Branches of Chemistry

 The four main branches of chemistry are:

(1) Organic chemistry;          (2) Inorganic chemistry;

(3) Physical chemistry;         (4) Analytical chemistry.

(1) Organic chemistry: It is concerned with the study of compounds of carbon except carbonates, bicarbonates, cyanides, isocyanides, carbides and oxides of carbon. It is actually the study of hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

(2) Inorganic chemistry: It deals with the study of all known elements and their compounds except organic compounds. It is concerned with the materials obtained from minerals, air, sea and soil.

(3) Physical chemistry: It is concerned with the physical properties and constitution of matter, the laws of chemical combination and theories governing reactions. The effect of temperature, pressure, light, concentration, etc., on reactions come under the scope of physical chemistry.

(4) Analytical chemistry: It deals with various methods of analysis of chemical substances both qualitative and quantitative. It includes chemical and physical methods of analysis. A number of specialized branches have been introduced as to cope with the extraordinary expansion in the subject of chemistry.

 Some of the specialized branches are:

(i) Biochemistry: It comprises the studies of the substances related to living organisms and life processes.

(ii) Medicinal chemistry: It deals with the application of chemical substances for the prevention and cure of various diseases in living beings.

(iii) Soil and agriculture chemistry: It deals with the analysis and treatment of soils so as to increase its fertility for the better yields of crops. It is concerned with the chemicals used as fertilizers, insecticides, germicides, herbicides, etc.

(iv) Geochemistry: It includes the study of natural substances like ores and minerals, coal, petroleum, etc.

(v) Industrial chemistry: It deals -with the study of chemical processes for the production of useful chemicals on a large scale at relatively low costs.

(vi) Nuclear chemistry: It is the most recent branch. It includes the study of nuclear reactions, the' production of radioactive isotopes and their applications in various fields.

(vii) Structural chemistry: It deals with various techniques used for elucidation of the structure of chemical substances. It is concerned with the properties of substances in terms of their structure.

(viii) Polymer chemistry: It includes the study of chemical substances of very high molecular masses of the order of 100,000 or greater, called polymers-natural or artificial. 

(ix) Limnochemistry: It deals with the study of chemistry involved in the river water or water reservoirs.

(x) Phytochemistry: It includes the study of chemistry of plants.