Magic and Mystery or just pure Chemistry?

“Chemistry, unlike other sciences, sprang originally from delusions and superstitions, and was at its commencement exactly on a par with magic and astrology”. – Thomas Thomson.

Chemistry is not limited to beakers and laboratories. It is all around us, and the better we know chemistry, the better we know our world. A World without chemistry is not only just practically possible but also impossible to imagine, because to think is to practice your brain chemistry. Chemistry has been called ‘the central science’ because of its role and influence on all of the sciences. It involves the study of the basic units of matter, and without that knowledge other sciences such as physics and biology would not have been particularly successful.

Chemistry plays a role in every aspect of our lives. It has allowed other sciences to blossom and has expanded our collective knowledge. You can’t force Chemistry to exist when it doesn’t, in the same way you cannot deny when it does. We understand how the tiniest components of the human body work and can predict the composition of planets millions of miles away.

“Knowing without seeing is the heart of Chemistry”- Roald Hoffman.

Movie makers sometimes use dilute aqueous potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) for fake blood. Paint it onto a surface as a colourless solution, then let it come into contact with ferric chloride. The result beats tomato ketchup any time. From space travel to milk, chemistry has played a massive part in improving our lives. A world without chemistry would be one big headache – without the salicylic acid!

Water, which occupies 70% of the earth's surface is made by two chemical elements, hydrogen and oxygen. Soap is an emulsifier which allows oil and water to mix and so the oily mixtures on body and clothes can be removed after application of soap and water.

Colored vegetables consist of chemical compounds called carotenoids which have an area known as the chromophore. It absorbs certain wavelengths of light and thus there are colored vegetables. Onions make you cry due to the presence of sulfur in the cells which break after the onions are cut. This sulfur gets mixed with moisture and thus irritates your eyes. If you have wondered, why is the sky blue, it is due to a phenomenon called the "Rayleigh scattering". Coffee keeps you awake because of the presence of a chemical called adenosine, in your brain. It binds to certain receptors and slows the nerve cell activity when sleep is signaled. With these great examples about chemistry in everyday life, there is no other explanation of the existence of earth and its components other than chemistry.