chemistry
the discipline that studies how atoms bond, react, and form molecules. chemistry is the bridge between quantum physics (where bond energies come from) and bio (where molecular reactions become life)
in the crystal, chemistry maps primarily to chemo with a bridge to quantum:
- chemo — bonds, reactions, oxidation, solubility, polymerization, molecular structure
- quantum — quantum chemistry explains WHY bonds form (orbital theory, electron sharing)
branches
organic chemistry → carbon compounds, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals inorganic chemistry → metals, minerals, coordination compounds
- physical chemistry → thermodynamics of reactions, kinetics, spectroscopy analytical chemistry → measurement, instrumentation, identification
- biochemistry → chemo + bio (proteins, enzymes, metabolic pathways)