The chemistry is the Science which study the composition, the reactions and the chemical and physical properties of the Matière. Chemistry is by interdisciplinary nature and connects the Natural science, it has a big role in the operation of our world and the existence of the life.

Without the chemical properties of water, air and biomolécules, the life could not have developed in a so complex way. The study of the world to the molecular scales makes it possible to better include/understand the world on the scale of the man. To this end, chemistry rests much on Expérience S, which answer the scientific rigor. Chemistry applies to simple Atome S to imposing molecular buildings (DNA, crystals,…). In terms of dimensions, the scope of application of chemistry is between the Femtomètre (10-15 m) and the Micromètre (10-6 m). Contemporary chemistry has a remarkable diversity: in addition to all the natural substances which exist, a great quantity of new artificial chemical compounds is regularly discovered.

Etymology

The chemistry term comes us from the word alchemy. The Alchimie appeared before chemistry and this term is directly drawn from rear Arabic الخيمياء Al kemi . At least two etymologies exist for the Arab term one Egyptian and other Greek.

  • According to the Egyptian assumption, kemi comes from the copte COP chame “black” borrowed from the old Egyptian kemi (black magic and by extension, Egypt itself).
  • According to the assumption of the Greek origin, kemi comes from grc χυμεία, khumeia , “mixture of liquids” (grc χυμός, khumos , “juice, juice”).

During centuries, alchemy developed thanks to important discoveries for then giving rise to chemistry. The chemistry term appeared by a deformation of the language. However, chemistry knew of such progress at the point to become a exact science whereas remained of the alchemists continuing the search of the Philosopher's stone making alchemy a esoteric science . Chemistry and alchemy had thus become very different: it was thus necessary to be able to distinguish them, and the two terms remained in the language.

Delimitation of the field of study

Chemistry and Physics

There does not exist border clearly definite between the Physique and chemistry, but, is generally regarded as concerning chemistry, the phenomena caused by the reactions between the components of the matter and involving a modification of the connections between the Atome S. According to the nature of these connections, these phenomena imply between the atoms of the exchanges or poolings of electron S or many electrostatic forces. The levels of energy implemented in the chemical phenomena make that only the outer-shell electrons are concerned. Beyond, one enters the Physique of plasmas, even in the Nuclear physics with the implication of the Atomic nucleus. On scales lower than that of the atom, the study of the elementary particles and their interactions concern the Physique of the particles.

Chemistry and Biology

There does not exist either of border clearly definite between chemistry and the Biologie. Indeed, the delimination is not well defined between the Biochimie, which is the under-discipline of the chemistry which studies the chemical reactions in biological environments (cells…) and/or with biological objects (Protein S and others Biomolécule S…) and the Molecular biology which is the under-discipline of the biology which is interested in comprehension of the biological processes at the molecular level.

Disciplines of chemistry

Research and teaching in chemistry are organized under-disciplines:

  • the Biochemistry which studies the chemical reactions in biological environments (cells…) and/or with biological objects (Protein S…).
  • the analytical Chimie is the study of the qualitative and/or quantitative methods of analysis which make it possible to know the composition of a given sample; its principal fields are: the Chromatography and the Spectroscopy;
  • the chemistry of the materials is the preparation and the study of substances with an application as a Matériau. This field integrates elements of the other traditional fields of chemistry with an private interest for the fundamental problems concerning materials.
  • the inorganic Chemistry (in the past inorganic chemistry), relates to the description and the study of the chemical elements and the inorganic compounds (without carbonaceous skeleton).
  • the Organic chemistry is the description and the study of the compounds comprising a skeleton of carbon atoms (organic compounds);
  • the physical Chemistry whose object is the study of the physical laws of the systems and processes chemical; its principal fields of study include/understand: the Thermochemistry, the chemical Kinetic , the electrochemistry, the Radiochemistry, the Sonochimie and the Spectroscopie S.
  • the theoretical Chimie is the study of chemistry through a fundamental theoretical reasoning (usually using mathematics and of physics). In particular, the application of the quantum Mécanique to chemistry gave rise to the quantum Chimie. Since the end of the second world war, the progress of the computers allowed the development of the numerical Chimie (or computational).

There exist other fields specialized or in interface:

Astrochimie, atmospheric Chemistry, bioinorganic Chemistry, bioorganic Chemistry, environmental Chemistry, industrial Chemistry, medicinal Chemistry, nuclear Chemistry, organometallic Chemistry, Polymeric Chemistry of the S, Chemistry of the solutions, Chemistry supramoléculaire, green Chemistry, Chemical engineering Geochemistry, Immunochimie, Nanotechnology, Petrochemistry, Pharmacology, Photochemistry, Phytochemistry,

History

See also: History of chemistry, Alchemy, Discovered chemical elements

The biographies of the French and foreign scientists are indexed in the articles category: chemist or in the List of chemists.

Fundamental concepts

A Atome is made of an atomic nucleus containing of the nucleons which maintains around him a number of electrons balancing the positive load of the core.

A chemical element is the whole of the atoms which have a given number of protons in their core. This number is its atomic number. For example, all the atoms with 6 protons in their cores are atoms of the element carbon. These elements are represented in the periodic Tableau, which gathers the similar elements of properties.

The Chemical bond is the phenomenon which binds the atoms between them by exchanging or dividing one or more electron S or by electrostatic forces.

A Molécule is a whole electrically neutral of atoms associated by covalent bonds.

A Ion is a chemical Espèce (an atom or a molecule) which lost or which gained one or more electrons. It is called Cation when it is positively charged and Anion when it is negatively charged.

A chemical Composé is a substance resulting from the assembly of several types of atoms resulting from different chemical elements in definite proportions. It is characterized by its Chemical formula.

Teaching of chemistry

History

In France

Currently chemistry is taught starting from the Collège at the same time as the Physique as of the fifth at a rate of 1:30 per week. Then with the college the pupils start by having 3:30 of physics-chemistry per week of which 1:30 of TP in second. The continuation of the teaching of chemistry depends on the choice of orientation of the pupils: In first only for the pupils of the literary dies and until into final for the pupils of the scientific sectors and STL. Lastly, Chemistry can be studied after the baccalaureat in UFR of chemistry, IUT of chemistry or school of chemistry. The schools of engineers in the field of chemistry are gathered within the Fédération Gay-Lussac.

In the rest of the world

Great institutions of chemistry

Organizations working with the service of chemistry

Various distinctions granted to the chemists

Chemistry today

Contemporary research in chemistry

Chemical industry

See also: Chemical industry

chemical industry was born with the Industrial revolution at the XIXe century and nowadays represents a big part of the economic activity of the large industrialized countries. This milked industry of two great types of products. Firstly, the products organic S starting from the Oil: the syntheses carried out with large scales are, for example, that of the ethylene, the Propylène and the Méthanol. Secondly, of the inorganic products to produce industrial gases, large the acid and the salts.

The chemical scale of production makes it possible to distinguish the heavy chemistry and the fine chemistry . Heavy chemistry works out great quantities of products while fine chemistry consists of the production of relatively small quantities of composed with high added value for the Pharmacie, the Parfumerie and the Cosmétique like in many fields of high technology.

Chemistry with the daily newspaper

Chemistry is present in the Eau which we drink the every day because she plays a part in the conservation of natural qualities and the Désinfection of tap water before consumption. Moreover, chemical and biological processes allow in the Water treatment worn in purification plants. Chemistry is also present in the food of each one: preservatives, nutritive agents, and the food additive (Dye artificial S, flavors, sweetening substance S) are used in the Agribusiness industry. Packing of certain food forms also part of the field of chemistry: they preserve food thanks to their properties. They are more and more Biodégradable S and, using recycling after use, they are transformed and revalorized thanks to chemical processes.

Although the use with large scales of chemical Manures and Pesticide S is disputed by holding of the Organic farming, the use of these families of products makes it possible to obtain more abundant harvests by enriching the poor grounds and by eliminating the harmful insects, parasitic mushrooms and bad grasses. In the context of the general awakening of the damage caused with the environment of new more effective products and respecting best the environment were elaborate.

In the field of construction, chemistry also contributes to the manufacture of new Matériau X, of insulating, Peinture S, Vernis, Mastic S, maintenance products and furnishing.

Chemistry also contributed with the synthesis new Médicament S to the increase in the Life expectancy recorded since the Industrial revolution in the developed countries.

Chemistry, health and environment

Chemistry and literature

  • the periodic System of Primo Levi comprises blackjack chapters whose titles correspond to an element of the table of Mendéléiev, reporting the professional life of the writer, the autobiographical anecdotes or short news on the topic of chemistry.

  • Alfred Capus, the thoughts : In feeling as in chemistry, nothing is created, nothing is not lost.

The chemist is a character very present in the literature. But the literary representation of the chemist in many works is very different from reality. He is regarded as a scientist come besides who lives out of time. The chemist is then a half Sorcier which plays with obscure forces which it does not control in order to compete with nature. Chemistry is often associated with the Occulte whereas it is a recognized Science.

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