Chemistry is the science that studies the properties and composition of matter, the changes in composition and structure that occur, and the energy phenomena accompanying these changes. The term chemistry is a shortened form of the word alchemy. Alchemy describes the medieval art that searched for the philosopher's stone to change basic metals into gold and heal all diseases. In this quest, those skilled in alchemy started the use of experimentation to test various hypotheses and standardized various common laboratory techniques, such as how to heat, distill, and combine substances.

The beginning of the modern science of chemistry is attributed to Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794). In 1774, this French scientist demonstrated that oxygen is a critical component of air needed for combustion. This observation led to a better understanding of the changes in composition and structure of matter. Lavoisier later published the first list of elemental substances that eventually evolved...