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Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, how and why substances combine or separate
to form other substances, and how substances interact with energy. Many people think of
chemists as being white-coated scientists mixing strange liquids in a laboratory, but the truth is
we are all chemists. Understanding basic chemistry concepts is important for almost every
profession. Chemistry is part of everything in our lives.
Every material in existence is made up of matter — even our own bodies. Chemistry is involved
in everything we do, from growing and cooking food to cleaning our homes and bodies to
launching a space shuttle. Chemistry is one of the physical sciences that help us to describe and
explain our world.

Five branches
There are five main branches of chemistry, each of which has many areas of study.

Analytical chemistry uses qualitative and quantitative observation to identify and measure the
physical and chemical properties of substances. In a sense, all chemistry is analytical.
Physical chemistry combines chemistry with physics. Physical chemists study how matter and
energy interact. Thermodynamics and quantum mechanics are two of the important branches
of physical chemistry.
Organic chemistry specifically studies compounds that contain the element carbon. Carbon has
many unique properties that allow it to form complex chemical bonds and very large molecules.
Organic chemistry is known as the “Chemistry of Life” because all of the molecules that make
up living tissue have carbon as part of their makeup.
Inorganic chemistry studies materials such as metals and gases that do not have carbon as part
of their makeup.
Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes that occur within living organisms.

Fields of study
Within these broad categories are countless fields of study, many of which have important
effects on our daily life. Chemists improve many products, from the food we eat and the
clothing we wear to the materials with which we build our homes. Chemistry helps to protect
our environment and searches for new sources of energy.
Food chemistry
Food science deals with the three biological components of food — carbohydrates, lipids and
proteins. Carbohydrates are sugars and starches, the chemical fuels needed for our cells to
function. Lipids are fats and oils and are essential parts of cell membranes and to lubricate and
cushion organs within the body. Because fats have 2.25 times the energy per gram than either
carbohydrates or proteins, many people try to limit their intake to avoid becoming overweight.
Proteins are complex molecules composed of from 100 to 500 or more amino acids that are
chained together and folded into three-dimensional shapes necessary for the structure and
function of every cell. Our bodies can synthesize some of the amino acids; however eight of
them, the essential amino acids, must be taken in as part of our food. Food scientists are also
concerned with the inorganic components of food such as its water content, minerals, vitamins
and enzymes.
Food chemists improve the quality, safety, storage and taste of our food. Food chemists may
work for private industry to develop new products or improve processing. They may also work
for government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration to inspect food products
and handlers to protect us from contamination or harmful practices. Food chemists test
products to supply information used for the nutrition labels or to determine how packaging and
storage affects the safety and quality of the food. Flavorists work with chemicals to change the
taste of food. Chemists may also work on other ways to improve sensory appeal, such as
enhancing color, odor or texture.
Environmental chemistry
Environmental chemists study how chemicals interact with the natural environment.
Environmental chemistry is an interdisciplinary study that involves both analytical chemistry
and an understanding of environmental science. Environmental chemists must first understand
the chemicals and chemical reactions present in natural processes in the soil water and air.
Sampling and analysis can then determine if human activities have contaminated the
environment or caused harmful reactions to affect it.
Water quality is an important area of environmental chemistry. “Pure” water does not exist in
nature; it always has some minerals or other substance dissolved in it. Water quality chemists
test rivers, lakes and ocean water for characteristics such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity,
suspended sediments, and pH. Water destined for human consumption must be free of harmful
contaminants and may be treated with additives like fluoride and chlorine to increase its safety.

Agricultural chemistry
Agricultural chemistry is concerned with the substances and chemical reactions that are
involved with the production, protection and use of crops and livestock. It is a highly
interdisciplinary field that relies on ties to many other sciences. Agricultural chemists may work
with the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug
Administration or for private industry. Agricultural chemists develop fertilizers, insecticides and
herbicides necessary for large-scale crop production. They must also monitor how these
products are used and their impacts on the environment. Nutritional supplements are
developed to increase the productivity of meat and dairy herds.
Agricultural biotechnology is a fast-growing focus for many agricultural chemists. Genetically
manipulating crops to be resistant to the herbicides used to control weeds in the fields requires
detailed understanding of both the plants and the chemicals at the molecular level. Biochemists
must understand genetics, chemistry and business needs to develop crops that are easier to
transport or that have a longer shelf life.
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineers research and develop new materials or processes that involve chemical
reactions. Chemical engineering combines a background in chemistry with engineering and
economics concepts to solve technological problems. Chemical engineering jobs fall into two
main groups: industrial applications and development of new products.
Industries require chemical engineers to devise new ways to make the manufacturing of their
products easier and more cost effective. Chemical engineers are involved in designing and
operating processing plants, develop safety procedures for handling dangerous materials, and
supervise the manufacture of nearly every product we use. Chemical engineers work to develop
new products and processes in every field from pharmaceuticals to fuels and computer
components.
Geochemistry
Geochemists combine chemistry and geology to study the makeup and interaction between
substances found in the Earth. Geochemists may spend more time in field studies than other
types of chemists. Many work for the U.S. Geological Survey or the Environmental Protection
Agency in determining how mining operations and waste can affect water quality and the
environment. They may travel to remote abandoned mines to collect samples and perform
rough field evaluations, and then follow a stream through its watershed to evaluate how
contaminants are moving through the system. Petroleum geochemists are employed by oil and
gas companies to help find new energy reserves. They may also work on pipelines and oil rigs to
prevent chemical reactions that could cause explosions or spills.
Forensic chemistry
Forensic chemists capture and analyze the physical evidence left behind at a crime scene to
help determine the identities of the people involved as well as to answer other vital questions
regarding how and why the crime was carried out. Forensic chemists use a wide variety of
analyzation methods, such as chromatography, spectrometry and spectroscopy.
In new research appearing in the Journal of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry,
scientists from the department of chemistry at Louisiana State University (LSU) set out to apply
laser technology to the field of forensic science.
They developed a system that goes above and beyond the identification of a fingerprint. The
technique can capture molecules contained within a fingermark, including lipids, proteins,
genetic material, or even trace amounts of explosives, which can be further analyzed. The new
tool essentially takes the mystery out of identifying the chemical composition of fingermarks at
crime scenes.
The tool focuses a laser — using mirrors and optical fibers — onto a surface containing a
fingermark. The laser then heats up any water or moisture on the surface, triggering chemical
bonds in the water to stretch and vibrate, according to the LSU College of Science Blog. All of
this focused energy causes the water to “explode,” turning it into a gas and separating
biomolecules such as DNA. This process is called laser ablation.
Next a small vacuum pump system pulls the water and molecules into a tiny filter that captures
everything left behind by a person’s finger. Forensic scientists can then put the contents into an
analysis device such as a mass spectrometer or a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer.

Importantly, this laser ablation technique can easily capture fingermarks on porous surfaces,
such as cardboard (on which traditional forensic methods have not been very successful).
To test their new technique, the researchers placed fingermarks on many different surface
types, including glass, plastic, aluminum and cardboard. These fingermarks were laced with
substances as diverse as caffeine, antiseptic cream, condom lubricants and TNT, according to
the LSU College of Science Blog. After each fingermark capture, the chemists were able to
identify these substances using mass spectrometry.
Additional reporting by Traci Pedersen, Live Science contributor.

Additional resource
• American Chemical Society

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