Chemistry is a diverse field with several branches, each focusing on different aspects of matter and its interactions. Here are the main branches of chemistry:
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Organic Chemistry: The study of carbon-containing compounds, their structures, properties, reactions, and synthesis.
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Inorganic Chemistry: The study of inorganic compounds, which include metals, minerals, and organometallic compounds.
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Physical Chemistry: The branch that combines principles of physics and chemistry to study how molecules behave and the energy changes involved in chemical reactions.
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Analytical Chemistry: The study of techniques used to analyze the composition of substances, including qualitative and quantitative analysis.
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Biochemistry: The study of chemical processes within and related to living organisms, focusing on biomolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.
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Theoretical Chemistry: Using mathematical models and abstractions to explain and predict chemical behavior and properties.
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Environmental Chemistry: The study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in the environment, focusing on pollution and its effects.
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Material Chemistry: The study of the properties and applications of materials, often overlapping with nanotechnology and solid-state chemistry.
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Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Focusing on the design, development, and synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, including drug formulation and analysis.
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Supramolecular Chemistry: The study of molecular complexes formed by non-covalent interactions, exploring how these complexes are created and their functions.
These branches can further branch out into more specialized fields, highlighting the extensive nature of chemistry as a science.