A chemist may be draw to the science because it contains physics and mathematics, with results clearly defined. On the other hand, biology can be messy, with fluids and disrupted bodies and patient suffering. For the nursing professional, there may be the temptation to define a physical process present in a patient as either biological or chemical. Technically, the definition for biology is simply the “scientific study of living organisms” (TheFreeDictionary.com), while chemistry is “a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the transformations that they undergo” (Merriam-webster.com). However, the lines blur when attempting to separate the two terms. In an attempt to differentiate between biology and chemistry, supporting points of ONE, TWO, and THREE will presented with relationships to both sciences. The result will show that biology and chemistry overlap, although there are distinct features of each science.
The first discussion point is the relationship chemistry and biology has to do with how substances interact with each other. Chemistry creates experiments and research on how chemicals interact with each other. Biology studies how living organisms react to different influences, which may include chemicals. For instance, pharmacology is the impact of chemicals on living organisms; while this branch of biology deals with chemical reactions, it also deals with living organisms. Chemistry does not deal with living organisms, although the information garnered from chemical research may be applied too biological uses.
Another supporting point is the smallest component of each science. The smallest part of biology is the living cell, while the smallest component of a chemical element is the atom. While it is true that cells are also composed of atoms, the biologist does not break it down to that level because a smaller component is known to have energy, but not life. The various combinations of atoms create the chemical elements used by chemists in research. Therefore, biology and chemistry contain the same small components, but chemistry is more interested in atoms as the smallest focus.
A different comparison is the applications of chemistry and biology. The purpose of chemistry is to study the interactions between atoms and the resulting chemicals, while biology strives to discover the processes of healthy organisms and how to correct dysfunctions. The chemist may apply research to creating energy, purifying water, or developing new synthetic materials; it may also be used to manufacture herbicides to protect crops or medications for the treatment of human illnesses. Biology directs applications toward understanding health, illness, and the evolution of living organisms; this may also employ information generated from chemical research for treatments and cellular responses. For instance, the adrenal glands generate the chemical adrenalin during periods of excitation. While the biologist may be interested in this process, the chemist probably would not.
In conclusion, the science of chemistry is closely related to the composition of matter, properties, and reactions, including those of biological functions. However, biology is based entirely on living organisms rather than just their composition. It can be said that biology also studies the structures where chemistry is generated, such as body systems. There are branches of each field that blend the information available, such as biochemistry and chemical biology. o the practicing nurse professional, a solid education in both sciences leads to a more comprehensive understanding of how the body works and the effects of medications and the environment upon it.
Works cited
TheFreeDictionary.com. "Biology". Thefreedictionary.Com, 2017, http://medical- dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/biology.
Merriam-webster.com. "Definition of CHEMISTRY". Merriam-Webster.Com, 2017, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemistry#medicalDictionary
