Uses of Chemistry in Everyday Life
Chemistry is the science of matter and its interactions with other matter and energy. Chemistry is everywhere in our daily life, from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, things we use, the medicines we take, the cosmetics we use, the clothes we wear, to the technology we enjoy. Here are some examples that shows how chemistry is very useful in our daily life.
- Food: Chemistry is involved in the production, processing, preservation, and cooking of food. For example, fermentation is a chemical process that converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide by the action of yeast. Fermentation is used to make bread, wine, beer, cheese, yogurt, and other foods. Cooking food also involves chemical reactions, such as the Maillard reaction that gives browned food its flavor and aroma. Food additives, such as coloring agents, preservatives, stabilizers, binders, sweeteners, and antioxidants are also chemicals that enhance the appearance, taste, texture, shelf-life, and nutritional value of food.
- Air: Chemistry helps us understand the composition and properties of the air we breathe. Air is a mixture of gases, mainly nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and argon (0.9%), with trace amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone, and other substances. Air pollution is caused by the emission of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere from various sources, such as vehicles, industries, power plants, and fires. Air pollution can affect human health and the environment by causing respiratory problems, acid rain, smog, greenhouse effect, and climate change.
- Water: Chemistry helps us purify and treat the water we drink and use for various purposes. Water is a polar molecule that can dissolve many substances due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules. Water also undergoes chemical reactions with other substances, such as acids, bases, salts, metals, and organic compounds. Water quality is affected by the presence of contaminants in water sources, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, pesticides, heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates, and organic pollutants. Water treatment methods use physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove or reduce these contaminants and make water safe for consumption and use.
- Medicines: Chemistry is essential for the discovery and development of medicines that can cure or prevent diseases. Medicines are substances that interact with specific targets in the body to produce a desired effect. Medicines can be derived from natural sources (such as plants or animals) or synthesized in laboratories using chemical reactions. Medicines can be classified into different categories based on their mode.
