Physical chemistry: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Stephen Ewen
(created newly editable page)
 
mNo edit summary
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Physical chemistry''' is a combined science of [[physics]], [[chemistry]] and [[Mathematics]], resulting in areas as [[thermodynamics]], [[electrochemistry]], [[biophysics]], [[Macromolecular chemistry]], [[Polymer chemistry]], [[Polymer physical chemistry]], [[Biochemistry|biochemistry]], [[Theoretical chemistry]], [[Computational chemistry]] and [[quantum chemistry]].  Physical chemistry tries to describe observed [[chemically macroscopic phenomena]] by molecular-level explanations. Typically these are changes in temperature, pressure, volume, heat, and work done by or on [[systems]] in the solid, liquid, and or gas (but seldom plasma) phase are correlated to microscopic atomic and molecular interactions on chemical and not physical or nuclear level.
{{subpages}}
Within the discipline of [[chemistry]], '''physical chemistry''' is an area of specialty that seeks to understand macroscopic chemical properties and reactions in terms of microscopic atomic and molecular phenomena.  Towards this end, physical chemistry draws heavily on principles of [[physics]] and [[mathematics]].  Physical chemistry is comprised of three key areas of study:  [[thermodynamics]], [[kinetics]], and [[quantum chemistry]].   


==Modern physical chemistry==
Modern physical chemistry is firmly grounded upon physics and applied mathematics. Important areas of study include [[chemical thermodynamics|thermochemistry]] (chemical thermodynamics), [[chemical kinetics]], [[Chemical statistics|statistical chemistry]]. [[quantum chemistry]], [[statistical mechanics]], [[electrochemistry]], [[surface chemistry|surface]] and [[solid state chemistry]], and [[spectroscopy]].  [[Physical chemistry]] is also fundamental to modern [[materials science]]. [[Physical chemistry]] now strongly overlaps with [[chemical physics]].


 
==Importance of physical chemistry==
The relationships that physical chemistry tries to resolve include the effects of:
During the late 19th century, physical chemistry played an important role in [[Wilhelm Ostwald|Wilhelm Ostwald's]] and [[Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff]]'s work on [[chemical equilibrium]]. It also played an important role in [[Svante Arrhenius|Svante Arrhenius]] theory of ionization and redox-reactions. Many of the new materials created to produce better chips for the computer industry, or compounds for the aeroplane and rocket industry are a result of the closely related [[materials science]]. Lubricant, solvent, cleaning and plastic industries couldn't exist without physical chemistry and specifically macromolecular chemistry. A better understanding of biological systems comes from the combination of physics, (physical) chemistry and biology in fields such as [[biophysics]], [[biochemistry]], [[molecular genetics]] and [[molecular biology]].
#The behavior of [[Elements]] according to [[The Periodic Table of Elements]].
#The behavior of [[Atoms and Molecules]] on a physical scale.
#Chemistry and temperature, [[Thermodynamics]].
#[[Chemical kinetics|Reaction kinetics]] on the [[Reaction rate]].
#Chemistry and quantity, [[Statistical chemistry]], from order to chaos, [[Entropy]].
#The chemistry of solids in [[Solid State chemistry|solid state chemistry]], [[Crystals|crystals]], [[radiation diffraction]].
#The [[molecular theory]] of solutions.
#The behavior of [[Colloids]].
#[[Tensile strength]].
#[[Chemistry of surfaces and Boundaries]].
#[[Surface tension]].
#[[Plasticity]] and [[Rheology|rheology]].
#[[Electricity, Magnetism and Chemistry]].
#[[Conductivity]].
#[[Nuclear Magnetic Resonance|NMR]].
#[[Rotation and vibration in chemistry]].
#[[Spectroscopy]].
#[[Macromolecular chemistry]].
#[[Computational chemistry]] or [[Theoretical chemistry|theoretical chemistry]].
#[[Quantum chemistry]].
#[[Polymer chemistry]].
#[[Materials science]].
#[[Error analyses and Data reduction]].
 
 
==Modern Physical Chemistry==
Modern physical chemistry is firmly grounded upon physics and applied mathematics. Important areas of study include [[thermochemistry]] (chemical thermodynamics), [[chemical kinetics]], [[Chemical statistics|statistical chemistry]]. [[quantum chemistry]], [[statistical mechanics]], [[electrochemistry]], [[surface chemistry|surface]] and [[solid state chemistry]], and [[spectroscopy]].  [[Physical chemistry]] is also fundamental to modern [[Materials science]]. [[Physical chemistry]] now strongly overlaps with [[chemical physics]].
 
==Importance of Physical Chemistry==
During the late 19th century, physical chemistry played an important role in [[Wilhelm Ostwald|Wilhelm Ostwald's]] and [[Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff|Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff's]] work on [[chemical equilibrium]]. It also played an important role in [[Svante Arrhenius|Svante Arrhenius]] theory of ionization and redox-reactions. Many of the new materials created to produce better chips for the computer industry, or compounds for the aeroplane and rocket industry are a result of the closely related [[materials science]]. Lubricant, solvent, cleaning and plastic industries couldn't exist without physical chemistry and specifically macromolecular chemistry. A better understanding of biological systems comes from the combination of physics, (physical) chemistry and biology in fields such as [[Biophysics]], [[Biochemistry]], [[Molecular genetics]] and [[Molecular biology]].


After 1900, chemists began to get valuable help from physics about the electrical nature of the [[atom]]. This knowledge led to improvements in [[X-ray|X-rays]] diffraction and structural analyses and the assignment of [[atomic number|atomic numbers]] to the elements, successively leading to a better systematic understanding of the elements, even to the point where new elements were predicted before they were actually created in laboratories.
After 1900, chemists began to get valuable help from physics about the electrical nature of the [[atom]]. This knowledge led to improvements in [[X-ray|X-rays]] diffraction and structural analyses and the assignment of [[atomic number|atomic numbers]] to the elements, successively leading to a better systematic understanding of the elements, even to the point where new elements were predicted before they were actually created in laboratories.
Line 108: Line 81:
* Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Charles Tanford, 1961, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, ISBN 0-471-84447-0
* Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Charles Tanford, 1961, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, ISBN 0-471-84447-0


 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
[[Category:Chemistry Workgroup]]
[[Category:Physics Workgroup]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]

Latest revision as of 07:00, 4 October 2024

This article is developed but not approved.
 Main Article
 Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=Physical_chemistry&printable=yes
This editable, developed Main Article is subject to a disclaimer.

Within the discipline of chemistry, physical chemistry is an area of specialty that seeks to understand macroscopic chemical properties and reactions in terms of microscopic atomic and molecular phenomena. Towards this end, physical chemistry draws heavily on principles of physics and mathematics. Physical chemistry is comprised of three key areas of study: thermodynamics, kinetics, and quantum chemistry.

Modern physical chemistry

Modern physical chemistry is firmly grounded upon physics and applied mathematics. Important areas of study include thermochemistry (chemical thermodynamics), chemical kinetics, statistical chemistry. quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, electrochemistry, surface and solid state chemistry, and spectroscopy. Physical chemistry is also fundamental to modern materials science. Physical chemistry now strongly overlaps with chemical physics.

Importance of physical chemistry

During the late 19th century, physical chemistry played an important role in Wilhelm Ostwald's and Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff's work on chemical equilibrium. It also played an important role in Svante Arrhenius theory of ionization and redox-reactions. Many of the new materials created to produce better chips for the computer industry, or compounds for the aeroplane and rocket industry are a result of the closely related materials science. Lubricant, solvent, cleaning and plastic industries couldn't exist without physical chemistry and specifically macromolecular chemistry. A better understanding of biological systems comes from the combination of physics, (physical) chemistry and biology in fields such as biophysics, biochemistry, molecular genetics and molecular biology.

After 1900, chemists began to get valuable help from physics about the electrical nature of the atom. This knowledge led to improvements in X-rays diffraction and structural analyses and the assignment of atomic numbers to the elements, successively leading to a better systematic understanding of the elements, even to the point where new elements were predicted before they were actually created in laboratories. (1994) Compton's Encyclopedia C-Ch. Compton's Learning Company, 302. 

Important physical chemists

Willard Gibbs is considered one of the founders of physical chemistry because of his 1876 paper On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances, wherein he developed such cornerstones as free energy, chemical potential, and phase rule.

See also

Literature

  • Physical Chemistry, Peter Atkins, 1978, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-7167-3539-3.
  • Physical Chemistry, R. Stephen Berry, Stuart A. Rice, John Ross, 2000 (2nd edition), Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-510589-3.
  • Introduction to Modern Colloid Science, R.J. Hunter, 1993, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-855386-2.
  • Principles of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, P.C. Hiemenz, R. Rajagopalan, 1997, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York. ISBN 0-8247-9397-8.
  • Physical Chemistry, W.J. Moore, 1972 (5th edition), Longmans, London/Prentice Hall, NJ. ISBN 0-582-44234-6
  • Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Charles Tanford, 1961, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, ISBN 0-471-84447-0

References

Retrieved from "https://citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=Physical_chemistry&oldid=984894"