应用化学专业英语第一单元The Roots Of Chemistry.docVIP

The Roots Of Chemistry Chemistry can be broadly defines as the science of molecules and their transformations.化学可以广泛地定义为科学的分子和他们的转换。In contrast to mathematics,chemistry is older than people. 与数学不同，化学比人类更久远。The appearance of life and people on our planet (earth) is most probably the end result of specific chemical processes .生命的出现和人类生活在我们地球上都最可能是特殊化学过程的结果。Chemical processes have been present in the lives of people from the dawn of history until the present time .化学过程存从古至今存在人们的生活中。Initially ,these processes were not under our control 最初，这些过程不受我们的控制，,for instance ,the fermentation of fruit juice,the rotting of meat and fish ,and the burning of wood .例如，果汁的发酵，肉和鱼的腐烂，木材的燃烧。Later on we learned to control chemical processes and to use them to prepare a variety of different products such as food ,metals ,ceramics and leather .后来，我们学着控制化学过程，用它们来准备一系列不同的产品例如食物。In the development of chemistry ,four periods may be distinguished 在化学的发展中，四个阶段是突出的:prehistoric chemistry ,Greek chemistry ,alchemy ,and scientific chemistry. 史前化学，希腊化学，炼金术和科学化学 The early beginnings of chemistry were clearly motivated by practical needs of people .早期的化学显然是出于实际的需要。The discovery of fire offered the first opportunity to prehistoric people to carry out controlled chemical processes .火的发现为远古人提供了第一个机会去实现控制化学反应过程。They learned to prepare objects made of copper, 他们学会制备铜制物品，bronze and other materials that were readily available.铜和其它材料是现成的。Since the use of chemical processes by these early people predates writing there are no written records about their chemical skills .由于化学过程的使用早于人们的书写，因而没有书面记录有关它们的化学技巧。One can judge their chemical abilities only from the archeological discoveries of various artifacts .可以判断他们的化学能力只有从考古的发现的各个手工艺品。What has been found indicates clearly that practical needs influenced the early development of chemistry ,已经发现的。as was the case for the early development of mathematics .正如早期的数学发展，清楚的预示着实际需求影响着化学的发展。But chemistry and mathematics at this stage probably did not interact .但化学和数学在这个阶段可能没有互相影响