What are the 15 Branches of Chemistry?

Chemistry is an important part of many fields such as medicine, food science, engineering, and many more. Chemistry is an interesting subject to learn about because it can help you understand how things around you work. In this article, we will answer the question “what are the 15 branches of chemistry?”

What are the 15 Branches of Chemistry?

The 15 branches of Chemistry are the following:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Organometallic Chemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Physical Organic Chemistry
• Stereochemistry
• Bioinorganic Chemistry
• Geochemistry
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Solid-State Chemistry 
• Forensic Chemistry
• Environmental Chemistry
• Bioanalytical Chemistry

What is Chemistry?

Chemistry is the study of matter and its properties, reactions, and transformations. It is a science that deals with atoms and molecules. Chemistry is also the study of matter and its interactions with energy. 

Chemists study the composition, structure, properties, reactions, and transformations of materials and substances. Some of the most important properties of matter include density, heat capacity, viscosity, and electrical conductivity. 

Chemistry is a science that has many branches and sub-branches. It is an essential science that contributes to many other sciences such as biology, physics, environmental science, and even astronomy.

Analytical Chemistry

Analytical chemistry is the study of chemical reactions and the chemical composition of materials. These reactions occur in a liquid, gas, or solid-state. 

Chemists use analytical chemistry to determine the composition of substances in various forms. Analytical chemistry can be used to determine the types of metals, organic compounds, and minerals in rocks. 

Analytical chemistry is used in a variety of fields such as medicine, biology, chemistry, geology, and engineering. Chemists also use analytical chemistry to detect contaminants such as pesticides, food additives, and drugs. 

Analytical chemistry is the application of chemistry to the analysis of materials, with the goal of providing information about the chemical composition, physical properties, and behavior of the materials. 

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms. Biochemistry is involved in the functioning of all living cells, which are composed of biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. 

Biochemistry also deals with how these biomolecules interact to create a living organism. Biochemistry is one of the most important sciences in the world because it helps us understand how our bodies work and what can go wrong with them. 

Biochemistry also helps us understand how diseases are caused and how to prevent them. It is the science of how cells function, how they create energy, and how they interact with their environment. 

The first biochemist was Antoine Lavoisier, who studied the chemical reactions in living things. Today, biochemistry is a diverse field that includes research on how cells communicate with each other and the molecular basis of life. 

Medicinal Chemistry

Medicinal chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the development of new medicines. It is a scientific discipline that uses techniques from both organic and inorganic chemistry to create new drugs. 

It also involves the study of biological processes and how they can be manipulated to produce medicinal substances. Chemical compounds are the building blocks of life. 

Chemists break down these compounds into their simplest form so that they can be used for different purposes.  They use a process called synthesis to create new molecules, which are then tested in the lab. 

Organometallic Chemistry

Organometallic Chemistry is the study of chemical compounds that contain carbon bound to a metal. This is a broad term, and the field is often broken down into categories such as organometallic compounds with oxygen, organometallic compounds with nitrogen, organometallic compounds with sulfur, and organometallic compounds with phosphorus, and so on. 

These organometallic compounds are often used in materials science and have found application in areas such as batteries, aerospace engineering, catalysis, fuel cells, and chemistry.

Polymer Chemistry

Polymer chemistry is the study of how polymer molecules react with each other and are used to make various products. Polymers are made of long chains of molecules that can be arranged in a variety of ways. 

There are many different types of polymers, including plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers. Polymer chemistry is also related to other branches of chemistry such as polymer physics and polymer engineering. 

For example, the polymer polyethylene is made up of monomers ethylene and vinyl chloride. When we make a polymer, we use a different monomer in each chain to create a long chain. When the chains are joined together, they form a macromolecule. 

The macromolecule can be thought of as a long string of beads that are joined together. Polymers are used in a wide variety of applications, such as plastics, adhesives, and elastomers.

Physical Organic Chemistry

Physical organic chemistry is the study of chemical compounds that have physical properties, for example, the color of a compound. Physical organic chemists study the structures of compounds and how they react with other chemicals to determine their physical properties. 

This includes how they react with other molecules, such as oxygen, water, or light. It also includes how they are synthesized and how they are broken down by different chemicals.

Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry is the study of the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in molecules. This process is called chirality, which is a term for molecules that are not superimposable mirror images of each other. 

This is why some molecules have a left-handed and right-handed form. Stereochemistry is the study of the properties of substances that are produced when compounds are joined together.

This includes how a molecule’s shape and arrangement can affect the way it behaves chemically. For example, if you want to know what happens when a molecule has two different configurations, you can look at the stereochemistry of that molecule.

Bioinorganic Chemistry

Bioinorganic Chemistry is the study of the chemical processes in living organisms and the chemical properties of biologically important molecules. 

Bioinorganic chemists are interested in understanding how organisms make and use chemicals, and how these chemicals interact with each other and with the environment. 

Some of the main areas of study include biomolecular synthesis, metal-mediated catalysis, molecular recognition, and metabolic pathways.

Geochemistry

Geochemistry is the study of the chemical composition of Earth and its history. Geochemistry is a science that looks at the composition of rocks, soil, and water and how they were formed.

It is a very important science because it helps us understand how the Earth was formed, how it evolved, and how it will change in the future. Geochemistry also includes how rocks are formed and what they are made of. Geochemistry has many applications in the fields of environmental science, engineering, and natural resource management.

Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear Chemistry is the study of the nucleus of an atom and how it interacts with other particles. It is a branch of chemistry that deals with the effects of nuclear reactions on matter, including nuclear reactions in stars and nuclear reactors. 

The nucleus is the central part of an atom and what holds the atom together it is made up of protons and neutrons, which are subatomic particles.

Physical Chemistry

Physical chemistry is the study of the physical and chemical properties of matter. This can be in the form of molecules, atoms, or ions. Physical chemistry is important in the development of new materials and processes. 

For example, the study of how a chemical reaction changes the properties of a substance is part of physical chemistry. This includes things like how a catalyst changes the rate of a reaction, or how certain reactions are done in high-pressure or high-temperature environments.

Solid-State Chemistry 

Solid-state chemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies the physical properties of solids. The properties of a solid depend on the interactions between atoms, which are typically held together by covalent bonds. 

This includes the properties and behavior of solids, as well as their synthesis, structure, and properties. The study of solids is a huge field that has been around for centuries, but the newer branch of solid-state chemistry is only in its infancy. 

Solid-state chemistry is concerned with the interrelationships between the macroscopic properties of solids and the microscopic properties of their constituent molecules.

Forensic Chemistry

Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry and its related sciences to the investigation of criminal cases. Forensic chemists work closely with law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners to determine the cause of death. 

In order to do this, they must be able to identify the chemical compounds present in a body that might be useful in determining the cause of death. They examine evidence to identify the source of a substance and its chain of custody

Environmental Chemistry

Environmental chemistry is the study of interactions between chemical substances and the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment. It has its roots in the field of biochemistry, which is the study of biochemical processes within living organisms. 

Some examples of environmental chemicals are pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals. Environmental chemists are interested in how these chemicals affect humans and animals, as well as plants and aquatic life. 

Bioanalytical Chemistry

Bioanalytical Chemistry is the study of chemical reactions in biological systems. Bioanalytical chemists are interested in how these reactions are catalyzed and controlled. The most common applications of bioanalytical chemistry include drug discovery, clinical chemistry, and food analysis.

Conclusion

Chemistry is the study of matter and its properties, reactions, and transformations. It is a science that deals with atoms and molecules. Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions with energy. Chemists study the composition, structure, properties, reactions, and transformations of materials and substances. Some of the most important properties of matter include density, heat capacity, viscosity, and electrical conductivity. Chemistry is a very broad field that has many different areas of study. These areas include organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and many more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): what are the 15 branches of chemistry?

What are the 5 major branches of chemistry?

Chemistry can be divided into the following major branches:

• Organic chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry
• Analytical chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Biochemistry 

What are the two main classes of chemistry?

The matter is classified into mixtures and pure substances.

What jobs deal with chemistry?

The top 5 Chemistry Jobs are the following:

• Analytical Chemist
• Chemical Engineer
• Chemistry Teacher
• Forensic Scientist
• Geochemist

Reference

Foresman, J., & Frish, E. (1996). Exploring chemistry. Gaussian Inc., Pittsburg, USA.

Chemistry – Introduction, Branches, Concepts, Free Resources. Retrieved from https://byjus.com/chemistry/

Overview of the Branches of Chemistry. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/branches-of-chemistry-603910

What Is an IQ Test?. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-are-scores-on-iq-tests-calculated-2795584