Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Physical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: michealyounger on October 17, 2019, 06:00:34 PM

Title: What is physical chemistry?
Post by: michealyounger on October 17, 2019, 06:00:34 PM

I hope this is the right sub to ask. I'm a chemical engineering major and am gonna be taking the 2 course sequence of physical chemistry starting next semester. I've heard that it's essentially general chemistry on steroids, but can someone please elaborate? (And yes, I've heard that it's incredibly difficult)

Title: Re: What is physical chemistry?
Post by: Corribus on October 18, 2019, 09:56:43 AM

The major topics covered usually include:

Quantum mechanics (molecular/atomic structure, bonding, spectroscopy)
Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics (bulk properties of matter, gas laws, entropy/enthalpy)
Reaction kinetics (rate laws, transition state theory, equilibrium, diffusion)

Pretty heavy on the math, basically a physics course applied to chemistry principles.