CRIM BRIDGE 2: GENERAL CHEMISTRY

MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 1: Chemistry, Technology, and Society

OBJECTIVES

1. Explain what the study of chemistry is.

2. Discuss key events related to the origins of Modern Chemistry.
3. Provide examples of common life application of Chemistry.
4. Identify Foreign and Filipino scientists that have made significant contributions to the
field of Chemistry.
5. Differentiate the branches of Chemistry.

QUESTION PROMPT

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Chemistry”?

Make a cluster of words that you associate with Chemistry.

CHEMISTRY
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

What have you noticed? Please write your response.

You may have wondered why ice melts, water evaporates, soap removes dirt, and carbonated
beverages bubble when opened. The concepts that explain why these phenomena happen are
supplied by chemistry. Chemistry is the study of the composition, structure and properties of
matter, the changes matter undergoes, and the laws and principles governing these changes.
The word “chemistry” is derived from the Greek word “chemia” which means “the art of
metalworking”.

1.1 The Origins of Modern Chemistry

The first to formulate theories about the behavior of matter were the Greek
philosophers (about 2500 years ago).

Experimental chemistry originates from alchemy, a mystical chemistry that flourishing in

Europe about 500 to 1500 A.D. Alchemists, the followers of alchemy, searched for an elixir
that would make humans immortal and also for a philosopher’s stone that would turn
cheaper metals into gold. Their goals were never realized but they were able to perfect
distillation and extraction; they even discovered many substances.

In the 18th century, chemistry was dominated by the “phlogiston theory” which was
introduced by George Ernst Stahl. The “phlogiston theory” claimed that any material that
could undergo combustion contained phlogiston and that this phlogiston would be released
during combustion. This theory also asserted that air was needed to carry off the phlogiston
as the material burned. Although this theory could explain why a material would weigh less
after combustion, it was not able to give a sufficient explanation why a metal would become
heavier when burned in air.

In 1774 Joseph Priestley, an English clergyman, noticed that a gas formed when he
heated mercuric oxide using lens. He reported this observation to his friend Antonie
Lavoisier, a French chemist, who pondered why mercuric oxide gave off a gas when heated.

Lavoiser demonstrated the importance of mass in combustion. He heated mercury calx

(mercury oxide), decomposing it into mercury and a gas. He found that the total mas of the
mercury and the gas was equal to the mass of the mercury calx. He reserved the
experiment, heating mercury with gas and noticed that mercury calx formed. Again, he
found that the combined mass of the mercury and the gas equaled the mass of the mercury
calx. With these findings, he proposed that when a metal forms its calx, the metal combines
with a gas that is a component of air; he stressed that a metal forming its calx does not lose
phlogiston.
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

To test the validity of his proposal, Lavoisier heated mercury in a certain volume of air;
he noticed that mercury calx formed and the volume of air decreased. This results showed
that the gas that had combined with the mercury was a component of air. He named the
gas oxygen. His theory of combustion which states that “combustion involves the
combination of oxygen (a component of air)” overthrew the phlogiston theory.

1.2 Common Life Applications of Chemistry

Some of the different processes and changes you encounter every day involve
chemistry. These involve the properties, composition, structure, and changes in matter.

Chemistry is involved in the different metabolic processes in the body. The food you
take in is made up of different chemical substances which supply your body’s basic needs. The
process of digesting food involves the use of chemical like acid. There is chemistry in
maintaining the proper medium for blood. Again, there is chemistry in respiration. This is true
for other metabolic processes in the human body.

Chemistry has played an important part in developing new and important materials. It
has helped produce fabrics with properties and characteristics suited to the needs of people.
The clothes you wear are made up of fibers which may have come from a plant or an animal.
Examples of these fibers are cotton, piña, abaca, and silk. There are also synthetic fibers like
rayon and nylon.

In medicine, chemistry has been consistently used; blood tests done for patients involve
principles of chemistry. On the other hand, it governs the production of electricity. Moreover,
the DNA test being conducted by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) make use of
chemical principles.

A chemist is a vital part of the society; without him household products would not be
possible. The works of a chemist include the following ; inventions of new products necessary
to support our daily needs and for u to cope with changing times, researches beneficial to our
health and to the protection of our environment, and discoveries of new principles and theories
that could explain phenomena.

Life itself and all other natural processes involve chemistry. Your body is a living
chemical factory. The food you eat is broken down in your stomach, and the nutrients derived
from food goes into your bloodstream. From here, they are distributed to the various organ
tissues and cells of your body. In the cells, the nutrients are used to synthesize new living
materials and to produce energy for all your various activities.

Activity 1.1.1 Materials Ten Years Hence

Materials:

pen, questionnaire

Procedure:

Interview some residents in your locality (or people inside your house) about
construction materials different from those now available in the market. Record your data in
the Table shown below. The first one is given as an example.
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Part of the House Before Now

roof nipa galvanized iron
post
wall
floor
window
pipes/tubes
ceiling/wall insulator

Questions:

1. What did you learn from your interview?

2. What role has chemistry played in the improvement of new construction materials?

3. Do you think these materials satisfy the requirements in house construction?

In this activity, you learned that new materials were discovered and invented to satisfy
more challenging conditions.

As human population continues to grow, there is a need to build more shelters. Builders
use weather-resistant construction materials like alloys that are lightweight and durable. These
new materials enable people to construct houses in less time using durable but cost-effective
materials.

What do you see in a drug store? The medicine and health care items you see are
products of chemistry. They have been produced by applying chemistry principles.

Activity 1.1.2 will help you identify the different chemical principles involved in the
different activities you do every day.

Activity 1.1.2 Chemistry in daily Life

Materials:

pen, notepad

Procedure:

1. Make a list of the different activities that you do every day (e.g. exercising, eating,
cooking, etc.)

2. Tabulate the activities and chemical processes involved in each.

Activity Chemical Processes

Eating changing food particles into simpler substances
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Questions:

1. Why is there a need to know the chemical principles involved in the activities we do?

2. What breakthroughs have been made possible by applying certain principles learned in
chemistry?

3. How do these breakthroughs affect the quality of our lives?

You learned about the chemical processes involved in some of the activities you do.

1.3 Foreign Scientist and Their Contributions to Chemistry and Related

Technology
The following scientists made significant contributions to the development of the
chemistry and related the technology.

1. Jacobus H. van’t Hoff

Nationality : Dutch
Contribution : discovered laws of chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure

2. Emil Fischer
Nationality : German
Contribution : the first isolate different types of sugar; synthesized a variety of carbohydrates
and purine derivatives; determined the makeup of caffeine

3. Svante Arrhenuis
Nationality : Swedish
Contribution : development of the electrolytic dissociation theory

4. William Ramsay
Nationality : British
Contribution : discovered the elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon and
determined their places in the periodic table

5. Adolf von Baeyer

Nationality : German
Contribution : research into organic dyes and hydro-aromatic compounds

6. Henry Moissan
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Nationality : French
Contribution : isolation of the element fluorine; development of the electric furnace

7. Edward Buchner
Nationality : German
Contribution : discovery of cell-free fermentation

8. Ernest Rutherford
Nationality : British
Contributions : research into the artificial disintegration of elements and the chemistry of
radioactive substances

9. Wilhelm Ostwald
Nationality : German
Contributions : investigation of catalysts and the fundamental principles governing chemical
equilibrium and rates of reaction

10. Fritz Haber

Nationality : German
Contribution : synthesis of ammonia from its elements, nitrogen, and hydrogen

Exercise: Name 3 foreign scientists not mentioned in this module and cite his/her
contribution in chemistry or chemical technology.

1.4 Filipino Scientist and Their Contributions to Chemistry and Related

Technology
There are many Filipino scientists who contributed to the development of chemistry and
related technology. Some of the them are listed below.

1. Violeta P. Arida

Her significant contributions include the following: soapmaking by the cold process,
development of a process for coco-based chemicals such as sulfated monoglyceride detergents,
production and development of a coconut-based diesel fuel suitable for internal combustion
engine, and production of charcoal and activated carbon utilizing agri-cellulosic wastes.
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

2. Dr. Felicedad E. Anzaldo

Among her major contributions are the following: adaption of the technology in the
production id scented soap by the cold process, production of edible and non-edible products
using lemon oil, production of essential oils from different resources; and the development of a
process for the extraction of essential oils from local plants to be used as substitute for
imported materials in the preparation of perfume, soap, and confectioneries.

3. Olympia N. Gonzalez
Her achievements include the following: the development of various food products
utilizing food processing, wastes, production of coconut milk, coco-beverage production from
coconut, development of instant dry tokwa, and coco-pretzel production.

4. Rosario T. Genato
Her scientific contributions include the following: utilization of coconut protein isolates
for the development of stimulated dairymilk from coconut milk as supplement to the local milk
protein deficiency and research on the stability of coconut milk treated with different levels of
emulsifying agent.

5. Josefina B. Manalo
Among her achievements are the following: development of a chemical treatment
method for the extraction of pectin from the waste products of kalamansi fruit, and a study on
the oxidative phenomena in substances with a system of conjugated double bonds.

6. Felecitas R. Fojas
She found out that katurai contains plenty of sterols, tannins, saponins, histamine-like
compound or histamine-releasing agent.

7. Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte, Jr.

He developed a predictive model for cadmium concentration in water reservoirs.

8. Mercedes R. Soriano
She improved the production technology and equality of soy sauce

9. Edgardo S. Juan
He designed and developed the monitoring and control system of a fermentor.

Exercise: Name 3 Filipino scientists not mentioned in this module and cite his/her
contribution in chemistry or chemical technology.
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MODULE 1: CHEMISTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

1.5 Branches of Chemistry

Chemistry has been a partner in improving many of the physical and biological sciences.
Medicine, engineering, agriculture, and the food sciences are some of these fields. Many
advancements in chemical technology have been applied to other sciences as well.

Chemistry has branched out loosely into five general areas, namely: organic, inorganic,
analytical, physical, and biochemistry. Organic chemistry is about compounds of carbon,
hydrogen, and their derivatives. Inorganic chemistry studies all other elements except carbon.
Analytical chemistry emphasizes the development of precise methods of analyzing the
chemical components of substances. Physical chemistry includes chemical reactions, the
energy associated with them, the structures of molecules, and the nature of various states and
phases of matter. Biochemistry includes the composition and behavior of living systems, the
raw materials organisms produce, and the mechanism by which these changes are
accomplished. These branches contribute to the discovery of various applications to meet most
of humankind’s practical needs.

Discoveries and developments in different branches of chemistry have helped the world
face some of the challenges in this field of study.

One of the biggest global problems today is the shortage of food in many parts of the
world. Research in food technology and nutrition has revealed alternative sources of food such
as high-protein yeast cells (HPYC).

Some studies also shown how to improve agricultural practices so that plants like grains
and root crops increase their yield, grow over a shorter period of time, become pest resistant
and be highly adaptive to weather changes. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in
Los Baños, Laguna has conducted numerous experiments to produce high-quality and highly
productive rice varieties.

The pasteurization of milk is an application of biochemical research. New preservation

techniques have made it possible to store liquid milk in packages that need little or no
refrigeration. Research has also enabled milk producers to add essential vitamins and minerals
for growth which otherwise cannot be found in ordinary cow's milk. Most of us have grown up
drinking processed milk (whole or nonfat milk) which has a longer shelf life.

Chemistry has also provided chemical substances that are used as drugs or medicines to
cure many human ailments. Medicines have been discovered to cure serious diseases such as
tuberculosis, leprosy, and malaria. Some illnesses that were fatal then are curable today. An
example is the Bubonic plague. Today, it is a curable disease because of the availability of the
medicines produced from experiments and research studies. There have been rare cases of this
type of outbreak.
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However, some forms of treatment are still being experimented on. Research in nuclear
chemistry has revealed methods by which we can probe the human body without surgery.
Various imaging techniques employing color-sensitive chemicals enable medical technologists
to do this. An example is the cobalt-60 test which makes use of safe amounts of radioactive
substances. This kind of diagnostic test even detects ailments long before the symptoms arise.

Strong plastic containers for blood or dextrose, and opaque plastic bottles for drugs
have helped improve the packaging of pharmaceutical products in terms of safety and
sanitation. Synthetic rubber foams for hospital beds, inflatable rubberized mattresses to
prevent bedsores, disposable syringes, and gloves for doctors and nurses are some of the more
recent developments in the field of medicine.

Organic chemistry sheds light on the applications of petrochemicals and their

derivatives. Petroleum-based products used for fuel or constantly being improved to reduce air
pollution. Special synthetic derivatives of petroleum are used in the production of plastic
containers.

For cars, trains, trucks, and buses, there are new products that provide safety and
convenience. We now have polyurethane bumpers that are capable of absorbing much of the
impact during collision. The brake lining resins for vehicles are made of phenol-formaldehyde
polymer that can withstand more friction resulting in longer use.

The metals, adhesives, and textiles used inside spaceships and the spacesuits of
astronauts are made an of specially formulated materials. They have high melting points in
order to withstand extremely high temperatures and friction.

New alloys of steel have been discovered as useful in metal molds for chemical
instruments and machine parts. Telecommunication wires are made of newly discovered
materials like fiber optics. These materials can carry millions of messages within seconds.

These developments prove that, indeed, chemistry is closely related to other fields of
sciences. To further illustrate this, do Activity 1.3.1

Activity 1.5.1 Chemistry Everywhere

Materials:

pen, questionnaire

Procedure:

1. Interview one person that is working in a field related to your discipline or course. If you
cannot find a respondent, you may research your answers.

2. Ask the interviewee the following and summarize his or her answers below:

a. What is the nature of your job?

b. What is the major product or service offered by your company?

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c. How does the knowledge of chemistry facilitate the kind of job you are doing?

5. What have you realized after doing the interview/research?

The impact of chemistry on other field of science cannot be underestimated. Chemical

research studies that explore the applications of chemistry must be encouraged and supported
by the citizenry and the government.

Assessing Your Knowledge

Answer the following briefly.

1. Name one product that can be found at home and explain how it is related to
Chemistry.

2. Is the involvement of chemistry in other fields of science relevant? Explain your answer.

3. Based on your experience, cite an example as to how chemistry is involved in each of the
following fields:

a. Criminology

b. Medicine

c. Agriculture

d. Engineering