How is the knowledge of chemistry important for mankind?
How is the knowledge of chemistry important for mankind?
Importance of chemistry for mankind:
Chemistry is the science of essence of matter or the study of matter.
- With the knowledge of chemistry, we can transform matter into its the most valuable and useful form that can affect the mankind for the good.
- The study of chemistry has significantly increased the quality of our life-from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, the medicines that keep us healthy and the industries that have generated employment for human population, chemistry is an indispensable part of human beings.
Some of the most common areas where chemistry has contributed significantly are as follows:
(1) Food: Food has a tendency to get spoiled if left untreated. With the knowledge of chemistry, such techniques have been developed that help to enhance the shelf life of food and also maintain its nutritional value. Example:
- Canning: The process of storing processed food in air-tight containers. Jams, jellies, pickles, tomatoes and fruits are commonly stored via canning.
- Other food preservation methods are refrigeration, addition of chemical preservatives etc.
(2) Agriculture: The yield of crops has increased multiple times ever since chemicals like fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides have been used.
- Fertilizers: Fertilizers are the chemicals that enhance the food production by providing nutrients to the soil which help in the growth of plants and produce better yield. Examples: Potassium (K) , Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) fertilizers.
- Insecticides: Insecticides are the chemicals that enhance the food production by killing, harming or repelling the insects that damage the crops. This lead to better yield of crops. Examples: Malathion, Bordaux mixture.
(3) Health and medicines: Chemistry has come up with chemicals that cure several ailments thereby increasing the longevity of human life.
- Some examples of medicines are antipyretics (that acts against fever), analgesics (pain killers), antacids (neutralize stomach acid or heartburn) etc.
(4) Cosmetics: The quality that sets human beings apart from other animals is to present themselves in a well-groomed fashion.
- This is where cosmetics come in and help human beings to take care of themselves and present their most confident self in front of the world. We use some cosmetics on a daily basis and some of them are used occasionally but it is a part of everyone's life in some way.
- Some commonly used cosmetics are face powders, lipsticks, nail-paints, perfumes, shampoos and creams etc.
- Example: Moisturisers are the chemical substances which help to retain the moisture when applied on the skin.
- They create a thin layer on skin that prevents the loss of water from it.
- Examples: Petroleum jelly, glycerol, beeswax.
Other useful cosmetics are sunscreen, glimmers, thickeners etc.
(5) Clothing: Chemistry contributed in the clothing sector by developing synthetic fibres.
- Examples: Nylon, Terylene, Polyester etc.
- Advantages of synthetic fibres are:
- Durable i.e.; long lasting.
- Wrinkle resistant i.e.; they do not develop wrinkles easily.
- Dry faster than natural fibres
- Easy to handle.
(6) Industries: Agro and mineral industries have not only provided employment to human being but also manufacture products like cement, Plaster of paris, dyes, silicones that have provided valuable solutions in construction and building structures like homes, bridges etc. that keep us safe in different weather conditions and also save our time.
Importance of chemistry for mankind:
Chemistry is the science of essence of matter or the study of matter.
- With the knowledge of chemistry, we can transform matter into its the most valuable and useful form that can affect the mankind for the good.
- The study of chemistry has significantly increased the quality of our life-from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, the medicines that keep us healthy and the industries that have generated employment for human population, chemistry is an indispensable part of human beings.
Some of the most common areas where chemistry has contributed significantly are as follows:
(1) Food: Food has a tendency to get spoiled if left untreated. With the knowledge of chemistry, such techniques have been developed that help to enhance the shelf life of food and also maintain its nutritional value. Example:
- Canning: The process of storing processed food in air-tight containers. Jams, jellies, pickles, tomatoes and fruits are commonly stored via canning.
- Other food preservation methods are refrigeration, addition of chemical preservatives etc.
(2) Agriculture: The yield of crops has increased multiple times ever since chemicals like fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides have been used.
- Fertilizers: Fertilizers are the chemicals that enhance the food production by providing nutrients to the soil which help in the growth of plants and produce better yield. Examples: Potassium (K) , Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) fertilizers.
- Insecticides: Insecticides are the chemicals that enhance the food production by killing, harming or repelling the insects that damage the crops. This lead to better yield of crops. Examples: Malathion, Bordaux mixture.
(3) Health and medicines: Chemistry has come up with chemicals that cure several ailments thereby increasing the longevity of human life.
- Some examples of medicines are antipyretics (that acts against fever), analgesics (pain killers), antacids (neutralize stomach acid or heartburn) etc.
(4) Cosmetics: The quality that sets human beings apart from other animals is to present themselves in a well-groomed fashion.
- This is where cosmetics come in and help human beings to take care of themselves and present their most confident self in front of the world. We use some cosmetics on a daily basis and some of them are used occasionally but it is a part of everyone's life in some way.
- Some commonly used cosmetics are face powders, lipsticks, nail-paints, perfumes, shampoos and creams etc.
- Example: Moisturisers are the chemical substances which help to retain the moisture when applied on the skin.
- They create a thin layer on skin that prevents the loss of water from it.
- Examples: Petroleum jelly, glycerol, beeswax.
Other useful cosmetics are sunscreen, glimmers, thickeners etc.
(5) Clothing: Chemistry contributed in the clothing sector by developing synthetic fibres.
- Examples: Nylon, Terylene, Polyester etc.
- Advantages of synthetic fibres are:
- Durable i.e.; long lasting.
- Wrinkle resistant i.e.; they do not develop wrinkles easily.
- Dry faster than natural fibres
- Easy to handle.
(6) Industries: Agro and mineral industries have not only provided employment to human being but also manufacture products like cement, Plaster of paris, dyes, silicones that have provided valuable solutions in construction and building structures like homes, bridges etc. that keep us safe in different weather conditions and also save our time.
