<p>The aim of this lesson is to give you an appreciation and a feel for elements and <a data-lesson="compounds-2" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="quantitative-aspects-chemical-change" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/quantitative-aspects-chemical-change/compounds-2">compounds</a> as well as how we apply chemistry in real-world applications. You do not necessarily need to understand the underlying processes.</p>
<h2>Chemistry and Cell Phones</h2>
<p id="fs-idm49120320">Imagine how different your life would be without cell phones (<a href="#attachment_96133">see image below</a>) and other smart devices. Cell phones are made from numerous chemical substances, which are extracted, refined, purified, and assembled using an extensive and in-depth understanding of chemical principles.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_96133" style="width: 790px"><a href="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/2b9672de-c8a3-496c-853a-92a04ea75a0c"><img alt="cell-phone-chemistry" class="size-full wp-image-96133" height="421" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/2b9672de-c8a3-496c-853a-92a04ea75a0c" width="790"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Almost one-third of naturally occurring elements are used to make a cell phone. Image credit: modification of work by John Taylor</p></div>
<p>About 30% of the elements that are found in nature are found within a typical smart phone. The case/body/frame consists of a combination of sturdy, durable <a data-lesson="types-of-synthetic-organic-polymers" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="organic-chemistry" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/organic-chemistry/types-of-synthetic-organic-polymers">polymers</a> comprised primarily of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and <a data-lesson="occurrence-preparation-and-properties-of-nitrogen" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="metals-metalloids-nonmetals" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/metals-metalloids-nonmetals/occurrence-preparation-and-properties-of-nitrogen">nitrogen</a> [acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate thermoplastics], and light, strong, structural metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, and iron.</p>
<p>The display screen is made from a specially toughened glass (silica glass strengthened by the addition of aluminum, sodium, and potassium) and coated with a material to make it conductive (such as indium tin oxide).</p>
<p>The circuit board uses a semiconductor material (usually silicon); commonly used <a data-lesson="metals" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="classification-of-matter" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/classification-of-matter/metals">metals</a> like copper, tin, silver, and gold; and more unfamiliar elements such as yttrium, praseodymium, and gadolinium. The <a data-lesson="summarizing-batteries-and-fuel-cells" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="electrochemistry" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/electrochemistry/summarizing-batteries-and-fuel-cells">battery</a> relies upon lithium ions and a variety of other materials, including iron, cobalt, copper, polyethylene oxide, and polyacrylonitrile.</p>

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Chemistry of Cell Phones

Chemistry generally explores the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances. 

Chemistry

Explore the essential ideas in chemistry, including the scientific method, laboratory skills and safety, states of matter, measurement uncertainty, models of the atom, electronic configurations, and more.


Chemistry of Cell Phones

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