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12 Sustainability in Science
12.2 Chemistry
Chemistry is defined as the study of matter, its properties , and the way substances
combine to form others. It also studies the interaction of substances with energy. It
is worth noting that chemistry is a core part of our day-to-day lives. One amazing
fact is that each material consists of matter, including our bodies. Chemistry is also
involved in all human activities: preparation of food, cleaning homes, and launching
space shuttles. Overall, chemistry is among the physical sciences that enable us to
understand our world. There are five major branches of chemistry:
1. analytical chemistry,
2. physical chemistry,
3. organic chemistry,
4. inorganic chemistry, and
5. biochemistry.
Due to the significance of chemistry in our lives, it is crucial to understand its
application to sustainability.
Which of these branches of chemistry do you believe are most important?
Provide reasons.
12.2.1 Basic Definitions and Concepts
• What is matter? The general definition of matter is that it is anything that has
mass and occupies space (Anastas 2003).
• Mass is the measure of an object’s inertia and is proportional to weight. Mass
is usually measured by comparing the substance of interest to the International
Prototype Kilogram, a standard kilogram.
• Weight is defined as the force exerted on a substance.
• Volume is often defined as the measure of the quantity of space that an object
occupies.
• The amount of substance is defined as the quantity of matter that is determined
directly or indirectly.
• One mole is the number of particles in 12 grams of Carbon-12. The number
referred to as Avogadro’s constant is 6.02214078 18 × 10 23 particles. The mole
acts as a bridge between the atom and macroscopic quantities of material that
people work with within the laboratory. It enables chemists to weight out
quantities of substances, for example, sulfur and iron, in such a way that equal
atom numbers are obtained.
• There are twelve concepts or principles that guide green chemistry.
12 Sustainability in Science
12.2 Chemistry
Chemistry is defined as the study of matter, its properties , and the way substances
combine to form others. It also studies the interaction of substances with energy. It
is worth noting that chemistry is a core part of our day-to-day lives. One amazing
fact is that each material consists of matter, including our bodies. Chemistry is also
involved in all human activities: preparation of food, cleaning homes, and launching
space shuttles. Overall, chemistry is among the physical sciences that enable us to
understand our world. There are five major branches of chemistry:
1. analytical chemistry,
2. physical chemistry,
3. organic chemistry,
4. inorganic chemistry, and
5. biochemistry.
Due to the significance of chemistry in our lives, it is crucial to understand its
application to sustainability.
Which of these branches of chemistry do you believe are most important?
Provide reasons.
12.2.1 Basic Definitions and Concepts
• What is matter? The general definition of matter is that it is anything that has
mass and occupies space (Anastas 2003).
• Mass is the measure of an object’s inertia and is proportional to weight. Mass
is usually measured by comparing the substance of interest to the International
Prototype Kilogram, a standard kilogram.
• Weight is defined as the force exerted on a substance.
• Volume is often defined as the measure of the quantity of space that an object
occupies.
• The amount of substance is defined as the quantity of matter that is determined
directly or indirectly.
• One mole is the number of particles in 12 grams of Carbon-12. The number
referred to as Avogadro’s constant is 6.02214078 18 × 10 23 particles. The mole
acts as a bridge between the atom and macroscopic quantities of material that
people work with within the laboratory. It enables chemists to weight out
quantities of substances, for example, sulfur and iron, in such a way that equal
atom numbers are obtained.
• There are twelve concepts or principles that guide green chemistry.