The 30 branches of Chemistry (explained)

Summary of the branches of chemistry and the fields of research of these scientific disciplines.

Humanity would have been very different without all the great discoveries that have been made in chemistry, even before this natural science was defined and baptized with this name.

Before its "invention" we humans were familiar with certain chemical reactions and processes of this nature, including fire, but we attributed to them a magical origin, a view shared by the most direct ancestor of modern chemistry, alchemy.

Much has already happened since chemistry became a real science, being applied in countless fields and giving rise to various sub-disciplines. Today we are going to know which are the most important branches of chemistry.

The main branches of chemistry

The history of mankind is closely linked to the development of chemistry and the countless discoveries that have been made in this discipline. Progress in this science has always brought with it great technological, social and cultural advances, which have given rise to society as it is today.which have given rise to the society as we know it today.

The development of nuclear chemistry, the use of fossil fuels and the creation of pharmaceuticals are just a few of the chemical discoveries that are significant for our society, although probably the greatest chemical discovery has been fire.

Although human beings have been trying to understand how matter interacts with each other in the form of reactions for 800,000 years, it should be noted that chemistry, as an official science, emerged in 1661 thanks to a book published by Robert Boyle entitled "The Skeptical Chemist: or Chemo-physical Doubts and Paradoxes". Since then, this discipline this discipline has been expanding its knowledge enormously, having applications for absolutely everything we can imagine: plastics, vaccines, construction, medicine and pharmacy, water purification...Plastics, vaccines, construction, medicine and pharmaceuticals, water purification...

As there are so many applications of the science that studies the composition, structure and properties of matter, this has made it necessary to divide chemistry into several branches, each of them focused on a specific aspect and application of the knowledge of matter and its interactions between substances. The following sections are the 30 most important branches of chemistry.

Organic chemistry

Organic chemistry is the branch that unites chemistry with biology.. This branch studies compounds with carbon atoms, which is what determines the existence of organic matter. Organic chemistry allows us to know the chemical composition of organisms and to understand the nature of the chemical reactions that take place inside living beings. Carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins and vitamins among other carbon-based molecules are the object of study of organic chemistry.

2. Inorganic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry can be understood as the branch of chemistry antagonistic to organic chemistry.. This branch studies all substances that do not contain carbon among their main components or that do not form part of life, as is the case with most minerals and metals. In other words, inorganic chemistry studies all matter without life or that does not come from something that has been alive.

3. Biochemistry

Biochemistry is closely related to organic chemistry, since both disciplines combine aspects of chemistry with those of biology. This branch of chemistry is in charge of studying the nature of the chemical reactions that take place inside living organisms.. In its particular case, it focuses on knowing the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which metabolism takes place.

4. Analytical chemistry

Analytical chemistry is the discipline that, by means of the use of detection methods and both chemical and physical procedures, analyzes the composition of different compounds that take place in the body, analyzes the composition of different compounds that can be found in nature.. This branch of chemistry allows to know what are the components of any substance.

5. Pharmaceutical chemistry

Pharmaceutical chemistry is the branch that development of medicinal substances thanks to the deep knowledge of the physiological actions that occur when certain molecules interact in our organism. that occur when certain molecules interact in our organism. Thanks to pharmaceutical chemistry, we have drugs, medicines, vaccines and other substances designed for the purpose of preventing or treating diseases.

6. Medicinal chemistry

Medicinal chemistry is closely related to pharmaceutical chemistry. This discipline is based on the administration of certain chemical substances to treat and cure diseases.. It differs from pharmaceutics in that it does not focus so much on prevention, but rather directly on treating and alleviating the symptoms associated with a medical condition.

In addition, although medications are the first option, this branch also studies the possibility of prescribing certain drugs in case they have proven therapeutic power (e.g., medical cannabis).

7. Food chemistry

Food chemistry is the discipline that makes it possible to find applications of chemistry within the food industry..

This branch is responsible both for the development of substances to prevent food spoilage and for the creation of substances that can enhance flavors, which is why food chemistry is of great importance in the food industry.

8. Industrial chemistry

Industrial chemistry is the discipline that studies how we can convert matter into products that can be beneficial to society..

This branch of chemistry looks for the way to convert a raw material into a new one that has some kind of utility. There are many applications of industrial chemistry in our society and absolutely all industries in the world are based on this discipline.

9. Physical Chemistry

Physical chemistry, as its name indicates, is a discipline that combines knowledge of physics and chemistry.. This branch is in charge of studying the processes by which these two sciences intermingle, since there are chemical processes in which there are also physical processes. Thermodynamics and electrical processes, to give a few examples, are objects of study of this discipline.

10. Astrochemistry

Astrochemistry is the scientific discipline that studies the reactions that occur in celestial bodies.. This branch of chemistry is responsible for analyzing the chemical properties that planets, comets, asteroids, stars, galaxies, the vacuum of space...

11. Photochemistry

Photochemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the interactions between atoms that produce luminous phenomena, as well as the rest of electromagnetic radiation.. Basically relates chemistry to the study of light energy.

12. Geochemistry

Geochemistry is the discipline of chemistry that studies the composition and interactions that occur between the minerals of our planet.. It can be considered as a branch within inorganic chemistry.

13. Nanochemistry

Nanochemistry is the discipline of chemistry responsible for the development and study of very small objects of nanoscopic dimensions.. It is a very promising science, as in the not-too-distant future it is expected to have an enormous impact on fields such as technology and medicine.

14. Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry is the discipline that studies the relationship between electricity and chemistry.. It deals with the analysis of how chemical reactions can produce electrical phenomena and also how electrical energy can initiate chemical reactions.

15. Nuclear chemistry

Nuclear chemistry studies the reactions that take place inside the nuclei of atoms.. It studies both naturally occurring reactions, such as the fusions that take place inside stars, and artificially induced reactions, such as fissions and fusions to obtain energy in nuclear power plants.

16. Petrochemistry

Petrochemistry is the branch of chemistry which studies what transformations are necessary to convert hydrocarbons, such as petroleum, coal or coal.such as petroleum, coal or natural gas (fossil fuels) into fuels or products such as plastics.

17. Theoretical chemistry

Theoretical chemistry is an umbrella term to refer to the set of disciplines that seek to set of disciplines that seek to predict chemical phenomena from a purely theoretical point of view, i.e. without resorting to experimental methods..

These branches use mathematical models and estimations and physical laws to explain chemical processes that cannot be demonstrated experimentally with the means currently available.

18. Computational chemistry

Computational chemistry is a curious branch of chemistry. As its name suggests, it is very close to programming and, in fact, seeks to develop computer programs capable of solving chemical problems posed by the theoretical branches of chemistry.

19. Quantum chemistry

Quantum chemistry is a branch of theoretical chemistry. This is in charge of predicting the chemical interactions that are established in the quantum world, at the level of subatomic particles. such as electrons, neutrons, protons, quarks, gluons, hadrons...

20. Environmental chemistry

Environmental chemistry focuses on the impact of chemical compounds in nature, both those that impact naturally and those that have been released by humans.Environmental chemistry focuses on the impact of chemical compounds in nature, both those that have a natural impact and those that have been released by humans.

Magnetochemistry

Magnetochemistry is the discipline of chemistry that the study of the properties of substances with magnetic strength, as well as the search for applications based not only on the properties of the substances, but also on the properties of the substances themselves.It also seeks applications based not only on this magnetism but also taking advantage of their electrical and optical properties.

22. Neurochemistry

Neurochemistry is a branch of biochemistry.. This discipline focuses on studying the chemical reactions that occur in our nervous system, especially in the central nervous system. Thus, neurochemistry studies and analyzes the properties and effects of neurotransmitters, hormones and drugs in our brain.

23. Green chemistry

Green chemistry is the science that focuses on developing chemical substances and using them in processes that are focused on eliminating other substances that are harmful to ecosystems. In other words, green chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with correcting environmental pollution.

24. Marine chemistry

Marine chemistry studies the chemical composition of all large bodies of salt water, in other words, seas and oceans..

It is also responsible for analyzing the impact mankind has on the oceanic world, and seeks to find ways to conserve and maintain the oceans and seas so that they can continue to be ideal places for marine life to live.

25. Organometallic chemistry

Organometallic chemistry is the discipline that focuses on the study of the composition and properties of all substances that have, at least in part, the following properties all substances that have at least one carbon atom and one metal atom..

26. Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is the branch that studies the chemical properties that determine that an object emits one type of radiation or another. It must be understood that all matter emits electromagnetic radiation in one form or another.It can be in the form of visible light or radiation such as X-rays, gamma rays, infrared. The object of spectroscopy is the analysis and measurement of this type of radiation.

27. Polymer chemistry

Polymer chemistry studies how polymers can be created from the union of their components, the monomers.. This discipline analyzes how complex molecules are formed from simpler ones, something that can have many applications in both the industrial and biomedical worlds, since proteins are a Biological example of molecules formed by the union of monomers, in this case amino acids.

28. Macromolecular chemistry

Macromolecular chemistry studies the composition and properties of macromolecules.. These molecules are the union of several molecules and, as a consequence, have a large size. Some molecules that are the subject of study of macromolecular chemistry are carbohydrates, proteins, artificial polymers, fats and plastics.

29. Supramolecular chemistry

The supramolecular chemistry is the chemical discipline which studies the interactions that take place between molecules, especially with regard to the interactions between molecules.especially with regard to molecular bonds. This branch of chemistry provides the basis for the synthesis of artificial macromolecules.

30. Preparative chemistry

Preparative chemistry is the most applicable branch of chemistry, since it deals with the study of the laboratory procedures required for both purifying and preparing substances.