Physical Chemistry (ePub)

Physical chemistry is the branch of chemistry that is concerned with the application of physics to chemical systems. This may involve the application of the principles of thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics and kinetics to the study of chemistry. Physical chemistry, in contrast to chemical physics, is predominantly (but not always) a macroscopic or supra-molecular science, as the majority of the principles on which physical chemistry was founded, are concepts related to the bulk rather than on molecular/atomic structure alone. Physical chemistry is the study of how matter behaves on a molecular and atomic level and how chemical reactions occur. Based on their analyses, physical chemists may develop new theories, such as how complex structures are formed. Physical chemists often work closely with materials scientists to research and develop potential uses for new materials. Nuclear chemistry is the subfield of general chemistry dealing with nuclear processes, radioactivity and nuclear properties of atoms. It deals with the composition of nuclear forces, nuclear reactions and radioactive materials. Nuclear chemistry bases the formation of artificial radioactivity. It is the chemistry of radioactive elements such as the radium, actinides and radon together with the chemistry associated with equipments such as nuclear reactors which are specially designed to perform nuclear processes. This book offers arresting illustrations that set it apart from others of its kind. The author focuses on core topics of physical chemistry, presented within a modern framework of applications.