Questions concerning the importance of Chemistry may seem quite rhetorical. Any teenager can name various reasons why chemistry is important. In fact, there are lots of reasons. However, all of them can be put into two rows. In the first place, chemistry reveals secrets of the matter, i.e. all objects and substances on the planet (and even some objects and substances in the universe). Secondly, chemists learned to produce various helpful products which do not occur naturally.
As for the first array of reasons, the benefits of people’s knowledge are rather obvious. People do not need to be afraid of lightning as they know what exactly happens (Stoker 123). They know why some substances can melt when placed in other substances. People can explain many processes (Stoker 5). Some may say that people used to live without this knowledge for centuries. However, what a life they lived! Miracles or witchcraft were the best explanation for processes which are no more secrets even to a teenager.
Some claim that people are now able to control the nature as they know all its secrets. Of course, such exclamations are far from being truth as there is so much yet to be learnt. Nonetheless, many secrets revealed already help people live in very comfortable conditions. More so, people managed to learn to live longer as they know how to heal as they understand the very nature of various diseases.
As for the second array of the reasons why chemistry is really important, they are concerned with people’s ability to produce various products. These products help people make their life more comfortable. These products help people live longer lives. Thus, even such usual substance as aspirin is a product of chemistry. It took centuries for people to produce it, but it has saved millions of lives.
It is necessary to note that this production has caused a lot of problems. Chemical production is associated with various by-products which considerably harm the nature. Therefore, many people claim that such technological advances have unacceptable costs. These people claim that chemical production should simply cease to exist.
Luckily, people never stop evolving. Irrespective of opinions that chemistry is not important anymore and very harmful, chemists have proved that chemistry is especially important nowadays, when various environmental issues should be solved. “Green Chemistry” will save the world. “Green Chemistry” appeared in the 1990s and has already achieved a lot (Seager & Slabaugh 18). “Green Chemistry” addresses one of the most serious issues concerning Chemistry. Now scientists try to eliminate by-products produced along with valuable products which people need so much. Admittedly, this is really important as chemists can learn to produce important products without harming environment. Of course, this branch of Chemistry verifies the importance of the discipline.
On balance, it is possible to note that Chemistry has passed quite a long way from alchemy (some sort of witchcraft) to a potent branch of study. Chemists have learned to explain various processes taking place on the planet. They have also learnt to produce various substances which do not occur naturally. This knowledge has made people’s lives more comfortable. Of course, there are still issues to be addressed and some people claim Chemistry is not that important anymore. However, “Green Chemistry” is a relatively new branch which verifies that Chemistry is still extremely important for the development of humanity.
Works Cited
Seager, Spencer L., and Michael R. Slabaugh. Chemistry for Today: General, Organic, and Biochemistry. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
Stoker, H. Stephen. General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.