Chemistry is a Science Chemistry has 5 Branches Key Concepts in Chemistry	What is Chemistry? Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes matter undergoes.
	What does a Chemist do? A chemist can analyze various substances in terms of their physical and chemical properties. Chemists can figure out why a sample is behaving the way it is, or why it isn't doing what one might expect.
	What equipment does a Chemist use? A chemist uses all different types of equipment. Simple materials like beakers, thermometers and chemicals, and also complex and high tech equipment like gas chromatographs and spectrophotometers.
	What is matter? Matter is anything that has mass and volume. Everything that is in the universe that you can touch or see is matter. However, matter may be invisible! Gases are matter even though you usually can't see them!
	What are some ways in which matter can change? Matter can react chemically with something, like an explosion or it can react physically, like ice melting.  Sometimes mixing two or more substances together causes a chemical change, and other times it only causes a physical change to occur. A chemist will investigate why things happen the way they do.
	What happens during a chemical reaction? The bonds between atoms are broken, made or rearranged during a chemical reaction. This makes a new substance or substances, but no new matter is created and no matter can be destroyed. This is the Law of Conservation of Matter.
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Created By: Mrs. D. M. Spering
Created: March 2006
Revised: May 2006
Abington Senior High School
Science Department
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