Some Basic Concepts Of Chemistry

Chapter - 1

What is chemistry?

The branch of science that studies the preparation, properties, structure and reactions of material substances.

What was chemistry called in ancient India?

Rasayan shastra, Rastantra, Ras Kriya or Rasvidya

Drugs for cancer therapy

Cisplatin and Taxol

Drugs used for helping AIDS patients

AZT (Azidothymidine)

Matter

Anything which has mass and occupies space.

States of matter

Solid, Liquid, Gas
Solid- Definite vol and shape
Liquid- Definite vol but not definite shape
Gas- Neither definite volume nor definite shape

Plasma

Ionised gas consisting of free roaming electrons and positively charged ions.

Bose-Einstein Condensate

Gas of certain particles [Bosons] is cooled to temperatures close to absolute temperature [0 kelvin], atoms their indivisual identity to merge and behave as super atom.

Classification of Matter

Mixture (Homogeneous and Heterogeneous) and Pure substances (Element and Compound).

Mixture

Contains particles of 2 or more pure substances (its components) which are not chemically combined/linked.

Heterogeneous mixture

Its composition is not uniform and sometimes different components are visible.
Example: Mix of salt and sugar, grains and pulses along with some dirt.

Homogeneous mixture

Its composition is uniform and the components completely mix with each other.
Example: Sugar solution, Air

How can components of mixture be separated?

By physical processes like hand-picking, filtration, crystallisation, distillation etc.