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You probably have heard of the word ‘Chemistry’. What is the importance of Chemistry in the society today? How would life be without Chemistry? Now, look at these photographs.
some products made using the knowledge of chemistry
Discuss with your friend how the things in the photographs came about. Are they important in our lives?
Competency: The learner is able to assess the application of chemistry in our everyday life and its contribution to our economy.
Learning outcomes: The learner should be able to:
know appropriate activities to explain the discrete nature of chemistry
understand why chemistry is studied and how it overlaps with other subjects such as biology, physics, mathematics, and geology.
understand the importance of chemistry and relate knowledge of chemistry to relevant careers.
know the contribution of chemistry to the Ugandan economy.
Topic outline
Definition of Chemistry.
Importance of Chemistry.
Application of Chemistry in industry
Contribution of Chemistry to the economy of Uganda
Introduction
The history of Chemistry dates back to the 8th century AD when a Muslim Alchemist Geber, first described the processes of distillation, crystallisation and sublimation. However, even before this, the ancient humankind had already started using some chemical techniques. For example, early potters used glazes to decorate and preserve 2 their wares. Early brewers used crude fermentation techniques to make traditional brews, beers and wines. Blacksmiths combined metals such as tin and copper to make bronze, which they used to make various farm implements. In the modern world, complex chemical processes have been invented to come up with sophisticated products. These products have brought about significant changes in our way of life today. The knowledge of Chemistry has also found relevance in other subject areas such as mining in Geography, manufacture of fertilisers in Agriculture, chemicals of life in Biology and manufacturing and industrialisation in Economics and Entrepreneurship studies. You should therefore endeavour to understand and internalise the various concepts in Chemistry. This may in turn help shape your future in terms of your career and life in general
1.1-Definition of Chemistry
The word Chemistry refers to the study of the composition, structure and properties of substances under different conditions. For example, you may be interested to know what happens when a piece of wood burns or during souring of milk. You may also want to know what happens when a nail undergoes rusting. All these are studied under Chemistry as a subject.
Chemistry is a branch of Science concerned with the relationship of different kinds of matter and their behaviours under different conditions. This is what is explored in the manufacturing industry.
1.2 Importance of Chemistry
Activity: look at the image below and use to explain the importance of the chemistry in different fields.
Careers that you can pursue after studying Chemistry include:
1. Chemical engineering
2. Quality control
3. Chemistry teaching
4. Veterinary and human medicine
5. Pharmacy 6. Metallurgy
7. Working in a laboratory
8. Nutrition
1.3 Applications of Chemistry in Industry
Chemistry has contributed to the understanding of how various materials are manufactured in industries. A good knowledge of Chemistry also helps us to choose safer and better products. The following are some of the areas where knowledge in Chemistry is applied in industry:-
1. Food and beverage industry. The knowledge of Chemistry enables nutritionists to calculate the nutrient composition of drinks and canned foods during the manufacturing process. This knowledge is also extensively used in the production of traditional brews in Rwanda. Such brews include banana wine, sorghum beer among others. Extraction of butter from milk has been done traditionally to obtain butter used in cooking various types of food. This process also applies the knowledge of Chemistry.
2. Water treatment. Domestic water is treated with chemicals such as chlorine to make it safe for human consumption. Chlorine kills disease-causing microorganisms in water.
3. Manufacture of soaps and detergents. In Uganda, soap is manufactured from oil. This oil is extracted from locally available plant materials. Some chemicals such as sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide are also added during this process. The soap products can be improved by adding colour and perfume to make them more attractive. Knowledge of Chemistry is important in this process. Quality check! Always ensure that the soaps and detergents you buy from shops are of high quality and approved by Uganda Standards Board (USB).
4. Manufacture of pharmaceuticals .Human and animal medicines are made in pharmaceutical companies. This also applies to vaccines that are used to prevent diseases. The manufacturer of medicine and vaccines apply the knowledge of Chemistry. Traditional medicines in Rwanda are also extracted from leaves and barks of some trees by applying the same knowledge.
5. Manufacture of fuels. Most of the fuel used in Uganda comes from crude oil. Processing of crude oil occurs in a refinery. Examples of fuels include petrol, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel. These fuels are used to run various machines.
6. Other products. Manufacture of products such as clothes, paints, fertilisers and plastic products is done by applying the knowledge of Chemistry.
1.4 Contribution of Chemistry to the Economy of Uganda.
The following are some of the ways through which Chemistry helps to develop the economy of Rwanda they include:
1. Through the knowledge of Chemistry, medicines and vaccines are made available. Some of these medicines reduce infant mortality and hence increasing the size of the population. A healthy population ensures availability of labour to work on farms and in industries.
2. Manufacture of fertilisers and animal feeds helps to boost agricultural production in terms of quantity and quality of the products.
3. Manufactured products such as beverages, and plastics are exported to earn our country foreign currency. The currency can then be channeled to other sectors of the economy such as education.
4. In transport industry - the knowledge of chemistry is applied in fuel processing and in road construction. Efficient transport and communication systems enable easy and faster movement of goods from the production point to the market. This facilitates trade.
5. The knowledge of Chemistry is applied in the mining industry to extract minerals. In mines we find chemical engineers, quality control specialists and environmental officers as employees. Minerals act as raw materials for industries. They are also exported to earn the country foreign currency.
6. Treating drinking water by the use of chlorine helps to reduce the rate of disease outbreaks. The reduction of disease outbreaks helps the government to channel a larger share of its revenue to other development activities other than the health sector.
7. Through the knowledge of Chemistry, people become aware of the importance of conserving the environment. They hence avoid activities such as deforestation and overstocking, which can cause environmental degradation. This in turn helps the government to relocate its resources to other important development projects.
Summary of key points of the topic:
• Chemistry is the study of composition, structure and properties of different kinds of matter in different states.
• Chemistry can lead to careers of becoming a doctor, pharmacist, chemical engineer, quality control specialist, nutritionist among others.
• The knowledge of Chemistry is required in the manufacturing and food processing industries.
• Chemistry has contributed immensely to the economy of Uganda through manufacturing, food processing and pharmaceutical products.
REVISION QUESTIONS
1. Your friend tells you that she wants to become a medical doctor. Which two subjects must she score highly so as to pursue her career of choice?
2. Explain the link between chemistry and:
(a) Geography (b) Agriculture
3. Briefly explain how the following have contributed to the economy of Uganda.
(a) Development of vaccines
(b)Manufacture of fertilisers and animal feeds
(c) Efficient transport and communication system
4. Why do you think knowledge of Chemistry is useful in farming?
5. Assume you visited a milk processing plant in your locality. Write a short report that you would use to make a presentation to the rest of the class on the importance of Chemistry in economic development.
6. The following are careers that one can pursue after perfoming well in chemistry. Which one is not. A. Quality control B. Chemical engineering C. Nutrition D. Banking
7. An outbreak of a disease whose main symptom is diarrhoea has occured in a certain cell. Health officers suggest that the outbreak is due to residents drinking contaminated water. With your knowledge of chemistry, what would you advise your friend who lives in that cell?
8. When asked to say the meaning of Chemistry, Senior 1 learners from a certain school gave the following answers:
Learner A – The study of drugs and chemicals.
Learner B – The study of processes taking place in a laboratory.
Learner C – The study of the structure and composition of substances and the way they behave under different conditions. Which learner do you think was right? Explain
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