http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Introduction to Chemistry
pesticides contain toxic chemicals that are potentially harmful to other organisms, including humans. Chemists
are involved in developing alternatives to traditional pesticides so that the use of these harmful chemicals can be
reduced. Biotechnology was mentioned previously as a way to increase the resistance of crops to pests. Pests can
also be attacked by using natural chemicals to disrupt their mating and reproductive mechanisms so that the overall
number of pests declines.
FIGURE 1.
Runoff from excessive fertilizer usage can
cause an algal bloom due to the large in-
crease in nutrient levels that causes algae
populations to explode. Algal blooms are
harmful to the natural processes of the
aquatic ecosystem.Lesson Summary
- Chemistry is the study of matter and its changes. Chemistry is closely interrelated with other scientific fields,
such as biology and geology. - Chemists examine and explain their observations on both macroscopic and microscopic levels.
- Pure chemistry is devoted to the acquisition of chemical knowledge, while applied chemistry is focused on a
specific goal. - The five main disciplines of chemistry are physical, organic, inorganic, analytical, and biochemistry.
- Chemistry has modern applications in the fields of energy, medicine, materials science, the environment, and
agriculture.
Lesson Review Questions
Reviewing Concepts
- Which of the following scientific inquiries involve chemistry? For the others, what field of science is being
described?
a. how long it takes for an object to fall from a rooftop to the ground
b. how fast a flammable liquid burns
c. the amount of pollutants in a lake