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Physical chemistry
 
 
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Physical chemistry (also called physicochemistry) is the application of physics
Physics

Physics is the natural science which examines basic concepts such as energy, force, and spacetime and all that derives from these, such as mass, charge, matter and its Motion ....
 to macroscopic, microscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems within the field of chemistry
Chemistry

Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions....
 traditionally using the principles, practices and concepts of thermodynamics
Thermodynamics

In physics, thermodynamics is the study of the conversion of heat energy into different forms of energy ; different energy conversions into heat energy; and its relation to macroscopic variables such as temperature, pressure, and volume....
, quantum chemistry
Quantum chemistry

Quantum chemistry is a branch of theoretical chemistry, which applies quantum mechanics and quantum field theory to address issues and problems in chemistry....
, statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics

Statistical mechanics is the application of probability theory, which includes Mathematics tools for dealing with large populations, to the field of mechanics, which is concerned with the motion of particles or objects when subjected to a force....
 and kinetics
Kinetics

Kinetics, derived from the Greek language word ????s?? meaning movement or the act of moving, may refer to:...
. It is mostly defined as a large field of chemistry, in which several sub-concepts are applied; the inclusion of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a set of principles underlying the most fundamental known description of all physical systems at the microscopic scale . Notable amongst these principles are both a dual wave-like and particle-like behavior of matter and radiation, and prediction of probabilities in situations where classical physics predicts certaintie...
 is used to illustrate the application of physical chemistry to atomic and particulate chemical interaction or experimentation.

Physical chemistry is mostly referred to as a macromolecular doctrine, as the majority of the principles on which physical chemistry was founded are composed entirely of macromolecular concepts, such as colloids.

The relationships that physical chemistry tries to resolve include the effects of:
  1. Intermolecular forces on the physical properties of materials (plasticity
    Plasticity

    Plasticity generally means ability to be shaped or formed. More specific meanings include:In science* Neuroplasticity, entire brain structures can change to better cope with the environment....
    , tensile strength
    Tensile strength

    Tensile strength , or is the Stress at which a material breaks or permanently deforms. Tensile strength is an Intensive and extensive properties and, consequently, does not depend on the size of the test specimen....
    , surface tension
    Surface tension

    Surface tension is an attractive property of the surface of a liquid. It is what causes the surface portion of liquid to be attracted to another surface, such as that of another portion of liquid ....
     in liquid
    Liquid

    Liquid is one of the principal states of matter. A liquid is a fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of its bulk material....
    s).
  2. Reaction kinetics
    Chemical kinetics

    Chemical kinetics, also known as reaction kinetics, is the study of reaction rate of chemical processes. Chemical kinetics includes investigations of how different experimental conditions can influence the speed of a chemical reaction and yield information about the reaction mechanism and transition states, as well as the construction of ma...
     on the rate of a reaction
    Reaction rate

    The reaction rate or rate of reaction for a reactant or product in a particular chemical reaction is intuitively defined as how fast a reaction takes place....
    .
  3. The identity of ions on the electrical conductivity of materials.


term "physical chemistry" was probably first introduced by Mikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Lomonosov

Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer, who made important contributions to literature, education, and science....
 in 1752, when he presented a lecture course entitled "A Course in True Physical Chemistry" (Russian: «???? ???????? ?????????? ?????») before the students of Petersburg University.

The foundation of modern physical chemistry is thought to have been laid in 1876 by Josiah Willard Gibbs
Josiah Willard Gibbs

Josiah Willard Gibbs was an American theoretical physicist, chemist, and mathematician. One of the greatest American scientists of all time, he devised much of the theoretical foundation for chemical thermodynamics as well as physical chemistry....
 after the publishing of his paper, On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances
On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances

In the history of thermodynamics, On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances is a 300-page paper written by American mathematical-engineer Willard Gibbs....
, which contained several of the cornerstones of physical chemistry, such as Gibbs energy
Gibbs free energy

In thermodynamics, the Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic potential that measures the "useful" or process-initiating Work obtainable from an isothermal, Isobaric process thermodynamic system....
, chemical potential
Chemical potential

In thermodynamics, physics and chemistry, chemical potential, symbolized by ?, is a term introduced by the American engineer, chemist and mathematical physicist Willard Gibbs, which he defined as follows:...
s, Gibbs phase rule and subsequent naming and accreditation of enthalpy
Enthalpy

In thermodynamics and chemistry, the enthalpy is a quotient or description of thermodynamic potential of a system, which can be used to calculate the heat transfer during a quasistatic process taking place in a closed system thermodynamic system under constant pressure....
 to Heike Kamerlingh Onnes
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was a Netherlands physicist. His scientific career was spent exploring extremely cold refrigeration techniques and the associated phenomena....
 and to macromolecular processes.






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Encyclopedia


Physical chemistry (also called physicochemistry) is the application of physics
Physics

Physics is the natural science which examines basic concepts such as energy, force, and spacetime and all that derives from these, such as mass, charge, matter and its Motion ....
 to macroscopic, microscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems within the field of chemistry
Chemistry

Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions....
 traditionally using the principles, practices and concepts of thermodynamics
Thermodynamics

In physics, thermodynamics is the study of the conversion of heat energy into different forms of energy ; different energy conversions into heat energy; and its relation to macroscopic variables such as temperature, pressure, and volume....
, quantum chemistry
Quantum chemistry

Quantum chemistry is a branch of theoretical chemistry, which applies quantum mechanics and quantum field theory to address issues and problems in chemistry....
, statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics

Statistical mechanics is the application of probability theory, which includes Mathematics tools for dealing with large populations, to the field of mechanics, which is concerned with the motion of particles or objects when subjected to a force....
 and kinetics
Kinetics

Kinetics, derived from the Greek language word ????s?? meaning movement or the act of moving, may refer to:...
. It is mostly defined as a large field of chemistry, in which several sub-concepts are applied; the inclusion of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a set of principles underlying the most fundamental known description of all physical systems at the microscopic scale . Notable amongst these principles are both a dual wave-like and particle-like behavior of matter and radiation, and prediction of probabilities in situations where classical physics predicts certaintie...
 is used to illustrate the application of physical chemistry to atomic and particulate chemical interaction or experimentation.

Physical chemistry is mostly referred to as a macromolecular doctrine, as the majority of the principles on which physical chemistry was founded are composed entirely of macromolecular concepts, such as colloids.

The relationships that physical chemistry tries to resolve include the effects of:
  1. Intermolecular forces on the physical properties of materials (plasticity
    Plasticity

    Plasticity generally means ability to be shaped or formed. More specific meanings include:In science* Neuroplasticity, entire brain structures can change to better cope with the environment....
    , tensile strength
    Tensile strength

    Tensile strength , or is the Stress at which a material breaks or permanently deforms. Tensile strength is an Intensive and extensive properties and, consequently, does not depend on the size of the test specimen....
    , surface tension
    Surface tension

    Surface tension is an attractive property of the surface of a liquid. It is what causes the surface portion of liquid to be attracted to another surface, such as that of another portion of liquid ....
     in liquid
    Liquid

    Liquid is one of the principal states of matter. A liquid is a fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of its bulk material....
    s).
  2. Reaction kinetics
    Chemical kinetics

    Chemical kinetics, also known as reaction kinetics, is the study of reaction rate of chemical processes. Chemical kinetics includes investigations of how different experimental conditions can influence the speed of a chemical reaction and yield information about the reaction mechanism and transition states, as well as the construction of ma...
     on the rate of a reaction
    Reaction rate

    The reaction rate or rate of reaction for a reactant or product in a particular chemical reaction is intuitively defined as how fast a reaction takes place....
    .
  3. The identity of ions on the electrical conductivity of materials.


History

The term "physical chemistry" was probably first introduced by Mikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Lomonosov

Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer, who made important contributions to literature, education, and science....
 in 1752, when he presented a lecture course entitled "A Course in True Physical Chemistry" (Russian: «???? ???????? ?????????? ?????») before the students of Petersburg University.

The foundation of modern physical chemistry is thought to have been laid in 1876 by Josiah Willard Gibbs
Josiah Willard Gibbs

Josiah Willard Gibbs was an American theoretical physicist, chemist, and mathematician. One of the greatest American scientists of all time, he devised much of the theoretical foundation for chemical thermodynamics as well as physical chemistry....
 after the publishing of his paper, On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances
On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances

In the history of thermodynamics, On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances is a 300-page paper written by American mathematical-engineer Willard Gibbs....
, which contained several of the cornerstones of physical chemistry, such as Gibbs energy
Gibbs free energy

In thermodynamics, the Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic potential that measures the "useful" or process-initiating Work obtainable from an isothermal, Isobaric process thermodynamic system....
, chemical potential
Chemical potential

In thermodynamics, physics and chemistry, chemical potential, symbolized by ?, is a term introduced by the American engineer, chemist and mathematical physicist Willard Gibbs, which he defined as follows:...
s, Gibbs phase rule and subsequent naming and accreditation of enthalpy
Enthalpy

In thermodynamics and chemistry, the enthalpy is a quotient or description of thermodynamic potential of a system, which can be used to calculate the heat transfer during a quasistatic process taking place in a closed system thermodynamic system under constant pressure....
 to Heike Kamerlingh Onnes
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was a Netherlands physicist. His scientific career was spent exploring extremely cold refrigeration techniques and the associated phenomena....
 and to macromolecular processes.

The first scientific journal
Scientific journal

In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research....
 for publications specifically in the field of physical chemistry was the German journal, Zeitschrift für physikalische Chemie
Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie

Zeitschrift f?r Physikalische Chemie is a German publication transliterated as "International journal of research in physical chemistry and chemical physics"....
, founded in 1887 by Wilhelm Ostwald
Wilhelm Ostwald

Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald was a Baltic German chemist. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909 for his work on catalysis, chemical equilibria and reaction velocities....
 and Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff
Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff

Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff was a Netherlands physical chemistry and organic chemistry and the winner of the inaugural Nobel Prize in chemistry....
.

See also


Sub-topics

  • Photochemistry
    Photochemistry

    Photochemistry, a sub-discipline of chemistry, is the study of the interactions between atoms, small molecules, and light . The pillars of photochemistry are UV/VIS spectroscopy, photochemical reactions in organic chemistry and photosynthesis in biochemistry....
  • Thermochemistry
    Thermochemistry

    In thermodynamics and physical chemistry, thermochemistry is the study of the energy evolved or absorbed in chemical reactions and any physical transformations, such as melting and boiling....
  • Chemical kinetics
    Chemical kinetics

    Chemical kinetics, also known as reaction kinetics, is the study of reaction rate of chemical processes. Chemical kinetics includes investigations of how different experimental conditions can influence the speed of a chemical reaction and yield information about the reaction mechanism and transition states, as well as the construction of ma...
  • Quantum chemistry
    Quantum chemistry

    Quantum chemistry is a branch of theoretical chemistry, which applies quantum mechanics and quantum field theory to address issues and problems in chemistry....
  • Electrochemistry
    Electrochemistry

    Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron Electrical conductor and an ionic conductor , and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution....
  • Surface chemistry
  • Solid-state chemistry
  • Spectroscopy
    Spectroscopy

    Spectroscopy was originally the study of the interaction between radiation and matter as a function of wavelength . In fact, historically, spectroscopy referred to the use of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g....
  • Materials science
    Materials science

    Materials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering....
  • Physical organic chemistry
    Physical organic chemistry

    Physical organic chemistry is the study of the interrelationships between chemical structure and reactivity in organic molecules. It can be seen as the study of organic chemistry using tools of physical chemistry such as chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, thermochemistry, and quantum chemistry....


Publications

  • Important publications in physical chemistry(chemistry),
  • Important publications in physical chemistry(physics)