Text 1: Chemistry And Chemical Industry In Modern Life

Everybody knows that chemistry with its today's possibilities is a young science. But its history began several thousand years ago. A great number of facts which are still useful in modern chemistry, were discovered¹ in ancient Greece, Rome and especially Egypt. But that knowledge was purely practical. They could not explain many things which they were observing in the material world. They prepared medicines from plants but could not tell what elements they consisted of.

Today, chemistry is revolutionizing the material conditions² of life of contemporary society. Everybody knows that chemistry is an extremely useful thing. We are aware of the fact that³ none of the key industries can develop without chemistry. This applies to machine-building, rocketry, agriculture, light and building industry, medicine, national defense, etc. There are other sciences (biochemistry, molecular biology, geochemistry, astrochemistry, etc.) which have been considerably affected⁴ by the progress of chemistry.

We all realize that the successes of contemporary chemistry have been amazingly great. Take, for instance, the chemistry of polymers. Scientists, who are working jointly with the chemical branches of industry, have created excellent polymers as far as durability and thermal stability are concerned. In our everyday life we are using beautiful fabrics and other materials which one can now make out of polymers obtained from⁵ natural gas, coal, shale, wood or oil. We also know that almost all detergents, fertilizers, lubricants, fuels, antifreezes, pesticides, cosmetics, solid-state devices, energy-converters (magnets, lasers) and thousands of other products are constructed wholly or in part of synthetics.

In the not too distant future, when the atom, the Sun, the heat of the Earth, and the tides become the main sources of energy, the great quantities of coal, oil, gas, shales and wood, which are extracted and burned up⁶ all over the world every year, will be used to make consumer goods.

Today we are witnessing the development of a new scientific and technical branch – biochemical technology. The chemists-researchers have already succeeded in determining the place and the role of each atom in a complex bio-organic compound. We are also reading quite frequently about the scientists who can retrace and organize the processes in a living organism. The combination of biological or microbiological processes with those of direct chemical synthesis helps to obtain new substances or microorganisms. This also will provide humanity with unlimited sources of food, medicines, fodder, many types of highly valuable raw materials, etc.

We are sure that there will be many new discoveries in chemistry. They will create new opportunities in the future of mankind.

Ex. 13. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Складатися з; машинобудування; ракетобудування; сільське господарство; медицина; сучасна хімія; довговічність; природний газ; вугілля; сланець; деревина; нафта; миючі засоби; добрива; мастильні матеріали; спостерігати; складна біоорганічна сполука; фураж

Ex. 14. Find in the text the Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Key industry; light and building industry; national defense; thermal stability; fabrics; fuels; antifreeze; pesticides; cosmetics; solid-state devices; energy-converters; humanity; raw material; mankind

Ex. 15. Find in the text synonyms for the following words and word combinations.

Opportunity; a lot of; to watch; to know; to influence; for example; together; perfect; to be made of; to manage; to get; to establish

Ex. 16. Put the sentences in order of their appearance in the text.

1. They will create new opportunities in the future of mankind.

2. But that knowledge was purely practical.

3. In the not too distant future, when the atom, the Sun, the heat of the Earth, and the tides become the main sources of energy.

4. Scientists have created excellent polymers as far as durability and thermal stability are concerned.

5. This also will provide humanity with unlimited sources of food, medicines, fodder, many types of highly valuable raw materials.

6. Everybody knows that chemistry with its today's possibilities is a young science.

7. Take, for instance, the chemistry of polymers.

8. Everybody knows that chemistry is an extremely useful thing.

9. Today we are witnessing the development of a new scientific and technical branch – biochemical technology.

10. We all realize that the successes of contemporary chemistry have been amazingly great.

Ex. 17. Fill in the gaps using the exercises after the text.

1. … facts were discovered in ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt.

2. We … that none of the key industries can develop without chemistry.

3. There are sciences which have been considerably … by the progress of chemistry.

4. We are using beautiful … and other materials, which can now be made out of polymers obtained from …, …, …, … and … .

5. Great quantities of …, …, …, … and … are extracted and burned up all over the world every year.

6. The chemists have already … in the determining the place and the role of each atom in a … .

Ex. 18. Answer the questions to the text.

1. What is the characteristic feature of the ancient chemistry?

2. What is the role of chemistry in the life of contemporary society?

3. Why is chemistry an extremely useful science?

4. What is the impact of modern chemistry on production?

5. In what branches of industry is chemistry useful?

6. What new scientific and technical branches of chemistry have appeared?

7. What are the tendencies of modern chemistry?

Ex. 19. Insert articles before nouns where necessary.

1. ... importance of ... scientific research and ... discoveries is growing with every ... year. 2. Due to ... achievements of ... world science ... lot of ... things are brought to ... life. 3. Science opens broad ... opportunities for ... development of ... country's productive force. 4. All ... scientists of ... world value ... our scientists for their brilliant discoveries. 5. ... state should provide scientific and educational institutes with all necessary ... equipment and facilities. 6. ... role of ... science increases in all spheres of our ... life because it became ... direct productive force.

Study the following grammar rule.