1. Introduction to Chemistry

Introduction to Chemistry

Chemistry is a science that studies matter, its properties, how and why substances combine or separate to form other substances, and how substances interact with energy. It is fundamental to life as we know it, and is at the heart of many of the important issues we face today, including the development of new medicines and therapies, the creation of new materials and technologies, the production of clean and sustainable energy, and the environment protection.

The Fundamentals of Chemistry

At the heart of chemistry are the elements. So far, 118 elements have been identified and cataloged on the periodic table, the tool chemists use to organize elements and predict their behavior. Each element is a pure substance made from the same type of atom. Water, for example, is a substance composed of two elements, hydrogen and oxygen.

Atoms, in turn, are made up of subatomic particles—protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. The number of protons in an atom determines what element it belongs to, while the number of electrons determines how it reacts with other atoms.

The Three Main Areas of Chemistry

Chemistry is traditionally divided into three main sub-disciplines: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.

Inorganic Chemistry studies elements and their compounds, excluding those that contain carbon. It is concerned with the structure, properties and reactions of these substances.

Organic Chemistry, on the other hand, studies compounds that contain carbon. These are found in all forms of life and are the basis of many industrial products including plastics, drugs, dyes and fuels.

Physical Chemistry is the field that studies how matter and energy interact. It combines principles of physics and chemistry to understand energy, thermodynamics, chemical reactions, and the structure of matter at the atomic and molecular level.

Chemistry and ENEM

To do well on the ENEM test, it is important to have a good understanding of the fundamental principles of chemistry and be able to apply them to a variety of situations. ENEM chemistry questions can cover a wide range of topics, including the structure and properties of atoms, the periodic table, chemical reactions, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, organic and inorganic chemistry, and chemistry of the environment.

This e-book course is designed to help you understand and master these topics, through clear and concise explanations, practical examples, exercises and review questions. It also offers test tips and strategies to help you maximize your score.

With proper preparation, you can turn chemistry from a challenging subject into a source of valuable points on the ENEM exam. We hope this e-book course will be a valuable resource on your learning journey.

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