lesson 1: introduction to chemistry

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY.

Behavioural objectives: at the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1.     Define chemistry

2.     Highlight the career opportunities in the field of chemistry

3.     State the applications of chemistry

CONTENT

Introduction To Chemistry

what is chemistry?

Chemistry is a branch of science that studies the properties of matter in terms of compositions, structures, transformation, interaction and their energy implications of chemical changes.

It can also be defined as the study of chemical changes that matter undergoes.

  From the definition above I said chemistry has to do with the study of matter and changes that matter undergoes. But what is a matter?

Matter: this is is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. E.g. chair, table, clothe, book, and so on. Virtually everything around us is matter. Even “you” yes i mean you, you are a matter because  you has mass and occupies space.

So on the other hand we can say chemistry is the study of universe in terms of chemical activities because the universe is made up of matter.

Anybody that studies chemistry is referred to as a chemist.

WHAT ARE THE CAREERS IN CHEMISTRY?

As a chemist you have numerous fields where you can apply your knowledge. Some of these fields are listed below.

1.      Teaching service: you can become a chemistry teacher like myself and teach in various institutions of learning, secondary schools, polytechnics, colleges and universities.

2.      Health service: you can become a pharmacist, biochemist, nutritionist, medical assistance, laboratory assistance e.t.c.

3.      You can become a food technologist and research chemist

4.      You can in work in petroleum sector as a petrol chemical engineer

5.      Mining engineers, geologist

6.      Agricultural scientist e.t.c.

What Are The Uses Or Application Or Importance Of Chemistry?

The importance of chemistry cannot be outlook in our day today activities, chemistry as help us in various ways which include:

1.      Food production: invention of fertilizers, pesticides, and other storage and preservatives means are all possible as a result of chemistry knowledge.

2.      Military: the function of military: is to provide security for the nation but they can’t achieve this without ammunitions. The knowledge of chemistry as helped greatly in the aspect of production of weapons like biochemical weapons, atomic bombs and so on.

3.      Housing: in the olden  days, our forefathers make use of mud and clay, palm fronds and bamboo trees to build house, but today we have different building materials like cements, bricks, corrugated roofing sheet and so on to build durable and beautiful houses. All these are possible as a result of chemical research.

4.      Medicine: chemical research as also contributed allot in terms of chemistry through the production of vaccines and antibodies to fight against different kinds of deadly disease.

5.      Transportation: fuel used by motor vehicles and aircraft are all made possible as a result of chemical research.

6.      Household materials: in the past, our forefathers make use of calabash and clay pots to cook, serve food, drink e.t.c. but now we have different household materials  like plastics and metallic pots, spoons, containers and so on like that. Used for our various daily activates.

All these are possible due to chemistry knowledge.