There are many branches of chemistry or chemistry disciplines. The 5 main major branches of chemistry are considered to be organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry.
Organic Chemistry - the study of carbon and its compounds; the study of the chemistry of life.
Biochemistry - study of the chemicals, chemical reactions and chemical interactions that take place in living organisms. Biochemistry and organic chemistry are closely related, as in medicinal chemistry or neurochemistry. Biochemistry is also associated with molecular biology and genetics.
Neurochemistry - study of neurochemicals; including transmitters, peptides, proteins, lipids, sugars, and nucleic acids; their interactions, and the roles they play in forming, maintaining, and modifying the nervous system.
Bioorganic chemistry - combines organic chemistry and biochemistry toward biology.
Biophysical chemistry
Medicinal chemistry - discipline which applies chemistry for medical or drug related purposes.
Organometallic chemistry
Pharmacy
Physical organic chemistry - study of the interrelationships between structure and reactivity in organic molecules.
Polymer chemistry - multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers or macromolecules.
Inorganic Chemistry - the study of compounds not-covered by organic chemistry; the study of inorganic compounds or compounds which do not contain a C-H bond. Many inorganic compounds are those which contain metals.
Bioinorganic chemistry
Materials chemistry - preparation, characterization, and understanding of substances with a useful function. The field is a new breadth of study in graduate programs, and it integrates elements from all classical areas of chemistry with a focus on fundamental issues that are unique to materials. Primary systems of study include the chemistry of condensed phases (solids, liquids, polymers) and interfaces between different phases.
Nuclear chemistry - study of how subatomic particles come together and make nuclei. Modern Transmutation is a large component of nuclear chemistry, and the table of nuclides is an important result and tool for this field.
Analytical Chemistry - the study of the chemistry of matter and the development of tools used to measure properties of matter
Astrochemistry - study of the abundance and reactions of chemical elements and molecules in the universe, and their interaction with radiation.
Cosmochemistry - study of the chemical composition of matter in the universe and the processes that led to those compositions.
Computational chemistry
Environmental chemistry - study of chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur diverse aspects of the environment such the air, soil, and water. It also studies the effects of human activity on the environment.
Green chemistry is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances.
Supramolecular chemistry - refers to the domain of chemistry beyond that of molecules and focuses on the chemical systems made up of a discrete number of assembled molecular subunits or components.
Theoretical chemistry - study of chemistry via fundamental theoretical reasoning (usually within mathematics or physics). In particular the application of quantum mechanics to chemistry is called quantum chemistry. Since the end of the Second World War, the development of computers has allowed a systematic development of computational chemistry, which is the art of developing and applying computer programs for solving chemical problems. Theoretical chemistry has large overlap with (theoretical and experimental) condensed matter physics and molecular physics.
Wet chemistry
Physical Chemistry - the branch of chemistry that applies physics to the study of chemistry. Commonly this includes the applications of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics to chemistry.
Chemical kinetics - study of rates of chemical processes.
Chemical physics - investigates physicochemical phenomena using techniques from atomic and molecular physics and condensed matter physics; it is the branch of physics that studies chemical processes.
Electrochemistry - branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor (the electrode: a metal or a semiconductor) and an ionic conductor (the electrolyte), and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.
Femtochemistry - area of physical chemistry that studies chemical reactions on extremely short timescales, approximately 10-15 seconds (one femtosecond).
Geochemistry - chemical study of the mechanisms behind major systems studied in geology.
Photochemistry - study of chemical reactions that proceed with the absorption of light by atoms or molecules.
Quantum chemistry - branch of chemistry whose primary focus is the application of quantum mechanics in physical models and experiments of chemical systems.
Solid-state chemistry - study of the synthesis, structure, and properties of solid phase materials, particularly, but not necessarily exclusively of, non-molecular solids.
Spectroscopy - study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy.
Surface science - study of physical and chemical phenomena that occur at the interface of two phases, including solid-liquid interfaces, solid-gas interfaces, solid-vacuum interfaces, and liquid-gas interfaces.
Thermochemistry -The branch of chemistry that studies the relation between chemical action and the amount of heat absorbed or generated.
Calorimetry - The study of heat changes in physical and chemical processes.
