GC 1 Module 1

• Chemistry


  The scientific discipline that studies the composition, structure, properties, and transformations of matter
• Chemistry


  • Explores the interactions between atoms, molecules, and various substances
  • Encompasses both organic and inorganic compounds
  • Delves into the fundamental principles governing chemical reactions and processes
• Democritus


  First to propose that matter exists in the form of particles. Coined the term 'atoms.'
• Period from 1000 to 1600s

  • Alchemists started practicing their trade
  • Introduction of the first vacuum pump in the mid-1600s
• Alchemists


  • Sought a universal solvent
  • Attempted to change lead and other metals into gold
  • Tried to discover an elixir that would prolong life
  • Learned how to use metallic compounds and plant-derived materials to treat diseases
• Sir Robert Boyle


  • Formulated the fundamental gas laws
  • First to propose the combination of small particles to form molecules
  • Differentiated between compounds and mixtures
• Evangelista Torricelli


  Invented the mercury barometer
• J.L. Gay-Lussac


  • Discovered boron and iodine
  • Discovered acid-base indicators (litmus)
  • Improved method for making sulfuric acid
  • Researched behavior of gasses
• Charles Coulomb


  Introduced the inverse-square law of electrostatics
• Michael Faraday


  • Coined the term 'electrolysis'
  • Developed theories of electrical and mechanical energy, corrosion, batteries, and electrometallurgy
  • Was not a proponent of atomism
• Ancient Beginnings


  1. Early practitioners engaged in alchemy, a precursor to modern chemistry

  2. Alchemists sought to transform base metals into gold and discover the elixir of life
• Alchemy to Chemistry


  1. Transition began in the 17th century with the work of scientists like Robert Boyle

  2. Boyle is often referred to as the founder of modern chemistry due to his experimental methods and rejection of alchemy's mysticism
• Phlogiston Theory


  1. Dominated chemical thought in the 17th and 18th centuries

  2. Proposed that a substance called phlogiston was released during combustion, rusting, and respiration

  3. Discredited by Antoine Lavoisier, who introduced the concept of oxidation
• Lavoisier and Modern Chemistry

  1. Revolutionized the field in the late 18th century

  2. Disproved the phlogiston theory

  3. Introduced the law of conservation of mass, laying the foundation for modern chemistry
• Periodic Table


  1. Dmitri Mendeleev formulated the periodic table in 1869

  2. Organized elements based on their atomic mass and properties, leaving gaps for undiscovered elements

  3. Provided a framework that could predict the existence and properties of new elements
• Discovery of the Electron

  1. J.J. Thomson discovered the electron, a subatomic particle with a negative charge, in 1897

  2. Revolutionized the understanding of atomic structure and laid the groundwork for modern atomic theory
• Rutherford's Atomic Model


  1. Ernest Rutherford proposed a new atomic model in 1911 after conducting the famous gold foil experiment

  2. Suggested that atoms have a small, dense nucleus surrounded by electrons orbiting at a distance, challenging the previous plum pudding model
• Quantum Mechanics


  1. Developed in the early 20th century by scientists like Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schrödinger

  2. Revolutionized chemistry by providing a new understanding of atomic and molecular behavior, leading to advances in spectroscopy and molecular modeling
• Synthetic Polymers


  1. Discovered and developed in the 20th century, such as nylon and polyethylene

  2. Transformed materials science and everyday life

  3. Chemists like Wallace Carothers at DuPont played pivotal roles in the synthesis of these revolutionary materials
• Green Chemistry


  1. Introduced in recent decades

  2. Focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in chemistry

  3. Emphasizes the design of chemical products and processes that minimize environmental impact, promoting a more sustainable future