Class 11 | SOME BASIC CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY

Class 11 | Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry

CHEMISTRY : Chemistry is defined as the study of the composition, structure and properties of matter and the reactions by which one form of matter may be converted into another form.

Chemistry, a central science : Chemistry is called as central science as the basic knowledge of chemistry is essential for development of subjects like physics, biology, geology, engineering, environmental science and many other subjects. 

Branches of chemistry :

The five primary branches of chemistry are physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. 

i. Organic chemistry : The branch of chemistry which  deals with the study of carbon compounds.

The branches of organic chemistry involve many different disciplines including the study of ketones,aldehydes, hydrocarbons (alkenes,alkanes, alkynes) and alcohols.

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

2. 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)

ii. Inorganic chemistry : This is the branch of chemistry that deals with chemistry of elements other than carbon and of their compounds.

Branches of inorganic chemistry include:

1. Bio inorganic chemistry (study of role of metals in biology)

2. Coordination chemistry (study of coordination

compounds and interactions of ligands)

3. Geochemistry (study of the earth's chemical composition, rocks, minerals & atmosphere)

4. Inorganic technology (synthesizing new inorganic compounds)

5. Nuclear chemistry (study of radioactive substances)

6. 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. Eg.: fertilizers)

iii. Physical Chemistry : The branch of chemistry that

deals with the structure of matter, the energy changes and the theories, laws and principles that explain the transformation of matter from one form to another.

Sub-branches of physical chemistry :

1. Electrochemistry (study of the interaction of atoms, molecules, ions and electric current)

2. Photochemistry (study of the chemical effects of light; photochemical reactions)

3. Surface chemistry (study of chemical reactions at interfaces)

4. Chemical Kinetics (study of rates of chemical reactions)

5. Thermodynamics/ Thermochemistry (study of how heat relates to chemical change)

6. Quantum Mechanics/ Quantum Chemistry (study of quantum mechanics and how it

relates to chemical phenomena)

7. Spectroscopy (study of spectra of light or radiation)

iv. Analytical chemistry : This is the branch of chemistry deals with the separation, identification and quantitative determination of the compositions of different substances.

Examples of areas using analytical chemistry include forensic science, environmental science, and drug testing.

v. Biochemistry : This is the branch of chemistry deals with the study of the reactions takes place in living organisms.

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).

• Father of chemistry : Antoine Lavoisier

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier was entitled to the title of father of chemistry.

He was born in the year 1743 and he made a great contribution to the field of chemistry.

• Contributions of Antoine Lavoisier:

Some of the contributions of Antoine Lavoisier are:-

• He came forward with the Oxygen theory of combustion.

He was the first to establish that water is not an element but a compound.

• He also co-discovered that respiration is a form of combustion.

• He also proposed the Law of Conservation of Mass.

• He also discovered that diamond is a form of carbon and Sulfur is an element.

• He also contributed to the adoption of the metric system.

Lavoisier co-authored the first modern system of chemical nomenclature too.

Due to these contributions of his to chemistry, he was known as the father of chemistry.

Therefore, Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier was known as the father of chemistry.