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Chemistry

Introduction

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Anything that we see around us is made up of matter. Chemistry is that branch of science which deals with the following aspects of matter:

  1. the composition (what it is made of),
  2. the structure (how pieces of matter fit together internally), and
  3. transformation (how matter changes from one form to another).

People who study and work in the field of chemistry are known as chemists.

Branches of chemistry

The two main branches of chemistry are organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry.

Organic chemistry
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Organic chemistry deals with the study of all substances that are based on the element carbon and are associated with life. Living things are made up of substances based on carbon, which is the only element having the capacity to form a rich array of simple to very complex organic compounds by combining with other elements, particularly with hydrogen and oxygen. Many of these organic compounds are essential to life processes on planet Earth.

Inorganic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry deals with the study of physical and chemical properties of all substances that contain little or no carbon, and which do not belong to the realm of organic chemistry.

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Bibliography

'chemistry,' in Britannica Elementary Library, Ultimate Reference Suite, CD-ROM, Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008.
'chemistry,' in Britannica Student Library, Ultimate Reference Suite, CD-ROM, Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008.