Chemicals are elements that cannot be broken down further and combine to form compounds. They are used in daily life to create many substances, but some can have negative effects. Understanding chemical reactions is important in chemistry, which is studied by many professions.
In its most basic form, a chemical is an element, as it has a specific molecular composition and can be produced or used during a natural chemical process. An element is a chemical substance made up of specific types of atoms that cannot be broken down any further; in short, the elements are the purest forms of chemicals known to man. When multiple chemicals combine, a chemical compound is formed, which exists to combine different types of elements and thus different reactions.
Scope
Perhaps the primary use of chemicals is to promote and enhance a higher quality of life not only for the human race, but for countless other species as well, as they enable modern day inventions to be created. Anything that is made up of matter, or anything considered solid, liquid, or gaseous, is made up of chemicals; this means that almost everything a person uses during the day is made up of chemicals. Chemicals are used as a basic function of daily life; they are combined in such a way that they create many commonly used substances, from the water you drink to the gasoline that powers a car.
Just 100 years ago, many of the chemicals used today didn’t exist, at least not in any known form. This includes the chemicals needed to make things like modern medicines and cleaning products. In addition to the chemicals already used in the modern world, other chemicals are being produced every day.
Combination of chemicals
To produce chemical compounds, a chemical formula must first be worked out. This formula is simply a list of atoms which includes the types of atoms and the number of those specific atoms needed to form a molecule of the substance in question. Usually, this is accomplished by listing the type of atom first, followed by the number of atoms needed for that particular compound.
For example, consider one of the most common chemical formulas known in the world H2O. These are two hydrogen atoms combined with one oxygen atom. The result is one of the most basic and vital chemicals known to mankind: water.
The order of elements in the formula is usually determined by the Hill system, which states that all carbon atoms will be listed first, hydrogen atoms second, then all other remaining atoms in alphabetical order. The exception to this is ionic compounds, which will always list the positively charged ion first. This is the case with NaCl, the formula for salt.
Side effects
However, while a chemical can be a good thing, some types of chemicals can also have negative effects on both people and the environment. For example, some chemicals can pose serious risks if ingested, some chemicals are believed to cause cancer, and some chemicals are known to be hazardous to the atmosphere. Many websites and books are dedicated to educating the public about the potentially harmful side effects that can result from chemicals.
Chemists, or those who work with chemicals, are tasked with understanding how different chemicals will react to each other. Without this knowledge, it is very likely that experimenting with certain chemicals could lead to catastrophic results.
Chemistry
The study of chemicals is called chemistry. Often, the most basic forms of chemistry instruction begin in high school and then continue into higher education institutions. Those who need a background in chemistry include physicians, pharmaceutical researchers, and even food and synthetic food developers.
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