CHEMISTRY

Other pages in the Chemistry area

Introduction		Ionic Compounds
Atomic Theory		Ions
Covalent Compounds		Periodic Table
Chemical Formulae		Polyatomic Ions

Basic Chemistry

How well do you know your chemistry? Test yourself !

Chemistry begins by looking at the world and taking the idea that everything in it is built up from small bits. Chemists attempt to understand how those small bits are put together in all the various combinations with the aim of forming simple principles that can apply to the formation and workings of all things in the universe. 

What are the basic principles? There is currently the view that all matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms. This is well accepted by all scientists even though atoms cannot be seen with the most powerful microscopes. It is therefore not a scientific fact (which are rarer than most people think) but a scientific theory, an important concept in science. Basically, a theory is the best explanation for something that is not known for sure but which all the current evidence supports. There is always the chance that some evidence may turn up that refutes or clashes with the current theory, as has happened throughout history, but until then it is accepted as the most likely scenario.

Another important concept is the concept of scientific model. A model is a useful representation of what scientists think something looks like or acts like that they cannot actually see. All the diagrams of atoms that you may have come across in text books or lessons are models. It is also important to note that models can vary in simplicity and detail, depending on what their purpose may be, so sometimes they are useful learning aids for what happens rather than accurate scale representations.