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Molecules


Physical Chemistry

Before the development of high energy physics, it has been found convenient to divide natural phenomena into two broad classes: one consists of changes of an apparently permanent nature involving the transformation of one form of matter into another, while in the second are included temporary changes, general resulting from an alteration of external conditions. It is the study of the phenomena in these two categories, which constitute the sciences of chemistry and physics, respectively. The distinction between these aspects of the study of nature may be indicated in another way: chemistry may be said to deal with matter and its transformations, whereas physics is concerned with energy and its transformations. It is clearly not possible to draw a sharp distinction between the two points of view, for many problems in both physics and chemistry are concerned with interactions between energy and matter; it is these problems which constitute the fundamental basis of the subject of physical chemistry.

Followings are some selected topics in physical chemistry. Most of the phenomena were described originally from the macroscopic point of view. The microscopic interpretation is available only after the discovery of atomic structure. The modern subjects in physical chemistry such as quantum chemistry, and statistical mechanics take the microscopic point of view. They are presented elsewhere in this website (click the underlined subject above to see more).

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