Chemistry (derived from alchemy) is the science of interactions between matter at or near the atomic scale. Such matter includes atoms and collections of atoms (such as molecules, crystals, and metals) that constitute materials encountered in everyday life. Chemistry deals with the composition and statistical properties of such structures, as well as their transformations and interactions. According to modern chemistry, the physical properties of materials are generally determined by their structure at the atomic scale. Chemistry is, along with physics, one of the most fundamental natural sciences.
Introduction
Chemistry is often called the central science because it connects other sciences, such as physics, material science, nanotechnology, biology and geology. Chemistry encompasses many specific specialized sub-disciplines that often overlap with significant portions of other sciences. Sub-disciplines, however, are very specific to chemistry, for example, they allow the manufacturing and testing of stronger materials, the synthesis of pharmaceuticals to treat disease, and determination of the mechanisms behind life processes.
A fundamental component of chemistry is that matter is involved. Chemistry may involve the interaction of matter with matter, or, involve matter with non-material phenomena such as energy. Most central and traditional to chemistry is the interaction of one substance with another such as in a chemical reaction where one substance or substances is transformed into another. This may involve electromagnetic radiation (as in photochemistry) where a chemical reaction is driven by the stimulation of light energy. However the chemical reaction is only part of a larger field that also studies matter in other ways. Chemical spectroscopists for example study the interaction of light with matter often without any reaction occurring.
Pa Won't Like It A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise and yelled over to the boy, "Hey Willis, forget your troubles. Come in and visit with us. I'll help you get the wagon up later."
"That's mighty nice of you," Willis answered, "but I don't think Pa would like me to."
"Aw come on boy," the farmer insisted.
"Well okay," the boy finally agreed, and added, "but Pa won't like it."
After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset."
"Don't be foolish!" the neighbor said with a smile. "By the way, where is he?"
"Under the wagon." The Living Statues Two statues stood in a city park: one female and the other male. These statues faced each other for many years.
Early one morning, an angel appeared before the statues and said, "Since the two of you have been exemplary statues and have brought enjoyment to many people, I am giving you your greatest wish. I hereby give you the gift of life. You have 30 minutes to do whatever you desire."
And with that command, the statues came to life. The two statues smiled at each other, ran toward some nearby woods and dove behind a couple of bushes. The angel smiled to himself as he listened to the two statues giggling, bushes rustling, and twigs snapping.
After fifteen minutes, the two statues emerged from the bushes, satisfied and smiling.
Puzzled, the angel looked at his watch and asked the statues, "You still have fifteen minutes. Would you like to continue?"
The male statue looked at the female and asked, "Do you want to do it again?"
Smiling, the female statue said, "Sure. But this time YOU hold the pigeon down and I'll crap on its head!" Snoop Doggs Teeth... How does Snoop Dogg keep his teeth white?
BLEEEEEE-YATCH! Engineering In Hell An engineer dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and says, "Ah, you're an engineer -- you're in the wrong place."
So, the engineer reports to the gates of hell and is let in. Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and starts designing and building improvements. After awhile, they've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and the engineer is a pretty popular guy.
One day, God calls Satan up on the telephone and says with a sneer, "So, how's it going down there in hell?"
Satan replies, "Hey, things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next."
God replies, "What??? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake -- he should never have gotten down there; send him up here."
Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him."
God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue."
Satan laughs uproariously and answers, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?" Close Enough For Government Three young boys were fighting over whose dad was the best.
"My dad is so good he can shoot an arrow, run after it, get in front of it, and catch it in his bare hands."
"My dad is so good that he can shoot a gun, run after the bullet, get in front of it and catch it in his bare hands."
"I've got you both beat. My dad's so good because he works for the city. He gets off work at 5:00 and is home by 4:30." Chef Clown How do you know if the head chef is a clown?
When the food tastes funny.
Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide! - This dangerous substance is found both in the environment and in our body.
Comical Compounds Gallery - Submit and rate comical compounds at this fun CambridgeSoft compound gallery.
Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division - Provides resources and information about dihydrogen monoxide, a potentially deadly chemical.
Meta Description: [ Dihydrogen Monoxide
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EddNet Chemistry - An insight into the world of the mad chemist. Find out how insane they really are.
Meta Description: [ The Home Page of Dave Edmonds ]
Molecules with Silly or Unusual Names - A collection of funny sounding and strangely named molecules, complete with a description of their chemical properties.
Poetic Table of Elements - Original poems about, inspired by, reminiscent of or otherwise related to and sorted by the elements of the Periodic Table.
Meta Description: [ The Poetic Table of the Elements: Chemistry and Poetry Fuse at the Molecular Level! A Periodic Table of the Elements in Poetry! ]
Science Jokes - A collection of science jokes and other humors links.
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Sizzling Organic Chemistry Dramas - These are four somewhat bawdy (if you're a molecule) plays illustrating organic chemistry reaction mechanisms.
Meta Description: [ Here are four short plays illustrating organic chemistry reaction mechanisms: Electrophilic Addition, Becoming an Alcohol, A Blind Date with the Bromine Twins, and Adorable Borane. ]
Songs of Cesium - Yes, more than two dozen inspiring songs about the element cesium.
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