Final answer:
Chemistry is fundamental to biology and medicine, as it explains life's biochemical processes. It's also integral to our everyday activities and technological progress in various fields. Due to its interdisciplinary nature, chemistry is known as 'the central science'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding chemistry is crucial because it forms the foundation for many aspects of biology and medicine. Our cells are composed of chemicals like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which combine through chemical reactions to sustain life. Without a grasp of chemistry, it would be challenging to comprehend the structure of proteins, the formation of nucleic acids, and the design and manufacture of drugs.
Moreover, chemistry is integrally linked with our daily lives, significantly impacting our routines. From making coffee to using electronics, chemistry governs the interactions of materials and is key to technological advances in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, and materials science. It also plays a pivotal role in developing sustainable practices to reduce environmental pollution.
In the search for new chemical reactions, a chemist would involve physics to understand energy changes and the production of ions. The interdisciplinary nature of chemistry with other scientific disciplines like physics, biology, and environmental science establishes it as 'the central science' and emphasizes the need for a basic understanding of chemistry in various scientific endeavors.