namely: Physical,
Analytical, Biochemistry, Organic and Inorganic chemistry many would argue that the science of
chemistry actually links out to other branches or sub-branches that include Materials Chemistry,
Theoretical Chemistry, Macromolecular (Polymer) Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, Metallurgy,
Forensic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and more.
It is important to note that often sub-branches fall under one or more of the main branches of
chemistry.
Lets start by taking a look at the 5 main branches of chemistry and then delve deeper into
chemistrys many sub-branches:

Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study involving how we analyze the chemical components of samples.
How much caffeine is really in a cup of coffee? Are there drugs found in athletes urine samples?
What is the pH level of my swimming pool? Examples of areas using analytical chemistry include
forensic science, environmental science, and drug testing.
Analytical chemistry is divided into two main branches: qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Qualitative analysis employs methods/measurements to help determine the components of
substances. Quantitative analysis on the other hand, helps to identify how much of each component
is present in a substance.
Both types of analysis can be used to provide important information about an unidentified sample
and help to identify what the sample is.
For more detailed reading on analytical chemistry check out the helpful links below:
Analytical Chemistry - Definition, History, Applications and more
Analytical Chemistry and its many branches
Analytical Chemistry: Software, Journals & Publications, Lab Techniques, Lecture & Class

Notes

Careers in Analytical Chemistry

VIDEO: Analytical Chemistry 2.0 Audio book

Biochemistry

The study of life or more aptly put, of chemical processes in living organisms. Biochemists research
includes cancer and stem cell biology, infectious disease as well as membrane and structural biology
and spans molecular biology, genetics, mechanistic biochemistry, genomics, evolution and systems
biology.
Biochemistry, according to many scientists can also be explained as a discipline in which biological
phenomena are examined in chemical terms. Examples are digestion and cellular respiration.
For this reason biochemistry is also known as Chemical Biology or Biological Chemistry.
Under the main umbrella of biochemistry many new sub-branches have emerged that modern
chemists may specialize in solely. Some of these disciplines include:
1.
Enzymology (study of enzymes)
2.
Endocrinology (study of hormones)
3.
Clinical Biochemistry (study of diseases)
4.
Molecular Biochemistry (Study of Biomolecules and their functions).
There are also others like Pharmacological Biochemistry, Agricultural Biochemistry and more.
Click the informative links below to learn more about biochemistry:
Biochemistry - Definition, History, Applications and more
Biochemistry and its many branches
Biochemistry: Drugs and Medications, Journals & Publications, Lecture Notes & Labs
Chem4kids: Biochemistry
Careers in Biochemistry
What careers can I pursue with a degree in biochemistry?
FREE Download: Biochemistry Free & Easy by Kevin Ahern and Indira Rajagopal
VIDEO: Biochemistry lectures by Kevin Ahern Fall 2011
VIDEO: Biochemistry lectures by Kevin Ahern Winter 2012

Inorganic chemistry
Chemists in this field focus on elements and compounds other than carbon or hydrocarbons. Simply
put, inorganic chemistry covers all materials that are not organic and are termed as non-living
substances those compounds that do not contain a carbon hydrogen (C-H) bond.
Compounds studied by inorganic chemists include crystal structures, minerals, metals, catalysts, and
most elements on the periodic table. An example is the strength of a power beam used to carry a
specific weight or investigating how gold is formed in the earth.
Branches of inorganic chemistry include:
1.

Bioinorganic chemistry (study of role of metals in biology)

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Coordination chemistry (study of coordination compounds and interactions of ligands)

Geochemistry (study of the earths chemical composition, rocks, minerals & atmosphere)
Inorganic technology (synthesizing new inorganic compounds)
Nuclear chemistry (study of radioactive substances)
Organometallic chemistry (study of chemicals that contain bonds between a metal and
carbon overlaps into organic chemistry)
7.
Solid-state chemistry/materials chemistry (study of the forming, structure, and characteristics
of solid phase materials)
8.
Synthetic inorganic chemistry (study of synthesizing chemicals)
9.
Industrial inorganic chemistry (study of materials used in manufacturing. E.g.: fertilizers)
Read up on more about inorganic chemistry below:
Inorganic Chemistry - Definition, History, Applications and more
Inorganic Chemistry and its many branches
Inorganic Chemistry: Journals & Publications, Lecture Notes and Labs
Careers in Inorganic Chemistry
VIDEO: MIT Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry
VIDEO: Inorganic Chemistry Lectures

Organic chemistry
The study of carbon compounds such as fuels, plastics, food additives, and drugs. An opposite of
inorganic chemistry that focuses on non-living matter and non-carbon based substances, organic
chemistry deals with the study of carbon and the chemicals in living organisms. An example is the
process of photosynthesis in a leaf because there is a change in the chemical composition of the
living plant.
Organic chemists are often the ones who devise experimental methods to isolate or synthesize new
materials, or to study their properties, and usually work and research in a lab. Some examples on the
work they do include formulating a conditioner that keeps hair softer, developing a better drug for
headaches and creating a non-toxic home cleaning product.
The branches of organic chemistry involve many different disciplines including the study of ketones,
aldehydes, hydrocarbons (alkenes, alkanes, alkynes) and alcohols.
1.
2.

Stereochemistry (study of the 3-dimensional structure of molecules)

Medicinal chemistry (deals with designing, developing and synthesizing pharmaceutical
drugs)
3.
Organometallic chemistry (study of chemicals that contain bonds between a carbon and a
metal)
4.
Physical organic chemistry (study of structure and reactivity in organic molecules)
5.
Polymer chemistry (study of the composition and creation of polymer molecules)
Want to learn more about organic chemistry? Browse the resources below:

Organic Chemistry - Definition, History, Applications and more

Organic Chemistry and its many branches
Organic Chemistry: Journals & Publications, Lab Techniques, Lecture Notes and Labs
Careers in Organic Chemistry
VIDEO: YALE Freshman Organic Chemistry, Fall, 2008
VIDEO: Organic Chemistry Alcohols
VIDEO: Organic Chemistry Organometallics
VIDEO: Organic Chemistry Stereochemistry
VIDEO: Organic Chemistry SN2, SN1, E2 AND E1 reactions

Physical chemistry
The study of the physical properties of molecules, and their relation to the ways in which molecules
and atoms are put together. Physical chemistry deals with the principles and methodologies of both
chemistry and physics and is the study of how chemical structure impacts physical properties of a
substance. An example is baking brownies, as youre mixing materials and using heat and energy to
get the final product.
Physical chemists would typically study the rate of a chemical reaction, the interaction of molecules
with radiation, and the calculation of structures and properties.
Sub-branches of physical chemistry include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Electrochemistry (study of the interaction of atoms, molecules, ions and electric current)
Photochemistry (study of the chemical effects of light; photochemical reactions)
Surface chemistry (study of chemical reactions at interfaces)
Chemical Kinetics (study of rates of chemical reactions)
Thermodynamics/Thermochemistry (study of how heat relates to chemical change)
Quantum Mechanics/Quantum Chemistry (study of quantum mechanics and how it relates to
chemical phenomena)
7.
Spectroscopy (study of spectra of light or radiation)