Home›Browse by Discipline›Disciplines›ChemistryDisciplinesChemistryAlso Known As ChemCitation FormatsGeneral ReferenceGeneral Reference Citation TextScience Atlas. "Chemistry." Accessed August 29, 2026. https://dev-science.interactiveatlas.org/disciplines/chemistry.Copy General ReferenceAPA StyleAPA Style Citation TextScience Atlas. (n.d.). Chemistry. Retrieved August 29, 2026, from https://dev-science.interactiveatlas.org/disciplines/chemistryCopy APA StyleBibTeXBibTeX Citation Text@misc{scienceatlas-chemistry, author = {Science Atlas}, title = {Chemistry}, year = {2026}, url = {https://dev-science.interactiveatlas.org/disciplines/chemistry}, note = {Accessed August 29, 2026} }Copy BibTeXReference and ClassificationVerifiedChemistry is the branch of science that studies the composition, properties, and transformations of matter, and the energy changes that accompany those transformations.FactsCross-Tradition ConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)FactsFounded YearWell-attested1789 1Antoine Lavoisier's Traite elementaire de chimie (1789) and the chemical revolution he led are commonly cited as founding modern chemistry; Britannica dates the shift more broadly to the late 18th century acceptance of the law of conservation of mass.Central QuestionWell-attestedA physical science within the natural sciences that studies matter: its composition, structure, properties, behavior, and the changes it undergoes during reactions with other substances. 2ScopeWell-attestedChemistry studies the composition, structure, properties and behavior of matter, and the changes it undergoes during reactions with other substances, occupying an intermediate position between physics and biology as what is often called the central science. 2SignificanceWell-attestedAntoine Lavoisier's law of conservation of mass, which demanded careful quantitative measurement of chemical change, transformed chemistry from a craft descended from alchemy into a rigorous experimental science. Its six recognized branches, inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, biochemistry and applied chemistry, now underpin fields from medicine to materials engineering. 2Cross-Tradition ConnectionsAssociated WithRIKEN, Institutions Well-attested ConnectedRIKEN is the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research.Source The RIKEN Story (RIKEN Official Site)tier 1EncompassesBiochemistry, Disciplines Well-attested Source Emil Fischer (Britannica)tier 1Materials Science, Disciplines Well-attested Source Materials Science (Wikipedia)tier 3Pharmacology, Disciplines Well-attested Source Oswald Schmiedeberg (Britannica)tier 1Founded ByAntoine Lavoisier, Scientists Well-attested Source Chemistry (Wikipedia)tier 2Has ScientistAnthony T. James, Scientists Well-attested Source Anthony T. James (Wikipedia)tier 2Antoine Lavoisier, Scientists Well-attested Archer Martin, Scientists Well-attested Source Archer Martin (Wikipedia)tier 2Arnold Beckman, Scientists Well-attested Source Arnold Beckman (Wikipedia)tier 3August Kekule, Scientists Well-attested Carl Bosch, Scientists Well-attested Carl Wilhelm Scheele, Scientists Well-attested Clara Immerwahr, Scientists Well-attested Dmitri Mendeleev, Scientists Well-attested Edward Morley, Scientists Well-attested Source Michelson-Morley Experiment (Britannica)tier 1Edwin McMillan, Scientists Well-attested Source Edwin McMillan (Wikipedia)tier 2Emil Fischer, Scientists Well-attested Francis Aston, Scientists Well-attested Source Francis Aston (Wikipedia)tier 2Fritz Haber, Scientists Well-attested Gilbert N. Lewis, Scientists Well-attested Henry Cavendish, Scientists Well-attested John Dalton, Scientists Well-attested Jokichi Takamine, Scientists Well-attested Jons Jacob Berzelius, Scientists Well-attested Joseph Priestley, Scientists Well-attested Katsuko Saruhashi, Scientists Well-attested Linus Pauling, Scientists Well-attested Louis Pasteur, Scientists Well-attested Source Louis Pasteur: Spontaneous Generation (Britannica)tier 2Marie Curie, Scientists Well-attested Source Marie Curie, Biographical (Nobel Prize)tier 1Michael Faraday, Scientists Well-attested Robert Boyle, Scientists Well-attested Robert Bunsen, Scientists Well-attested Source Kirchhoff and Bunsen on Spectroscopy (ChemTeam)Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsentier 3Rosalind Franklin, Scientists Well-attested Theodor Svedberg, Scientists Well-attested Source Theodor Svedberg (Wikipedia)tier 2Tu Youyou, Scientists Well-attested Source China's First Science Nobel Prize Exposes Anxiety on Research (Chemistry World)tier 2William Ramsay, Scientists Well-attested Has TheoryDalton's Atomic Theory, Theories Well-attested Electron-Pair Bond Theory, Theories Well-attested Molecular Chirality, Concepts Well-attested Oxygen Theory of Combustion, Theories Well-attested Phlogiston Theory, Theories Well-attested The Haber Process, Concepts Well-attested The Periodic Table, Theories Well-attested StudiesCopper, Concepts Well-attested Source Copper (Wikipedia)tier 3Spectroscopy, Concepts Well-attested UsesCalorimeter, Instruments Well-attested Source Calorimeter (Wikipedia)tier 2Centrifuge, Instruments Well-attested Source Centrifuge (Britannica)tier 1Gas Chromatograph, Instruments Well-attested Source Gas Chromatography (Britannica)tier 1Mass Spectrometer, Instruments Well-attested Source Mass Spectrometry (Wikipedia)tier 3NMR Spectrometer, Instruments Well-attested Source Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (Wikipedia)tier 2pH Meter, Instruments Well-attested Source pH Meter (Britannica)tier 1Photometer, Instruments Well-attested ConnectedThe photometer is a principal instrument in analytical chemistry.Source Photometer (Wikipedia)tier 2Polarimeter, Instruments Well-attested ConnectedPolarimeters measure the concentration and purity of optically active chemical compounds.Source Polarimeter (Wikipedia)tier 2Scanning Tunneling Microscope, Instruments Well-attested ConnectedUsed in surface chemistry and catalysis research to image adsorbed molecules and reaction sites atom by atom.Source Scanning Tunneling Microscope (Wikipedia)tier 2Spectrophotometer, Instruments Well-attested Source Spectrophotometer (Britannica)tier 1Spectroscope, Instruments Well-attested Source Spectroscope (Wikipedia)tier 3Thermometer, Instruments Well-attested Source Thermometer (Britannica)tier 1X-ray Diffractometer, Instruments Well-attested Source X-ray Diffraction Spectrometer (Britannica)tier 1In the Other AtlasesAlso in Technology and Engineering Atlas: Smelting, discusses this subject there.Sources1. Antoine Lavoisier (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaView the Source2. Chemistry (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaIntroductionQuote, IntroductionIt is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies matter: composition, structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during reactions with other substances.View the Source2. Chemistry (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaFounded By: Antoine LavoisierView the SourceLouis Pasteur: Spontaneous Generation (Britannica)tier 2Encyclopaedia BritannicaHas Scientist: Louis PasteurView the SourceMarie Curie, Biographical (Nobel Prize)tier 1The Nobel Prize (Nobel Foundation)Has Scientist: Marie CurieView the SourceCentrifuge (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: CentrifugeView the SourceThermometer (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: ThermometerView the SourceGas Chromatography (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: Gas ChromatographView the SourceSpectrophotometer (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: SpectrophotometerView the SourceX-ray Diffraction Spectrometer (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: X-ray DiffractometerView the SourcepH Meter (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: pH MeterView the SourceMichelson-Morley Experiment (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaHas Scientist: Edward MorleyView the SourceArnold Beckman (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaHas Scientist: Arnold BeckmanView the SourceKirchhoff and Bunsen on Spectroscopy (ChemTeam)tier 3Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen, Annalen der Physik und der Chemie, 1860Has Scientist: Robert BunsenView the SourceMass Spectrometry (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaUses: Mass SpectrometerView the SourceSpectroscope (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaUses: SpectroscopeView the SourceFrancis Aston (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHas Scientist: Francis AstonView the SourceAnthony T. James (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHas Scientist: Anthony T. JamesView the SourceArcher Martin (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHas Scientist: Archer MartinView the SourceTheodor Svedberg (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHas Scientist: Theodor SvedbergView the SourceEdwin McMillan (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHas Scientist: Edwin McMillanView the SourceEmil Fischer (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncompasses: BiochemistryView the SourceOswald Schmiedeberg (Britannica)tier 1Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncompasses: PharmacologyView the SourceMaterials Science (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaEncompasses: Materials ScienceView the SourceChina's First Science Nobel Prize Exposes Anxiety on Research (Chemistry World)tier 2Chemistry WorldHas Scientist: Tu YouyouNuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaUses: NMR SpectrometerView the SourceScanning Tunneling Microscope (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaUses: Scanning Tunneling MicroscopeView the SourceCopper (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaStudies: CopperView the SourceCalorimeter (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaUses: Calorimeter, Lead sectionView the SourcePolarimeter (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaUses: Polarimeter, Lead sectionView the SourcePolarimeter (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaUses: Polarimeter, Applications sectionQuote, Uses: Polarimeter, Applications sectionThe ratio, the purity, and the concentration of two enantiomers can be measured via polarimetry.View the SourcePhotometer (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaUses: Photometer, Applications sectionQuote, Uses: Photometer, Applications sectionThe photometer has become one of the principal instruments in biochemistry and analytical chemistry.View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.View At A Past YearThe atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.Show This Year