Chemistry

What is chemistry? A popular dictionary gives this definition: Chemistry is a science of the composition, structure properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems. Another, somewhat simpler dictionary definition, is; Chemistry is a science dealing with the composition of matter and the changes in composition that matter undergoes. Neither of these definitions is entirely adequate. along with the closely related science of physics, is. Chemistry also closely related to biology, not only because living organisms are made of material substances but also because life itself is an essentially complicated system of interrelated chemical processes.

Chemistry’s origin goes back to ancient times, with the manufacture of bronze, iron, ceramics, glass.

At the end of the sixteenth century sufficient facts, entirely free of magic which surrounded the work of the alchemists appeared.

In the seventeenth century modern chemistry began with the work of Robert Boyle. He was the first one who studied quantitatively the relationship between the volume of a gas and the external pressure upon it. Later A. Lavoisier introduced the concept of the chemical elements.

In the 19th century A. Avogadro introduced the formulation of mole­cules. He stated that equal volumes of gases under the same conditions of temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules.

F. A. Kekule and A. M. Butlerov introduced the structural theory of organic chemistry.

In 1869 D. I. Mendeleyev discovered regularities in the properties of the elements. D. I. Mendeleyev’s discovery was the greatest one in chemistry.

Many great scientists devoted their life to the development of chemistry among them Bohr whose theory of the hydrogen atom was very important, the Curies who in 1934 announced the preparation of artificially radio-active elements, Marie Curie who discovered radium, and the element polonium.

Many great Russian chemists made a great contribution to world science. Among them, the outstanding Russian chemists M. V. Lomonosov, D. I. Mendeleyev, A. M. Butlerov, Academician N. N. Semenov, and many others.

Everyone now understands the importance of chemistry. The future of chemistry is practically unlimited. Rapid development of chemical industry will make it possible to create many new goods, machines, plastics, polymers, it will help to understand many new phenomena.

3. Answer the questions:

1. What definition does a popular dictionary give to chemistry?

2. What other definitions do you know?

3. What is chemistry related to?

4. What can you say about chemistry’s origin?

5. What did modern chemistry begin with?

6. What did Lavoisier introduce?

7. Who introduced the formulation of molecules?

8. Whose discovery was the greatest one in chemistry?

9. What do you know about great chemists?

10. Why does the author say about the importance of chemistry?

4. Complete the following sentences using some active words and word combinations (see below):

1. Chemistry deals with…

2. Chemistry is a fundamental…

3. Chemistry is closely related to…and…

4. Life is an essentially complicated system of…

5. Many great scientists devoted their lives to…

6. Chemistry development makes it possible…

branch of knowledge, to understand many phenomena, interrelated chemical processes, different forms of matter, chemistry development, physics and biology.

5. Retell the text using the following scheme:

1. The headline of the text is…

2. The text informs on (deals with, dwells upon)…

3. At the beginning the author makes close study of

(considers)…

4. Then much attention is given to…

5. The text also tells about…

6. To sum up it should be noted…

Text B

1. Match the English words and word combinations in A with their Russian equivalents in B.

A B

universe	чем-либо управлять
scope	наблюдать за природой
a general principle	получать
to govern smth.	свойство
to observe nature	вредный
poisonous	раствор
to solve problems	граница (масштаб)
inorganic chemistry	существовать в природе
to be closely linked with smth.	вещество
a fundamental law	основной принцип
to occur in nature	основной закон
solution	неорганическая химия
substance	знания химии
chemical knowledge	решать проблемы
property	быть тесно связанным с чем-либо
to obtain	вселенная

2. Read the text trying to understand its main idea.