Different Branches Of Chemistry

Chemistry is generally divided into two broad different branches of chemistry: organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Other types of chemistry include physical chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry, with each field branching off into several specific subfields. Heres a brief description of the most common: Organic ChemistryOrganic Chemistry has to do with the study of compounds that contain carbon (and sometimes hydrogen). Even though carbon is only the fourteenth most common element on the planet, it produces the greatest number of different compounds on Earth. Not surprisingly then, much of the study of chemistry involves organic chemistry. The most studied groups of organic compounds are those that contain nitrogen. These organic compounds are important because they are often linked to the amino group. When the amino group combines with the carboxyl group, amino acids are born. Amino acids are important because they are as the building blocks of proteins.

Inorganic ChemistryInorganic chemistry involves the study the properties and reactions of compounds that do not contain carbon and which are not organic. Inorganic chemistry studies all nonliving matter, such as minerals found in the Earths crust. There are many branches of inorganic chemistry, including geochemistry, nuclear science, coordination chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry. There is much overlap between organic and inorganic chemistry. For instance, organometallic chemistry studies the use of compounds that are capable of creating a covalent bond between carbon and metal. Physical ChemistryAs its name implies, physical chemistry has to do with the physical properties of materials. Physical properties that are studied may include the electrical and magnetic behavior of materials, as well as their interaction with electromagnetic fields. There are several subcategories of physical chemistry. These include thermochemistry, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics. Thermochemistry studies the changes of entropy and energy that naturally occur during chemical reactions. Electrochemistry is concerned with the study of interconversions of electric and chemical energy of matter, as well as the effects of electricity on chemical changes. Chemical kinetics involves the study of chemical reactions. Specifically, chemical kinetics studies the equilibrium it reached between products and their reactants.

BiochemistryBiochemistry is a branch of chemistry concerned with the composition and changes of living matter. Biochemists commonly focus on the physical properties and structures of biological molecules. Common biological molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Biochemistry is sometimes referred to as physiological chemistry and biological chemistry. Biophysics, molecular biology, and cell biology are research fields closely related to biochemistry. Analytical ChemistryUnlike the other main types of chemistry, analytical chemistry doesnt deal specifically with specific elements. Analytical chemistry is concerned mainly with the various techniques and laboratory methods used to determine the composition of materials. Qualitative and quantitative analysis are the two most basic methods used in analytical chemistry. Qualitative analysis has to do with identifying all the atoms and molecules in a sample of matter, with attention paid to trace elements. Quantitative analysis also involves determining the atomical and molecular structure of matter, but includes also measuring the exact weight of each chemical constituent. http://www.chemistrytalk.com is where you can get chemistry help, read our chemistry articles a

Chemistry has been divided into a number of different branches. They are generally recognised as Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Geochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry. While they may be positioned a being quite separate there is significant overlap between them and between the other different branches of chemistry. The following is a basic description of the different branches of chemistry: Analytical Chemistry The collection of techniques and methods used to gain an understanding of the chemical composition and structure of materials. Qualitative and quantitative methods are two of the more basic methods used in this discipline. The methods can be used in all the other branches of chemistry. Biochemistry The chemistry of life-processes and living organisms.Biochemistry and organic chemistry are closely related.Biochemists focus on the structures of biological molecules and their physical properties.Common biological molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Inorganic Chemistry The study of reactions and properties of compunds which do not contain hydrocarbons carbon and hydrogen and which are not organic. Organic Chemistry The study of compounds consisting primarily of hydrocarbons which provide the primary material of all organic compounds. Hundreds of thousands of carbon-based molecules exist becuase carbon atoms are able to form long branched chains and rings. Because they make up the majority of compounds in living organisms organic compounds are of special importance. They form coal and oil. Some of the most studied organic compounds are those that contain nitrogen. This is because These have importance because they are linked to amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins and life. Physical Chemistry Physical Chemistry deals with the application of physical laws to chemical change and chemical systems. There are several subcategories of physical chemistry, including chemical kinetics, electrochemistry and thermodynamics. The later is widely studied and deals with the role of energy in chemical reactions. Chemical kinetics is concerned with mechanisms and rates of reactions. Electrochemistry is concerned with the effects of electricity on chemical changes as well of the conversion of chemical to electrical energy and vise versa. Nuclear Chemistry The study of the chemical effects of high energy radiation and the behaviour of radio-active isotopes. These are atoms of the same element that vary in the number of neutrons they contain. Geochemistry The chemistry ( and physics) of processes taking place in the earth. Examples are the formation of petroleum, the metamophosis of rocks and mineral formation.

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