3
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64480-2_1
Chapter 1
Fundamentals of Chemistry
for Environmental and Medical
Professionals
Abstract Accurate understanding of the human health and environment needs
strong foundation of chemistry. The continuous chemical changes in the environment have significant influences on human health. Chemistry is a specialization of
science that typically deals with the composition, structure, properties, as well as
change of matters. All biotic and abiotic components of the environment are made
up of entities that qualify as chemicals, for example, the proteins of animals and
plants, soil on which we walk, rock on which we climb, diamond in our rings, cloth
we wear, water we drink, air we breathe, and the food we eat. In order to save the
environment, the environmental professionals, especially the advisers in the government, should have sound knowledge of chemistry. Many of the decisions taken
depend on the environmental monitoring. Erroneous sampling, preservation, and
analysis would lead to erroneous decisions that directly affect public health. Further
engineering solutions to combat pollution economically need understanding of
chemistry besides formulation of medicine to an ailment. This chapter discusses the
fundamentals of chemistry, which is often the basis of environment and medical
science.
1.1 Introduction
Chemistry is a specialization of science that deals with the composition, structure,
properties, as well as change of matters. The term “chemical substance” (Fig. 1.1)
refers to any form of matter that has constant chemical composition of its constituent such that its physical properties are determinable. All the matter on earth including human body is made up of one or the other chemicals or combination of
chemicals. Changes in the chemical compositions beyond a certain limit in the environment may affect the health of a person who interacts with it. Pollution does not
honor international political boundaries, and so does the epithelial tissue that acts as
the boundary between our body and the surrounding environment.
Environmental chemistry draws on a range of concepts from chemistry including
understanding solutions, units, sampling, chemical reactions and equations, and
analytical techniques (Williams 2001).
Chemistry has many applications in medical and environmental sciences. Boron
compounds now have applications in Medicinal Chemistry (Ali et al. 2020). Outdoor
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64480-2_1
Chapter 1
Fundamentals of Chemistry
for Environmental and Medical
Professionals
Abstract Accurate understanding of the human health and environment needs
strong foundation of chemistry. The continuous chemical changes in the environment have significant influences on human health. Chemistry is a specialization of
science that typically deals with the composition, structure, properties, as well as
change of matters. All biotic and abiotic components of the environment are made
up of entities that qualify as chemicals, for example, the proteins of animals and
plants, soil on which we walk, rock on which we climb, diamond in our rings, cloth
we wear, water we drink, air we breathe, and the food we eat. In order to save the
environment, the environmental professionals, especially the advisers in the government, should have sound knowledge of chemistry. Many of the decisions taken
depend on the environmental monitoring. Erroneous sampling, preservation, and
analysis would lead to erroneous decisions that directly affect public health. Further
engineering solutions to combat pollution economically need understanding of
chemistry besides formulation of medicine to an ailment. This chapter discusses the
fundamentals of chemistry, which is often the basis of environment and medical
science.
1.1 Introduction
Chemistry is a specialization of science that deals with the composition, structure,
properties, as well as change of matters. The term “chemical substance” (Fig. 1.1)
refers to any form of matter that has constant chemical composition of its constituent such that its physical properties are determinable. All the matter on earth including human body is made up of one or the other chemicals or combination of
chemicals. Changes in the chemical compositions beyond a certain limit in the environment may affect the health of a person who interacts with it. Pollution does not
honor international political boundaries, and so does the epithelial tissue that acts as
the boundary between our body and the surrounding environment.
Environmental chemistry draws on a range of concepts from chemistry including
understanding solutions, units, sampling, chemical reactions and equations, and
analytical techniques (Williams 2001).
Chemistry has many applications in medical and environmental sciences. Boron
compounds now have applications in Medicinal Chemistry (Ali et al. 2020). Outdoor