What are the branches of chemistry and their definition?

There are 5 major branches of chemistry - organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. These are further divided into many sub-branches.

• Organic Chemistry 

Organic chemistry is the study of the chemistry of life and reactions occurring in living organisms. It encompasses the study of organic reactions and the structure and properties of chemical compounds that are made up primarily of carbon and hydrogen. Sub-branches of organic chemistry include Medical Chemistry, Physical Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Stereochemistry, and Polymer Chemistry. 

• Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry involves the study of the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds including metals, minerals, ceramics, crystal structures, catalysts, and most elements in the Periodic Table. It covers all chemical compounds that are ‘non-organic’ in nature. Sub-branches of inorganic chemistry include Nuclear Chemistry, Geochemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, Solid-State Chemistry, and Organometallic Chemistry. 

• Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms. It focuses on key molecules such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, neurotransmitters, and nucleic acids, and tries to explain them in chemical terms. Sub branches of biochemistry include genetics, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and agricultural biochemistry. 

• Analytical Chemistry

Analytical chemistry involves the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the chemistry of substances. It encompasses a wide range of techniques including distillation, extraction, spectroscopy and spectrometry, separation, electrophoresis, and chromatography. Sub branches of analytical chemistry include Environmental Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 

• Physical Chemistry

Physical Chemistry applies physics to the study of chemistry. For example, it includes the applications of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics to chemistry. This branch of chemistry encompasses the study of the effect of chemical structure on the physical properties of a substance, the rate of chemical reactions, the calculation of properties and structures, and the interaction of molecules with radiation. Sub branches of physical chemistry include Quantum Chemistry, Photochemistry, Spectroscopy, Chemical Kinetics, and Surface Chemistry.