MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY IN CHEMISTRY

(GROUP 1)

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- It is the branch of chemistry that focuses on the study of organic
compounds. It is concerned with the structure, properties, reactions, and
synthesis of these compounds. It plays a fundamental role in
understanding and manipulating the chemistry of carbon-containing
compounds, which are prevalent in living organisms and many industrial
processes. Organic chemistry is essential in fields such as
pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, agriculture, and materials science.

Organic compounds – compounds that are primarily composed of carbon

and hydrogen, often with the addition of other elements such as oxygen,
nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens.

Scientist who has significant contribution to this field:

Two German chemists, Justus von Liebig (1803–1873) and Friedrich
Wöhler (1800–1882), were responsible for the emergence of organic
chemistry in the early nineteenth century. Their quantitative analytical
methods helped establish the constitution of newly isolated and
synthesized carbon compounds.
1. Justus von Liebig
- He is considered one of the founders of organic chemistry and sometimes
described as the “father of the fertilizer industry”. He developed
important analytical methods, devised a manufacturing process for beef
extracts, and founded the journal Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie

2. Friedrich Wöhler
- Friedrich Wöhler is known as the father of organic chemistry. He was a
German chemist and was the first person to isolate many numbers of
elements. Wohler initially worked mainly on topics of inorganic chemistry
and he was the first to obtain Beryllium and Yttrium in their pure form.

- Friedrich August Kekulé - Kekulé is famous for his structural formulas

for organic compounds and his proposal of the concept of chemical
 structure and valence. He is known for his work on the structure of
benzene.
- Robert Woodward - Woodward was known for his work on the synthesis
of complex natural products, including the total synthesis of many
important molecules like vitamin B12, chlorophyll, and steroids.

Application of Organic Chemistry in Daily Life

Pharmaceuticals
- Organic chemistry is fundamental in the development and synthesis of
pharmaceutical drugs. Many life-saving medications, including
antibiotics, pain relievers, and vaccines, are organic compounds.
Food and Flavor Chemistry
- Organic chemistry is involved in the study of flavors and fragrances,
helping to create synthetic flavors and fragrances used in food products,
perfumes, and cosmetics.
Polymers and Plastics
- Many everyday items, from plastic containers and clothing to packaging
materials, are made from organic polymers. Understanding the chemistry
of polymers is essential for the development of new materials.

Importance of Organic Chemistry

- Organic chemistry is critically important in understanding the building

blocks of life and is the foundation for fields like biology and medicine. It
is indispensable in the development of pharmaceuticals, enabling the
creation of life-saving drugs. Moreover, organic chemistry is pivotal in
materials science, driving innovations in plastics, polymers, and
composites, which find applications across industries. Additionally, it is
the cornerstone of the chemical industry, contributing to the production
of a vast array of chemicals and consumer products. Overall, organic
chemistry is not only a scientific discipline but also a catalyst for
advancements that touch nearly every aspect of modern life.

- Organic chemistry plays an important part in our daily life because food,
clothes, paper, ink, rubber, soap, perfumes, medicines etc. are
indispensable to us for proper living. Organic compounds are important
constituents of many products e.g., paint, food, plastic, explosive,
medicine, petrochemical, pesticide etc.

BIOCHEMISTRY
- It is the branch of science that combines principles from both biology and
chemistry to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie various
biological processes. It focuses on the study of the chemical substances
and processes that occur within living organisms.
Examples of Biochemistry
- Enzymology, Endocrinology, Molecular biology, Molecular Genetics and
Genetic Engineering, Immunology, Structural Biochemistry,
Neurochemistry, and Cell Biology.
Scientists who have significant contribution to this field:
1. Frederick Sanger
- Sanger was a British biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
twice. He is famous for his work on the sequencing of proteins,
particularly insulin, which was instrumental in understanding the
structure and function of proteins.

2. Linus Pauling
- Pauling was an American chemist and biochemist who made important
contributions to our understanding of the chemical bond. He also
conducted research on the structure of proteins and was influential in
the discovery of the alpha helix structure of proteins.

- Archibald Edward Garrod - Archibald Garrod was the first to connect a

human disorder with Mendel's laws of inheritance. He also proposed the
idea that diseases came about through a metabolic route leading to the
molecular basis of inheritance.

Application of Biochemistry in Daily Life

Nutrition and Diet
- Biochemistry helps in understanding the composition and nutritional
value of food. It provides insights into the role of macronutrients
(carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and
minerals) in maintaining health and preventing diseases.

Medical Diagnostics
- Biochemical tests are essential for medical diagnosis and monitoring.
Blood tests, urine analysis, and other diagnostic methods rely on the
measurement of specific biochemical markers to assess health and detect
diseases.

Cooking and Food Preparation

- Biochemistry principles are used in cooking and food preparation to
enhance flavors, textures, and appearances.
 Importance of Biochemistry
- Biochemistry is of paramount importance as it provides the molecular
foundation for understanding life processes, from the molecular
intricacies of DNA replication to the metabolic pathways that power cells.
It underpins advancements in medicine, enabling the development of life-
saving drugs and diagnostic tools. Moreover, biochemistry is essential in
fields as diverse as agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental
science, contributing to sustainable food production, biotechnological
innovations, and the mitigation of environmental challenges. Its insights
into the chemistry of life not only deepen our comprehension of biological
phenomena but also offer practical solutions to improve human health,
food security, and environmental sustainability, making it an
indispensable discipline for the betterment of society.
- Biochemistry has numerous applications in daily life, encompassing
areas such as medicine, healthcare, nutrition, agriculture, biotechnology,
energy production, and more. Biochemistry plays a crucial role in
advancing scientific knowledge, improving human health and enhancing
our understanding of the natural world.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

- It is the study of chemical reactions that take place in terrestrial, aquatic

and atmospheric environments as well as the impact of human activities
on these processes. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles
from astrochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, environmental modelling,
geochemistry, marine chemistry, pollution remediation to study the
composition, behavior, and fate of chemical species in various
environmental systems.

Scientist who has significant contribution to this field:

1. Eunice Newton Foote

- In 1856 Foote recognized that atmospheric gases such as H2O(g) and CO2
can cause climate change — three years before its independent discovery
by John Tyndall who is generally regarded as the founder of climate
science.

2. Rachel Carson

- If inspiring the global environmental movement can be credited to one

individual, that person is marine biologist Rachel Carson. Her work on
how pesticides damage natural habitats had a lasting impact on
government, industry, and society. Her 1962 book, Silent Spring, on the
detrimental effects of pesticides, significantly affected the way people think
 about the environmental impact of chemical use, and regulators
subsequently banned many of the pesticides she wrote about in the book.

3. Mario J. Molina - The first Mexican-born scientist to win a Nobel Prize in

Chemistry, Mario Molina discovered the serious environmental threat
posed by chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs). Along with fellow chemist
Sherwood Rowland, Molina found that CFCs—chemicals commonly used
as refrigerants, and colloquially known as Freon—released into the
atmosphere were contributing to ozone depletion.

Application of Environmental Chemistry in Daily life

Environmental Management

- Environmental chemistry studies the development of new chemical

products to the chemicals that are helpful for detecting the adverse effect
on environment.

Groundwater Protection

- Pollutant identification is done in environmental chemistry by knowing the

concentration, distribution, and fate of hazardous chemicals.

Protection of Surface Water

- The effect of contaminants in the water and sediment phase is measure for
checking the quality of surface water. The chemical behavior of pollutant
will determine its fate in a system.

Waste Management
- Environmental chemistry is applied in the management and treatment of
various types of waste, including municipal solid waste, hazardous waste,
and wastewater. It helps in the development of effective waste treatment
processes, recycling methods, and waste disposal practices.
 Clean Drinking Water - Environmental chemistry is essential for ensuring
the safety of our drinking water. It involves monitoring and controlling the
levels of contaminants, such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and
microorganisms, to provide clean and safe drinking water to the public.

Air Quality Management - Understanding the chemistry of the

atmosphere is critical for monitoring and improving air quality.
Environmental chemistry helps us control and reduce the levels of air
pollutants like particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and
volatile organic compounds that can impact human health and the
environment.

IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

- Environmental chemistry holds paramount significance as it establishes

the scientific basis for comprehending and tackling environmental issues,
ensuring human well-being, and fostering sustainability. It facilitates the
recognition and regulation of contaminants, the prudent utilization of
natural resources, and the formulation of strategies and innovations to
combat pollution, safeguard ecosystems, and address climate change.
Through the examination of chemical interactions within the environment,
environmental chemistry contributes to informed choices, sustainable
methodologies, and the conservation of a more robust and healthier world
for both present and future generations.

AGROCHEMISTRY

- Also known as Agricultural Chemistry, is the study of chemical

processes and interactions involved in the production of food and other
agricultural products. It encompasses a wide range of disciplines,
including biochemistry, microbiology, soil science, and plant physiology.

Scientist who has significant contribution to this field:

1. Jean-Baptiste Boussingault

- A French agricultural chemist who helped identify the basic scheme of the
biological nitrogen cycle when he demonstrated that plants do not absorb
the element from air but from the soil in the form of nitrates.

2. Justus von Liebig

- He has been described as the "father of the fertilizer industry" for his
emphasis on nitrogen and trace minerals as essential plant nutrients, and
his formulation of the law of the minimum, which described how plant
growth relied on the scarcest nutrient resource, rather than the total
amount of resources available.
 3. John Lawrence Smith - Smith was an American chemist known for his
work on soil chemistry and the development of effective agricultural
fertilizers. He introduced the concept of "availability" of soil nutrients to
plants, which influenced modern fertilizer practices.

Application of Agrochemistry in Daily life

Fertilizers

- Fertilizers are vital in plant growth and development. Through

agrochemistry, the development of modern fertilizers greatly contributes in
increasing crop yields and quality.

Pesticides

- Pesticides are essential in maintaining crop yields and food security.

Agrochemistry has been helpful in developing pesticides that are effective
in targeting specific pests while also ensuring least to no harm to non-
target organisms, and no negative effects on human health.

Soil Science

- Soil is a mixture of organic and inorganic materials that provides habitat

to plants. By studying and understanding the chemical processes that
occur in soil, it helps in developing techniques in enhancing soil fertility
and reducing soil erosion which in return increase crop yields and quality,
and improving the sustainability of agricultural practices.

Food Science

- Food science is the study of chemical and biological processes involved in

the production, processing and preservation of food. Agrochemistry helps
 in developing food processing techniques that preserves the nutritional
value and taste of food while also extending its shelf life.

IMPORTANCE OF AGROCHEMISTRY

- Agrochemistry is one of the most important branches of science which has

the potential to solve global problems involving health and poverty. It has
revolutionized the way we produce and consume food, making it more
sustainable, efficient and safe. Agrochemistry is concerned about
increasing agricultural yield in several ways like developing fertilizers
which boost plant growth and development, and pesticides which controls
pests that may hinder the growth of plants. Genetic engineering on plants
is also in line with this. The significance of agrochemistry is always involve
on health of humans. It always deals on improving food crop quality to
contain enough nutritional value, and increase the production to meet the
demand of the consumers. Agrochemistry can be the instrument the world
needs in solving global issues such as poverty, hunger and malnutrition, if
it is utilized properly and put to good use maximizing its potential in
solving real world issues.