The World of Chemistry

- Season 1

(1990)

The relationships of chemistry to the other sciences and to everyday life are presented.

The search for new colors in the mid 1800s boosted the development of modern chemistry.

The distinction between accuracy and precision and its importance in commerce and science are explained.

Models are used to explain phenomena that are beyond the realm of ordinary perception.

Matter is examined in its three principal states - gases, liquids, and solids - relating the visible world to the submicroscopic.

Viewers journey inside the atom to appreciate its architectural beauty and grasp how atomic structure determines chemical behavior.

The development and arrangement of the periodic table of elements is examined.

The differences between ionic and covalent bonds are explained by the use of scientific models and examples from nature.

The program examines isomers and how the electronic structure of a molecule's elements and bonds affects its shape and physical properties.

Chemists' knowledge of the interaction of radiation and matter is the basis for analytical methods of sensitivity and specificity.

Using Avogadro's law, the mass of a substance can be related to the number of particles contained in that mass.

The special chemical properties of water are explored, along with the need for its protection and conservation.

Endothermic and exothermic reactions are investigated and the role of entropy is revealed.

Observing molecules during chemical reactions helps explain the role of catalysts. Dynamic equilibrium is also demonstrated.

The principles of electrochemical cell design are explained through batteries, sensors, and a solar-powered car.

Demonstrations explain pH and how it is measured, and the important role of acids and bases.

The earth's atmosphere is examined through theories of chemical evolution; ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect are explained.

Silicon, a cornerstone of the high-tech industry, is one of the elements of the Earth highlighted in this program.

Malleability, ductility, and conductivity are examined, along with methods for extracting metals from ores and blending alloys.

Surface science examines how surfaces react with each other at the molecular level.

The versatility of carbon's molecular structures and the enormous range of properties of its compounds are presented.

How chemists control the molecular structure to create polymers with special properties is explored.

The program examines proteins - polymers built from only 20 basic amino acids.

The structure and role of the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, are investigated.

Dump site waste management demonstrates chemistry's benefits and problems.

Interviews with leaders from academia and industry explore the frontiers of chemical research.