This isn't My Chemical Romance and loving the study of chemistry isn't required but it can be fun! Chemistry is the study of matter. What is matter and why does it matter any way?! What does chemistry have to do with my life? When I grow up, I want to be a basketball player, a lawyer, an elementary school teacher, or a CEO etc so why do I have to study chemistry?!
Well, the short answer is because your parents said so! Ha ha! Just joking! :) Everything around you is matter and it matters! No matter what career path you choose, you are surrounded by matter. You interact with matter all. the. time. If you enjoy (or hope to enjoy) driving a car - you may have to deal with rust some time. Rust is the result of matter changing from one form to another. How and why does this happen? And since rusting can ruin a vehicle - it does matter! Oh that word again: MATTER!
Matter, matter, everywhere! And it changes forms! And when matter changes, energy is either lost or used in the process. That energy can be harnessed for every day use. Back to that car analogy again...What makes that car ,which is composed of matter you know, move from one place to another? And wouldn't you rather drive a car to buy groceries instead of walking? Chemistry! It's all chemistry!
What is your favorite meal? Unless it's sushi, I bet your favorite food must undergo the chemical process of cooking...And you thought chemistry wasn't important! This year we will explore what makes up matter, how matter changes, how energy is lost, used, and measured, and why it's important. And that basketball...why does it bounce? What's the matter with the ball when it won't bounce?! Find out soon when we begin the study of CHEMISTRY!
See you soon!
Two of the four states of matter can be observed in this picture of boiling water. As liquid water is heated, some energy is lost as heat. The liquid matter called water is converted to a gas called water vapor or steam. Whether it is a liquid, a gas, or a solid (ice) - it is all matter.
Interesting blog on the chemistry of rust
