The study of modern chemistry can be split into two types of research: pure and applied.
Pure Chemistry: Pure chemistry is concerned with a greater understanding of the theories behind how matter is changing in chemical reactions.

  • Pure chemistry is considered the basics. Only understanding why or what something is rather than what you can do with something

  • Pure chemistry involves the concept of “why is this that way” or “how does this work” and works towards answering that question. Once that question is answered, you move onto the next thing, there’s no next step

  • Note: Pure chemistry is also referred to as pure research

Applied Chemistry: Applied chemistry is chemistry that is directed toward a specific practical goal or application.

  • Applied chemistry is the process of using previous knowledge to achieve a goal

  • Think of applied chemistry as researching and using knowledge with the goal to use that knowledge to help (or potentially hurt) people or the environment.

Ankit
Example of pure chemistry can be: learning everything about mushrooms (such as what the name is, how/where they grow, what they’re made up of), but not applying that knowledge towards what you can do with the mushroom.

    Ankit
    The example of applied chemistry is: Scientist researched the COVID-19 virus and pfizer used that knowledge of the virus to figure out how to make a COVID-19 vaccine.