CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY?
Chemistr
y?
Chemistry in ancient
ages
Basic daily activities of ancient people:
Cooking
Baking pottery
Smelting ores
Brewing wine and beer
These activities requires
understanding of basic chemistry
Application of knowledge for practical
purposes - technology
4
Theory vs. behaviour of
matter
Knowledge is obtained based on
observation - behaviour of matter
Aristotle is the first to formulate rational
theories of chemistry
Theories are not tested by
experimentation
Dominated western thinking for 2000
years
Aristotle (384-322
Alchemy
Mystical mixture of chemistry and
magic in Middle Ages 500 to 1500 CE
Searched for:
A philosophers stone that would turn
cheaper metals into gold
An elixir for immortality
Discovered:
Techniques extraction and distillation
New chemical substances
6
Modern Alchemy
Emergence of experimental method
as a basis of modern chemistry
Number of innovations:
Lye and laundry bleach from salt
Transistors and computer chips from
sand
Plastics, fibers, pesticides, drugs and
detergents from crude oil
7
Chemistry in modern
world
The Baconian Dream (Francais Bacon,
1561-1626):
Science should be experimental
Science could solve the worlds problem
and enrich human life with new inventions
increasing happiness and prosperity
In 20th century, human life has been
improved by science and technology
Use of pesticides, fertilizers: increased food
supply
New materials: clothing, shelter,
transportations and communications
8
What is chemistry?
It is the study of matter and the
changes it undergoes
Matter is anything that occupies
space and mass
A central science: basics knowledge
of biology, physics, geology etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF
MATTER
ELEMENTS
Elemental substances contain only
one type of atom
Elements are the building blocks of
matter
There are 115 known elements
today, 90 which occur naturally
The periodic table displays the
elements
ELEMENTS (Cont)
Each element has a unique symbol
The first letter is always capitalized, the
second letter is always lower case
Fluorine is F, not f
Cobalt is Co, not CO (which is carbon
monoxide)
The smallest unit of an
element is the atom
COMPOUNDS
Pure substances containing more than one
different element.
NaCl (table salt)
Contains sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl)
NaCl is the chemical formula
H2O (water)
Contains 2 atoms of hydrogen (H) and 1 atom of
oxygen (O)
H2O is the chemical formula
Elements in compounds are combined in a
definite ratio
H2O is water but H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide
COMPOUNDS (cont)
Are H2 and CO2 considered elements or
compounds? Why?
MIXTURE
Homogeneous : components are
uniformly mixed.
Eg : a glass of sweetened lemonade
Heterogeneous : components are not
uniformly mixed
Eg : A scoop of chocolate chip ice cream
Mixture are combinations of 2 or more pure
substance
STATES OF MATTER
Solid
Liquid
Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Gas
CHANGES IN STATE
Melting: Solid to liquid
Boiling: Liquid to gas
Sublimation: Solid to gas
The above three require input of energy
Condensation: Gas to liquid
Freezing: Liquid to solid
Deposition: Gas to solid
The above three release energy
PHYSICAL CHANGES
There is no change in composition
Examples include:
Any change in the state of matter (e.g.
freezing or boiling water)
Sawing wood
Crushing a tablet
Bending a wire
Dissolving salt in water
WATER AND ITS STATES OF
MATTER
What is
composition
of ice, water
and steam?
CHEMICAL CHANGES
There is a change in composition.
Also called chemical reactions
Examples:
Tarnishing of silver
(Ag forms AgS)
Rusting of iron
(Fe forms Fe2O3)
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Are expressed using chemical equations.
Rusting of iron:
4 Fe + 3 O2 2 Fe2O3 (rust)
reactants
products
Meaning:
Four atoms of iron react with three
molecules of oxygen to form two
molecules of rust
