1. Unit-1: Introduction to Chemistry By Dr. Chirie Sumanasekera
Lecture_1
By Dr. Chirie Sumanasekera
8/13/2018

2. Unit-1: Introduction to Chemistry
Key Concepts you must be able to answer:
What is Matter?
What is Chemistry? Why is it called a physical science?
Why is the study of Chemistry so important?
What are the different branches of chemistry? Compare and contrast between them.
What are basic and applied research and how do they feed off of each other?
What is the scientific Method? What is the order of steps?

3. What is Matter?
Matter : Anything that takes up space and has mass

4. What is Chemistry?
Chemistry is the study of MATTER and its PROPERTIES.
In other words, Chemistry,
is a branch of science that deals with the study of the ways in which matter interacts, combines and changes)
Physical science: Any natural science that deals with MATTER and ENERGY. Ex: Physics and Chemistry

5. Scientific World Order
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Other Sciences
The central science

6. Overlapping of Key Natural Sciences
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Mathematics is like the language that links these natural sciences

7. Chemistry is Ubiquitous (Everywhere)
To a Chemist:
YOU are a walking bunch of matter that undergoing multiple chemical reactions
The SUN is a flaming ball of Hydrogen and Helium gas
This GLASS that is half full of water (to a poet), is actually completely full: half filled with water and the rest with air!
This BATTERY generates power through Chemistry!

8. Chemistry is Ubiquitous (Everywhere)
Even your thoughts are a result of chemical reactions and so is “falling in love!”
The colors on a butterfly’s wings
The aromas and flavors of your favorite food
The hardness and clarity of a Diamond
And yes, we and much of the cosmos is made up of matter or star-dust and so are you!

9. 1.1: Major Types of Research within Natural Sciences
BASIC RESEARCH
APPLIED RESEARCH
Goal is to pursue knowledge for pure curiosity
find a solution for a practical application
Most of the time Basic research leads the way and applied research follows behind.
Ex: The bioluminescent GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein was isolated from a Marine jelly fish by a Biologist. Then, Biochemists cloned this DNA and tagged disease proteins in organisms to study protein localization in living cells. Now GFP has many biotechnology and Medical practical applications.
In recent years, the US government has started funding less basic research due to misconceptions of science held by legislators.
Within these two types of Chemistry research, there are 6 branches of chemistry research….

10. GFP: Basic research leading to many applied biochemistry applications
Aequorea victoria
GFP-Tagged proteins in organisms
GFP protein structure

11. Major branches in Chemistry
Organic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Physical chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Biochemistry
Theoretical chemistry
Study of carbon containing compounds
Study of non-carbon containing compounds
Study of how physical properties affect the relationship between energy and matter
Identifying the composition of materials (Substances)
Study of chemical processes in living things
Design and prediction of properties of new compounds by mathematical means

12. 1.2: Scientific Method
Scientific Method: A systematic and logical approach to solve a scientific problem
Steps:
Observation: a direct observation or obtained through reading peer reviewed research articles
Hypothesis: Proposed explanation based on observations (THIS IS NOT A GUESS!)
Experiments: design and carry out experiments, collect and ANALYZE data to arrive at a CONCLUSION

13. Scientific Method at Work
Observation
Develop new Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Explanation based on observations
Experiments
To test hypothesis
Hypothesis is correct
Hypothesis is wrong
Publish research
Scientific Law
Summery of many observed results and experiments over time
Tested over time by scientific community
Tested by others and widely accepted as true
Theory
can undergo slight modifications

14. Unit-1: Summary Matter: anything that takes up space and has mass
Chemistry is the study of matter and its interaction. Chemistry is a physical science as it deals with physical properties of matter
Chemistry is divided into biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, analytical Chemistry and theoretical chemistry
The goal of applied research is to find solutions practical real world issues whereas the goal of basic research is the pursuit of knowledge/curiosity
The scientific method is a logical and systematic approach to solve a scientific problem