Is Chemistry important in JC?

How Can JC Chemistry Be Applied To Daily Life?

Chemistry plays an important role in our daily life. A trip to Watsons will show a list of products ranging from toothpaste, facewash, food to pharmaceuticals products. These are all instances of chemistry.

Chemistry exists even in mobility devices and electronics like cars, laptops, and nanochips. Although these examples are chemistry being used (together with Physics!), in our daily life, it is essential that students understand how chemistry, when coupled with technology, enriches our lives in countless ways. Henceforth, this article will be discussing how Junior College (JC) Chemistry can be applied to everyday life.

Day-to-day Examples of Chemistry Present in Life

Let’s dive into some real-life examples.

1. Food

Food chemistry is one of the fields involved in the multidisciplinary field of food science. It is the study of food components, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and water. In addition, food chemistry assesses the reactions that these components go through during food processing and preservation, for example in products such as fruits and vegetables.

Chemical substances then play an important role in preserving food during food production. Food additives can help prolong the shelf life of foods, or change the color and appearance to make the food more attractive. Flavouring can also be used to make food tastier.

Being a big part of food manufacturing, the food sector is one of the best examples on how JC Chemistry learning can enhance and improve chemical processes during production of quality and nutritious products on a large scale. Students may be interested to pick up such knowledge as they study JC Chemistry as they will be useful if they wish to work in this industry.

2. Hardware

Source – https://www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/alevel/2022syllabus/9729_y22_sy.pdf

Did you know?

Cadmium – used in rechargeable computer batteries, contacts and switches.

Mercury – used in the liquid crystal displays (LCDs) of mobile phones and flat screen computer monitors as well as in switches, batteries and fluorescent lamps.

Lead – used in the cathode ray tubes (CRTs) found in computer and TV screens.

Hexavalent chromium – used in the production of different metal housings.

Nickel – used in some mobile phones’ circuit boards and soldering.

Lead and cadmium – used in the rechargeable batteries in game consoles and electric toys.

While we may not know, Chemistry is present in all the above electronic devices. These elements are also part of the periodic table. Therefore, Achievers Dream tuition centre has constantly taught the importance of periodic tables and has created a standalone page for users to better visualise and learn the periodic table easily. The notes provided are also part of the MOE’s Chemistry syllabus that will be covered in our JC Chemistry Tuition.

3. Transportation

The technology for conversion of fossil fuels into portable and storable transportation fuels is chemical in nature. Most molecules in gasoline, diesel fuel, or jet fuel have been chemically transformed by a catalyst which changes the original molecule into one of different size and properties.

Thanks to Chemistry and Physics, we are able to commute daily to work, school and fly to other countries. When ignition and combustion of petrol or diesel takes place in the internal combustion engines, these materials convert into energy to move pistons, which move the wheels of a vehicle using gears and rotating crankshafts. 

With the rise and encouragement of going green for Electrical Vehicles (EV), electrochemical reactions power lithium-ion batteries to enable ion and power transfer to the vehicle. 

4. Medicine

Medicinal chemistry might be the one most people relate to when thinking about Chemistry. In the labs, pharmaceutical scientists experiment with various chemical reactions and methods such as synthesis which eventually lead to the development of new chemical entities suitable for therapeutic use and treatment use. 

It also includes the study of existing drugs, their biological properties, and their quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR).

5. Cosmetics

Why do some cosmetics products cost lower while similar cosmetics products cost much higher?

Other than the brand, the key ingredients present in most cosmetics include water, emulsifiers, preservatives, thickeners, moisturisers, colours and fragrances. On top of these key ingredients, are where Chemistry Studies prove it’s worth. 

Certain chemical reactions may produce constituents or elements which trigger allergic reactions towards certain skin types. Correspondingly, other chemicals like Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) are safer to use on all skin types. 

Moreover, over the counter (OTC) products have become increasingly popular in recent years. Creams and lotions with alpha-hydroxy acids are known to help with fine lines and wrinkles, irregular pigmentation and age spots.

Unbeknown to most individuals, understanding the inherent dangers in chemical composition and its physiological impacts are the fundamental building blocks of our current society and the products that we purchase. These are all accredited to the hard work of chemists doing research and testing. Attending our JC Chemistry Tuition can help equip students to make wiser decisions when selecting cosmetic items to buy.

What is Chemistry?

Chemistry is often referred to as the central science because it joins together various scientific disciplines such as physics and mathematics, biology and medicine, and the earth and environmental sciences. Knowledge of the nature of chemicals and chemical processes therefore provides insights into a variety of physical and biological phenomena.

So, is Chemistry a science or medicine in the medicinal world?