Science may be defined as the systematized knowledge which
is obtained through observations and experiments.
Chemistry is the branch of science which deals with the composition,
properties, and chemical changes in matter.
The science of chemistry is as old as civilization. It grew
and flourished in all the early civilizations of the world. The Egyptians, the Greeks,
the Romans, and the Muslims contributed much to the development of chemistry.
The Muslim scientists succeeded in presenting chemistry as a purely
experimental science.
Jabir Ibn – e – Hayan is known as father of the science of chemistry.
he prepared white lead. Muhammad Ibn – e – Zikriya Al Razi, was not only an Al
– Chemist but also a successful physician and philosopher. He differentiated
living and non-living things.
AL - Beruni , was an Al - Chemist who determined , the
densities of various substances .
Ibne - seena was the first scientists who rejected the idea
that metals could be changed into gold.
Modern chemistry rose towards perfection since the beginning
of the 19 centuries. This century was marked by the development of Dalton's
atomic theory. Berzelious discovered atomic weights of many elements. Wohler
made urea from inorganic material and changed the idea of vital force theory to
produce organic compounds. Mendaleev gave classification for elements in the
form of periodic table.
In the 20 century Thomson, Rutherford and Bohr rendered rich
contribution to chemistry. This century has given us a large number of
industrial products and chemicals which have facilitated human life in the
modern age.
To make the study of chemistry easier, it has been divided
into several branches. Each branch has its own specialty.
Around us many natural phenomena occur about which chemists
give some speculation or supposition without knowing its truth. Such
speculation is called hypothesis. When predictions relating to hypothesis are confirmed,
then hypothesis is termed as theory. When a theory survives for a long time,
its generalization is then called Law.
Chemistry plays a vital role in the production of essential
items used in our daily life, such as food, synthetic fiber, plastics, medicines,
soap, detergents, cement, glass, fertilizers, etc.
Through chemistry, we can check the composition of many
samples such as milk, urine, blood, and soil. Chemistry provides us radioactive
isotopes for the treatment of many diseases such as cancer, etc. Chemistry can
also help in keeping our environment clean and free from pollution.
