Chemistry is not limited to beaker, volumetric borosilicate glassware and laboratories. This is a
giant field of science existent within human body, plants, marines, microorganisms, animals and
the entire phenomenon compelling in this Universe. There is chemistry behind every
phenomenon; here I am going to discuss some of them and these examples may provide central
ideas of chemical occurrence.
Firstly, I would like to go through a simple and essential phenomenon of living beings i.e.
breathing. Simply, breathing means regulation of two chemicals (oxygen and carbon dioxide). As
carbon dioxide and water are produced, respiration causes a chemical shift. Additionally, the
mass changes as oxygen oxidizes the glucose and heat is generated. This modification is
ongoing. Sugar quantity conservation, blood pressure level maintenance, heredity
transformation, digestion, reproduction, metabolism, enzymatic antigen-antibody association and
other biological processes are connected with chemistry.
Chemistry is also associated with the energy production, the heat and light in the sun is produced
by nuclear fusion reaction between hydrogen atoms and production of inert helium atoms takes
place. This reaction is exothermic and yields huge amount of energy which we are receiving.
Artificially, huge amount of energy can be created from different nuclear reactions.
In general, we believe that the sunlight provides vitamin D to human beings. But this is not true
in actual. Vitamin D is produced by our skin when it is exposed to sunshine. In the skin, a protein
called 7-DHC interacts with ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to produce vitamin D3, the active form of
vitamin D. In this case sunlight acts as a catalyst but not the source of vitamin D.
Materials such as paints, medicines, cement, cosmetic products, and coating of food items,
electronic gadgets, textiles, memory chips, sensors, batteries, automobiles and fuels in vehicles
all are instances of chemistry in our daily life. Amount and concentration of constituents within
materials is responsible for the property of them. That’s why we can change their property
according to our need, this is also chemistry.
On the other hand, we use plastic wares in our daily life. These materials are prepared from the
polymerization reactions of their precursor monomers. Their physical properties can also be
varied according to our desire by carrying out the reaction in different condition plus by altering
the monomer quantity and concentration. In current world, thus prepared materials are replacing
the metals due to their excellent properties such as low density, flexibility, elasticity, chemical
and thermal inertness, high melting point, high boiling point, availability and low cost.
The illustrations which I had discussed here are some representative. Phenomena and changes
that we observe in this world are initiated and caused by chemical reactions. So, it’s very
indispensable field of science to study what and how different phenomena are taking place
within our body and surrounding.
By
Rachana Gautam
M.Sc in Chemistry (3rd semester)
Central Department of Chemistry, TU, Kirtipur, Kathmandu Nepal
