Portal:Chemistry

Enzymes are molecules that manipulate other molecules — the enzymes' substrates. These target molecules bind to an enzyme's active site and are transformed into products through a series of steps known as the enzymatic mechanism. Some enzymes bind multiple substrates and/or release multiple products, such as a protease cleaving one protein substrate into two polypeptide products. Others join substrates together, such as DNA polymerase linking a nucleotide to DNA. Although these mechanisms are often a complex series of steps, there is typically one rate-determining step that determines the overall kinetics. This rate-determining step may be a chemical reaction or a conformational change of the enzyme or substrates, such as those involved in the release of product(s) from the enzyme.

Fields of Chemistry

• Analytical chemistry: Chromatography, Spectroscopy
• Biochemistry: Molecular biology
• Crystal Chemistry
• Environmental chemistry: Geochemistry
• Inorganic chemistry: Inorganic reactions
• Materials science: Nanotechnology, Glass, Ceramics
• Medicinal chemistry
• Metallurgy
• Nuclear chemistry
• Organic chemistry: Functional groups, Organic compounds, Organic reactions
• Organometallic chemistry
• Pharmacy
• Physical chemistry: Electrochemistry, Quantum chemistry
• Polymer chemistry
• Supramolecular chemistry
• Theoretical chemistry: Computational chemistry

Many chemists have an interest in the history of chemistry. Those with philosophical interests will be interested that the philosophy of chemistry has quite recently developed along a path somewhat different from the general philosophy of science.

Other articles that might interest you are:

• Superseded chemistry theories
• Alchemy
• Scientific method
• The central science

There is a Wikipedia Project on the History of Science.

Wikipedia:WikiProject Chemicals/Data is a collection of links and references that are useful for chemistry-related works. This includes free online chemical databases, publications, patents, computer programs, and various tools.

unit-conversion.info A good place to figure out what equals what.

General Chemistry Online Clear text and comprehensive coverage of general chemistry topics by Fred Senese, Dept. of Chemistry Frostburg State University

General Chemistry Demonstration at Purdue Video clips (and descriptions) of lecture demonstrations.

Chemistry Webercises Directory A large listing of chemistry resources maintained by Steven Murov, Emeritus Chemistry Professor Modesto Junior College.

MathMol MathMol (Mathematics and Molecules) is a good starting point for those interested in the field of molecular modeling.

ABC-Chemistry A directory of free full-text journals in chemistry, biochemistry and related subjects.

The Element Song A goofy little song about all of the elements.