CHEM 101 Chapter 1: Essential Ideas
Document Summary
Stone age ancestors chipped off pieces of flint into useful tools and carved wood into statues and toys. Involved changing the shape of a substance without changing the substance itself. Humans began to practice chemistry when they learned to control fire and use it to cook, make pottery, and smelt metals. Also, they began to separate and use specific components of matter. Ex: drugs aloe, myrrh, opium; dyes indigo, tyrian purple; alloys brass, iron; In 6th century bc, greek philosophers thought up of the system where water was basis of all things. There is a greek postulate where matter consists of earth, fire, air, and water. Alchemists from egypt, china, and eastern mediterranean spread chemical technologies and philosophical speculations. Endeavored to transform base metals into noble metals and create elixirs to cure disease and extend life. Alchemy led to modern chemistry: isolation of drugs from natural sciences, metallurgy, and dye.
