Chemistry: The Central Science

If your life deals with the practical world in any way, sooner or later you will come to Chemistry. Beneath superficial appearances lies the world of atoms and molecules that is the particular domain of the chemist. Chemists sometimes give out stickers that say "This Is Not Made Of Chemicals," and challenge all and sundry to put the sticker on something -- anything -- appropriate. This is a trick; it can't be done. Any material object, whether living or nonliving, solid or liquid or gas, is made of chemical substances.

If you wish to enter a health profession, you will need to understand the chemical substances that make up and influence our own bodies, and you will study Chemistry (among other things). The possibility of life on Mars; the ancient life on Earth that contributed its substance to rocks, minerals, petroleum, and natural gas; the metals, concrete, glass, and ceramics that we use so much of; the workings of the cells and blood and other tissues of any animal or plant; to use or study any of them, you will have to have some knowledge of Chemistry.

And if you want to participate as an effective and knowledgeable citizen in today's technological society, you will need to know something about chemistry as well. If you are interested in a career that involves Chemistry or any related field of science, consider the programs here at Xavier University. If you're just browsing right now, the American Chemical Society has a web site with links to many other sites of interest to anyone interested in our science. We hope you will enjoy and be informed by what you find there.