CHEMISTRY

Dealing with reality’s most basic elements, from particles to atoms to molecules, chemistry is also known as the central science.

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Underpinning biology and physics, the field of chemistry is sometimes called the central science. This branch of science deals not with the most basic elements of reality, such as fundamental particles, or the complex world of living organisms, but the in-between world of atoms, molecules and chemical processes.

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Chemistry is the study of matter, analysing its structure, properties and behaviour to see what happens when they change in chemical reactions.

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An important area of chemistry is the understanding of atoms and what determines how they react. It turns out reactivity is often largely mediated by the electrons that orbit atoms and the way these are exchanged and shared to create chemical bonds.

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Chemistry has now split into many branches. For instance, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry & physical chemistry.

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Chemists helps us understand the nature and properties of the world around us and the history of chemistry is brimming with discoveries that have furthered this. 

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Chemists have subsequently given us treatments for cancer, advanced our understanding of radioactive elements and developed mobile X rays for use in field hospitals. Chemists have helped us understand DNA structure paving the way for advancements in medical science.

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More recently, advances in chemistry and biology have contributed to the development of vaccines to the coronavirus. From the development of plastics, and with it nylon, waterproof clothing and even bulletproof vests, to the liquid crystal display you are most likely reading this information on, right through to the complete synthesis of medicines, chemistry’s contributions to modern life are limitless.