Answer
Pure research can lead directly to an application, but an application can exist before research is done to explain how it works.
Work Step by Step
Pure chemistry is the pursuit of chemical knowledge for its own sake. The chemist doesn’t expect that there will be any immediate practical use for the knowledge. Most chemists do research that is designed to answer a specific question. Applied chemistry is research that is directed toward a practical goal or application. Pure research can lead directly to an application, but an application can exist before research is done to explain how it works.
