Why is chemistry important?

Rayn Lakha

I entered this essay, without images, into the 2023 Peterhouse Kelvin science essay competition.

Although chemistry has far-reaching impacts, the underlying causes of its significance are notoriously obscure. Perfunctory comments on its utility in enhancing problem solving abilities, household safety, and cooking - while accurate (Helmenstine, 2019) - belie deeper truths. As with investigation into complex chemical processes, discovering these fundamental factors requires a detailed scrutiny of the research question itself. ‘Chemistry’ has two definitions: firstly, the scientific study of substances’ characteristics, and secondly, those properties and reactions themselves (Cambridge dictionary, n.d. a). However, in the context of the second definition this essay’s query invites little nuance - chemicals’ properties are of course essential to the universe as we know it, and any change could certainly have monumental effects; this is not contentious. Thus, this essay will use chemistry in the sense of its first definition - as an academic subject. Importance refers both to consequentiality - the quality of having major consequences - and value - perceived significance or the quality of being cherished (Cambridge dictionary, n.d. b; Cambridge dictionary, n.d. c). Since the latter is a psychological judgement, it is necessary to consider it with regard to sentient beings which understand the concept of chemistry, the broadest known category of which is humanity. Finally, because human brains have evolved to make value perceptions relative rather than independent evaluations (as comparisons require less energy than absolute measurements) (Levari, 2018; Weber, 2003; Oyserman, 2015), a suitable comparative group for chemistry must be specified; in this case all other courses of study. Hence, this essay will answer the question: ‘Why is the scientific study of chemicals’ properties valuable and consequential to humanity, relative to other courses of study?’.

One reason is that, in contrast with many other subjects, chemistry’s subject matter is ubiquitous: as Dr Reeser of the American Chemical Society noted, ‘all matter is made of chemicals’ (Reeser, 2013). This has major psychological and philosophical implications. Due to concomitant advantages in biological fitness, humans have evolved to become genetically predisposed towards exploring our world; the DRD4 gene and its variants contribute to our potent curiosity about our physical environment (Frank, 2016). Since chemicals make up our surroundings, chemistry is necessary to fulfil what NASA describes as many people’s ‘intangible desire to…challenge the boundaries of what we know’ (n.d.). Chemistry’s epistemic significance causes it to be valued by those who study it, students and researchers alike, and so it is valued by humanity. Furthermore, chemicals’ ready availability to our ancestors means that their exploitation has accompanied the development of civilisation. From the discovery of fire increasing the survival rates of early hominids by enabling cooking and warding off predators, to the invention of stronger metal alloys influencing the military activities of different groups, to the production of ammonia feeding the world through its use in fertilisers, the utilisation of chemicals’ properties has proved ‘largely responsible for shaping society as we know it’ (Australian Academy of Science, n.d.). This, along with the fact that life itself originated from a chemical mixture, means that chemistry provides a deeper understanding of human history than any other course of study. The plethora of societal benefits that follow, including greater comprehension of cross-cultural similarities, contribute to a more unified, peaceful, and healthy humankind. Hence, chemistry is immensely important to humanity. Finally, as chemicals make up our world and, as discussed below, the results of research in chemistry play a large role in our interactions with our environment, understanding chemistry helps us to make informed decisions about our world (Understanding Science, n.d.). This is valuable for all societies, but particularly for democracies, where a ‘well-educated citizenry is essential’ as through electoral processes and referenda, the public’s beliefs ultimately drive choices (Hochschild, 2010). Aristotle feared the general public’s ‘thoughtlessness [leading] into error’ in democracies (Hochschild, 2010); popular understanding of chemistry can help to prevent this. For example, mass public opposition in Germany to nuclear power on environmental and safety grounds over the last few decades has resulted in the vast majority of its fission plants closing. This forced Germany to rely on environmentally harmful fossil fuels, also leaving it more exposed than it otherwise would have been to price spikes in natural gas following Russia’s restriction of supplies (David-Wilp, 2022). Greater popular knowledge of nuclear chemistry (and thus greater understanding of the high safety and environmental benefits of nuclear energy) would likely have increased support for fission energy - a Eurozone poll found that those with a fairly high level of education in that or related areas were around 41% more likely to favour nuclear power than those with little understanding (Nuclear Energy Agency, 2010) - benefiting Germany economically and environmentally.

Chemicals are ubiquitous

Chemistry’s centrality to the natural sciences also contributes to its importance to humanity. Chemistry encompasses the concepts upon which all other sciences are based (Burrows et al., 2021). Thus, it is relevant to a vast range of fields, more so than any other course of study. From space travel to medicine, the vast breadth of the impact of chemical research in areas such as fuel and metabolic processes means that chemistry is consequential to all of humanity, directly and indirectly impacting our lives. As Nobel laureate Professor Jean-Marie Lehn remarked, ‘a world without chemistry would be a world without [the] synthetic materials’ prevalent throughout our lives (Lehn, 2011); a world unrecognisable to our own. For example, if the chemical structures of ammonia and alkanes and the elemental constitution of the atmosphere were not understood, Haber and Bosch would not have realised that ammonia for use in fertilisers could be synthesised with atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen from natural gas, so the world’s growing population would not have sufficient food. On a more personal level, chemistry’s extraordinary applicability to a diverse collection of industries means that it enables students to access whichever career they desire (UW La Crosse, n.d.; Kots, 2021). As a result, chemistry as a course of study is valued by many young people, at least in areas where studying chemistry is a feasible option: over the last two years it has been the 4th most popular A Level in England (Ofqual, 2022). Furthermore, as chemistry includes a panoply of subjects, it includes the study of objects of innumerable different scales, from subatomic particles to large proteins. In the words of education expert Gareth Bates, chemistry serves as a ‘lens through which to view the world that navigates a magnitudinal plane’ (Bates, 2021, pp.202-217). This unique approach to scientific enquiry elucidates the manner in which the characteristics of microscopic components influence the properties of macroscopic structures, an exceedingly useful tool for considering and interacting with complex social systems. In this way, chemistry can help to enhance the skill with which people approach common issues and implement larger social changes, benefiting society as a whole. For instance, applying this approach to economics by building macroeconomic models based on microeconomic activity could result in more accurate predictions (Rodrigo, n.d.), helping policy-makers to create a more economically stable and prosperous society.

Chemistry is the central natural science: it stretches from the physics underpinning reactions and changes to their applications and pathways in biological systems.

Perhaps the most significant factor, however, is the creative nature of chemistry. As the eminent chemist Marcellin Berthelot declared, ‘chemistry creates its object [chemical compounds]. This creative faculty, … [which] forms an essential distinction between chemistry and other natural or historical sciences’ (Bates, 2021, pp.202-217), means that chemistry is uniquely placed to address major global issues. Only through innovation in catalysis can green industrial processes be made entirely economically competitive; only through innovation in biochemistry can novel drugs be developed to cure devastating diseases; only through innovation in materials science can electronic devices become more energy efficient. Inventive research is essential to solve the unprecedented problems we face, so the fact that ‘the science of chemistry is not just about discovery [but] is also, and especially, about creation’ (Lehn, 2011) renders it extraordinarily valuable to humanity. Moreover, the creative nature of chemistry lends it artistic significance. Just as authors are influenced by past writings to create great works of literature, chemists take inspiration from natural processes to develop elegant chemical systems. Just as composers shape a limited number of notes into enchanting melodies, chemists ‘imprint … matter with the products of [their] imagination[s]’ (Lehn, 2011) to produce beautiful molecules. Although such chemical poetry is of little interest to the vast majority of people, it, more than anything else, according to Dr Gilks of the University of Nottingham, motivates most organic chemists to continue their work (2023). Since this work is hugely valuable to humanity, the driving force behind it - the artistic nature of chemistry - is important to humanity as well.

“Chemists are both students and architects of [the] miniature universe” of atoms and molecules - MIT Department of Chemistry

Overall, chemistry is important because its centrality to the natural sciences, creative nature, and the ubiquity of its subject matter, enable it, uniquely among all courses of study, to play ‘a primordial role in our understanding of material phenomena, in our ability to act upon them, to change them and control them’ (Lehn, 2011). The multitude of concomitant positive practical, philosophical, and psychological implications means that it is highly consequential to the lifestyles of all people, and is extremely valuable to humanity at large.

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