Portal:Chemistry
Introduction
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during reactions with other substances. Chemistry also addresses the nature of chemical bonds in chemical compounds.
In the scope of its subject, chemistry occupies an intermediate position between physics and biology. It is sometimes called the central science because it provides a foundation for understanding both basic and applied scientific disciplines at a fundamental level. For example, chemistry explains aspects of plant growth (botany), the formation of igneous rocks (geology), how atmospheric ozone is formed and how environmental pollutants are degraded (ecology), the properties of the soil on the Moon (cosmochemistry), how medications work (pharmacology), and how to collect DNA evidence at a crime scene (forensics).
Chemistry has existed under various names since ancient times. It has evolved, and now chemistry encompasses various areas of specialisation, or subdisciplines, that continue to increase in number and interrelate to create further interdisciplinary fields of study. The applications of various fields of chemistry are used frequently for economic purposes in the chemical industry. (Full article...)
Selected article
Enzymes are known to catalyze about 4,000 reactions. However, not all biological catalysts are proteins, since some RNA molecules called ribozymes can also catalyze reactions. Enzymes are usually named according to the reaction they catalyze. Typically the suffix -ase is added to the name of the substrate (e.g., lactase is the enzyme that cleaves lactose) or the type of reaction (e.g., DNA polymerase forms DNA polymers).
Like all catalysts, enzymes work by providing an alternative path of lower activation energy for a reaction and dramatically accelerating its rate. Some enzymes can make their conversion of substrate to product occur many millions of times faster. For example, the reaction catalysed by orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase will consume half of its substrate in 78 million years if no enzyme is present. However, when the decarboxylase is added, the same process takes just 25 milliseconds. Chemically, enzymes are like any catalyst and are not consumed in chemical reactions, nor do they alter the equilibrium of a reaction. However, enzymes do differ from most other catalysts by being much more specific.
Enzyme activity can be affected by other molecules. Inhibitors are molecules that decrease enzyme activity, and activators are molecules that increase activity. Drugs and poisons are often enzyme inhibitors.
Some enzymes are used commercially, for example, in the synthesis of antibiotics. In addition, some household cleaning products use enzymes to speed up chemical reactions (e.g., enzymes in biological washing powders break down protein or fat stains on clothes).
Subcategories
- Analytical chemistry: Chromatography, Spectroscopy
- Biochemistry: Molecular biology
- Crystal Chemistry
- Environmental chemistry: Geochemistry
- Inorganic chemistry: Inorganic reactions
- Materials science: Nanotechnology, Glass, Ceramics
- Medicinal chemistry
- Metallurgy
- Nuclear chemistry
- Organic chemistry: Functional groups, Organic compounds, Organic reactions
- Organometallic chemistry
- Pharmacy
- Physical chemistry: Electrochemistry, Quantum chemistry
- Polymer chemistry
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Theoretical chemistry: Computational chemistry
History and Philosophy of Chemistry
Many chemists have an interest in the history of chemistry. Those with philosophical interests will be interested that the philosophy of chemistry has quite recently developed along a path somewhat different from the general philosophy of science.
Other articles that might interest you are:
There is a Wikipedia Project on the History of Science.
Chemistry Resources
Wikipedia:WikiProject Chemicals/Data is a collection of links and references that are useful for chemistry-related works. This includes free online chemical databases, publications, patents, computer programs, and various tools.
unit-conversion.info A good place to figure out what equals what.
General Chemistry Online Clear text and comprehensive coverage of general chemistry topics by Fred Senese, Dept. of Chemistry Frostburg State University
General Chemistry Demonstration at Purdue Video clips (and descriptions) of lecture demonstrations.
Chemistry Webercises Directory A large listing of chemistry resources maintained by Steven Murov, Emeritus Chemistry Professor Modesto Junior College.
MathMol MathMol (Mathematics and Molecules) is a good starting point for those interested in the field of molecular modeling.
ABC-Chemistry A directory of free full-text journals in chemistry, biochemistry and related subjects.
The Element Song A goofy little song about all of the elements.
Selected image
Selected biography
Techniques used by chemists
Equipment used by chemists
Chemistry in society
Chemistry in industry
Companies: AstraZeneca - Bayer - BP - BASF - Bristol-Myers Squibb - DowDuPont - Evonik Industries - ExxonMobil - Linde plc - Mitsubishi - Monsanto - Nestlé - OSI - Shell - Sigma-Aldrich - Sasol - Total - GlaxoSmithKline - Teva
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Topics
Periodic Table
| Group | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |
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| Hydrogen & alkali metals |
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- Ca: 40.078 — Abridged value (uncertainty omitted here)[2]
- Po: [209] — mass number of the most stable isotope
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Sources
- ^ Meija, Juris; et al. (2016). "Atomic weights of the elements 2013 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 88 (3): 265–91. doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0305.
- ^ Prohaska, Thomas; Irrgeher, Johanna; Benefield, Jacqueline; Böhlke, John K.; Chesson, Lesley A.; Coplen, Tyler B.; Ding, Tiping; Dunn, Philip J. H.; Gröning, Manfred; Holden, Norman E.; Meijer, Harro A. J. (2022-05-04). "Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. doi:10.1515/pac-2019-0603. ISSN 1365-3075.
