1. Introduction to Chemistry
Background Information

2. Explanation of Terms
Chemistry – The study of matter and the changes it undergoes.
Matter – Anything that has mass and takes up space (volume). Made up of atoms. Behavior explained by changes that atoms undergo.
Mass – The amount of matter in an object. Always constant in all locations.

3. Explanation of Terms
Weight – Pull of gravity on an object. Changes with location. Since gravity on the moon is 1/6th that on earth, an object that weighs 60kg on earth will weigh 1/6 x 60kg on the moon, hence astronaut’s weightlessness on the moon.

4. Explanation of Terms
All matter is made up of particles called atoms which are extremely small.
The structure, composition, and behavior of all matter can be explained in terms of atoms and the changes they undergo.
This is the study of chemistry.

5. Things Not Matter
Some things that are not matter – heat, light, radio waves.

6. Fields of chemistry
There are so many types of matter, the study of matter is divided into five major fields or branches.

7. Fields of chemistry Branch Area of emphasis Examples Organic chemistry
Study of carbon
compounds (there are
some exceptions)
Medicines, plastics
Inorganic chemistry
Study of all compounds not containing carbon
Minerals, metals, semiconductors
Physical chemistry
Study of behavior and changes of matter as well as the energy changes
Rates of reaction, mechanisms
Analytical chemistry
Study of components and composition of matter
Food nutrients, food quality
Biochemistry
Study of matter and the processes in living things
Metabolism, fermentation

8. Scientific Method
All scientists do investigations using a systematic approach.

9. The Fundamental Steps of the Scientific Method

10. Scientific Method It involves the following steps:
Making observations.
Forming a hypothesis after gathering
information.
Designing and performing an experiment to test the hypothesis. Observations are made and data collected.
Analyzing the data from the experiments.
Making conclusions from results of the experiment (data). Results may or may not agree with hypothesis. A lot can be learned from a negative result.

11. Scientific Method
After a lot of experiments on a particular problem, a verbal or mathematical explanation, called a model, can be made.
When such explanations have been tested and tested, a theory is formulated.

12. Scientific Method
Theories that have remained the same after many experiments to test over a long period of time becomes a scientific law.

13. Experiment What is an experiment?
A set of controlled observations that test a hypothesis.
One variable at a time is changed.

14. Experiment
Variable – Quantity that can have more than one value, ex: temperature.
Independent variable – Variable that is manipulated (changed) by the scientist, ex: volume of water.
Dependent variable – Variable that responds to the independent variable, ex: masses of different volumes of water.

15. Experiment
Many experiments include a control which is a standard reference for comparison. This could be a sample that does not include the variable being tested.

16. Research There are two types of research:
Pure research – Done mainly for knowledge, ex: behavior of CFCs.
Applied research – Done to solve a specific problem, ex: finding chemicals to replace CFCs because they deplete ozone, finding cure for AIDS, or Diabetes.
Application of scientific knowledge to improve life, comfort.

17. Safety Safety: This is priority #1 in chemistry.
You are responsible for your safety and that of all your classmates. Safety in a chemical lab is like driving safety.
Refer to page 19 of your textbook and the Safety in the Laboratory handout.
Remember the safety tips from the safety video.