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Physical chemistry

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Physical Chemistry is the combined science of physics, chemistry, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics which functions to provide molecular-level interpretations of observed macroscopic phenomena. Typically, changes in temperature, pressure, volume, heat, and work of systems in the solid, liquid, and or gas phase are correlated to microscopic atomic and molecular interactions. Most cite Willard Gibbs as the founder of physical chemistry as stemming from his 1876 paper: “On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances”, wherein such cornerstones as free energy, chemical potential, and phase rule were developed.


Modern physical chemistry is firmly grounded upon physics. Important areas of study include chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, electrochemistry, surface and solid state chemistry, and spectroscopy. Physical chemistry is also fundamental to modern materials science.


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Literature

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_chemistry


Chemistry
Analytical chemistry | Organic chemistry | Inorganic chemistry | Physical chemistry | Polymer chemistry | Biochemistry | Materials science | Environmental chemistry | Medicinal chemistry | Pharmacy | Thermochemistry | Electrochemistry | Nuclear chemistry | Computational chemistry | Photochemistry
Periodic table | List of inorganic compounds | List of organic compounds | List of biomolecules

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This page has been accessed 177 times. This page was last modified 20:30, 27 August 2005. All content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

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