1.

3 Alchemy
What's the value of gold?
One area of technology that was common to all the societies we have
mentioned was metallurgy.  Useful tools could be made that would
last a long time.  Weapons could stay sharp longer with
improved metals.  Precious metals such as gold and silver could be
refined and used for jewelry or for money.  Because it was fairly rare, gold was
considered to be very valuable and became a common means of paying for goods and
services. 
But mining for gold is a slow, dirty, and dangerous process.  Not everyone owns a
gold mine – in both the ancient Egyptian society and during the Roman Empire, the
gold mines were the property of the state, not an individual or group.  So there
were few ways for most people to legally get any gold for themselves.
 
Alchemy
Chemistry is a subject that has its roots in the ancient tradition known as
alchemy, from which it derives its name. Alchemy was a combination of philosophy
and science that had both practical and mystical aspects. The goals of
alchemy were varied and difficult to summarize. In many ways, the
alchemists sought to achieve perfection, through such actions as the
pursuit of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life (Figure).
The philosopher’s stone, it was believed, was a substance that was
capable of being used to turn base metals (such as lead) into gold. It
was also believed that it could be used to achieve rejuvenation and
perhaps immortality. While alchemists did not ultimately succeed in
these quests, their work provided the foundation for the modern study
of chemistry.
This painting by Joseph Wright (1771) is titled “The Alchymist, In Search of the Philosopher’s
Stone.”
 

Alchemist recipe.
 
Alchemist's Contributions to Chemistry
Alchemists laid the groundwork for many chemical processes, such as the refining of
ores, the production of gunpowder, the manufacture of glass and ceramics, leather
tanning, and the production of inks, dyes, and paints. Alchemists also made the
first attempts at organizing and classifying substances so that they could better
understand their reactions and be able to predict the products of their
experiments. This eventually led to the modern periodic table, which you will learn
about in a later chapter. Alchemy began to fully evolve into chemistry in the
17th century, with a greater emphasis on rational thought and experimentation and
less emphasis on spirituality and mysticism.
The alchemists were never successful in changing lead into gold, but modern nuclear
physics can accomplish this task. Lead is subjected to nuclear bombardment in a
particle accelerator.  A small amount of gold can be obtained by this process.
However, the cost of the procedure is far more than the amount of
gold obtained.  So the dream of the alchemists has never (and
will never) come true.
https://youtu.be/xKfYeSFgNHw

Summary 
 Gold has been considered valuably by all civilizations.
 The alchemists tried to find the philosopher’s stone that would allow then to
make gold from lead.
 The alchemists did not successfully transform lead into gold.
 The alchemists laid the ground work for many advances to the new science of
chemistry.

1.4 Areas of Chemistry

How do guitars vary in both sound and style?

In talking with guitar players, it is not enough to say “I play the
guitar.” The next question is always “Oh, what do you play?” In the
picture above, we see several styles of guitars.  There are two
acoustic guitars (non-electric, non-amplified) and three different
electric guitars.  Not shown are instruments such as a classical guitar
(six nylon strings instead of steel strings), a bass guitar (usually
four strings, but some have five), a resonator guitar for slide blues (uses open
tunings), an electric steel guitar (for country music) and a Hawaiian guitar. 
Guitar players specialize in a type of instrument and style of music.  The same is
true of chemistry and other sciences.

Areas of Chemistry
The study of modern chemistry has many branches, but it can generally be broken
down into five main disciplines, or areas of study:
 physical chemistry
 organic chemistry
 inorganic chemistry
 analytical chemistry
 Biochemistry

Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic properties, atomic properties, and
phenomena in chemical systems.  A physical chemist may study such things as the
rates of chemical reactions, the energy transfers that occur in reactions, or the
physical structure of materials at the molecular level. 

Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the study of chemicals containing carbon.  Carbon is one of
the most abundant elements on Earth and is capable of forming a tremendously vast
number of chemicals (over twenty million so far).  Most of the chemicals found in
all living organisms are based on carbon.

Inorganic Chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the study of chemicals that do not, in general, contain
carbon.  Inorganic chemicals are commonly found in rocks and minerals. 
One current important area of inorganic chemistry deals with the design and
properties of materials involved in energy and information technology.

Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study of the composition of matter. It focuses on
separating, identifying, and quantifying chemicals in samples of matter.  An
analytical chemist may use complex instruments to analyze an unknown material in
order to determine its various components.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes that occur in living
things.  Research may cover basic cellular processes up to understanding disease
states so better treatments can be developed.

In practice, chemical research is often not limited to just one of the five major
disciplines.  A particular chemist may use biochemistry to isolate a particular
chemical found in the human body such as hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component
of red blood cells.  He or she may then proceed to analyze the hemoglobin using
methods that would pertain to the areas of physical or analytical chemistry.  Many
chemists specialize in areas that are combinations of the main disciplines, such as
bioinorganic chemistry or physical organic chemistry.
  

https://youtu.be/vrr9aTP36nE
Summary
Five areas of chemistry are described:
o physical chemistry
o organic chemistry
o inorganic chemistry
o analytical chemistry
o biochemistry

NORTHWESTERN AGUSAN COLLEGES

 Teaching Science in Elementary Grades (Biology & Chemistry)
Activity 1.3
Alchemy

Name: __________________________ Class day & time: _____________

1. Why is gold considered to be valuable?

2. What contributions to modern chemistry were made by the alchemists?

 NORTHWESTERN AGUSAN COLLEGES

Teaching Science in Elementary Grades (Biology & Chemistry)

Activity 1.4
Areas of Chemistry
Name: __________________________ Class day & time: _____________

1. Define and show the difference between organic and inorganic chemistry.

2. Is there similarity in function of analytical and physical chemistry? Yes or no. support your answer.