Understanding Subfields of Chemistry

Understanding Subfields of ChemistryOne of the most fascinating aspects of chemical analysis is subfields of chemistry. There are many different subfields within the field of chemistry, and each has different purposes and functions. A chemical analysis is a scientific method that involves identifying compounds or other substances through the chemical properties of the specimen or objects used.The most common subfield is thermodynamics. The purpose of this subfield is to determine the entropy of a substance. Thermodynamics deals with all forms of physical processes such as the generation of heat, heat conduction, dissipative cooling, thermodynamic equilibrium, and transfer of energy. Each of these processes involve the use of mass or energy. It is important to understand how these processes work in order to properly utilize them.Potential thermodynamic properties are used in molecular or atomic structure to determine their nature. The basic assumption is that every molecule in nature is a perfect sphere, surrounded by the rest of the molecules. An accurate depiction of this is one atom per four electrons. A thermodynamic constant can be defined as the temperature at which a particular chemical process begins. The value of this constant is proportional to the pressure or entropy of the substance.A thermodynamic equation is used to measure changes in temperature. It is a very simple formula, but is extremely complicated when used with numerous variables. Different methods exist for computing this equation. Thermodynamic equation is also used to describe the internal and external entropy.Internal entropy is the change in entropy due to the degree of internal disorder. All elements in nature have a tendency to have internal disorder; this is commonly known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Many of the chemical reactions in nature rely on internal disorder to get started, but internal disorder must be decreased to allow for spontaneous reactions. Internaldisor der can be increased by stress, contamination, and radiation. Temperature reduction is achieved by reducing the internal entropy by forming hydrogen bonds between atoms.External entropy refers to the change in entropy caused by the outside environment. A simple way to describe this is that heat is transferred from one place to another. Heat can be transferred through radiation, conduction, convection, evaporation, and diffusion. Heat is transferred through molecules, atoms, and other particles of matter. The changes in heat are ultimately dependent on the rate of energy transfer through the medium. Heat conduction means that the transfer of energy occurs at a faster rate than the speed of light.Other subfields of chemistry include analytical chemistry, thermodynamics, and structural chemistry. Each of these subfields has many different purposes and uses. Each uses an equation to explain the nature of a substance, but each has specific variables associated with it.