Chemical Forums

General Forums => Generic Discussion => Topic started by: Bublik on July 19, 2012, 08:54:03 PM

Title: What is the difference between Nuclear Chemistry and Physical Chemistry?
Post by: Bublik on July 19, 2012, 08:54:03 PM

Can someone please outline the differences between the two disciplines? To me they seem to be the same thing.
What are the job/career prospects of both? Please feel free to share any personal and relevant information or experience which emphasizes the differences.

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: What is the difference between Nuclear Chemistry and Physical Chemistry?
Post by: Schrödinger on July 20, 2012, 03:10:11 AM

Nuclear chemistry is one niche in chemistry that deals with radioactive nuclei, and the like. Physical chemistry is not even by a long shot, a niche! It deals with physical phenomena in the chemical world, to put it in brief.

Title: Re: What is the difference between Nuclear Chemistry and Physical Chemistry?
Post by: Bublik on July 20, 2012, 12:58:04 PM

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't have expected nuclear chemistry to be a niche, but is it safe to say that nuclear chemistry is a specific part of physical chemistry, in which one can specialize?

Title: Re: What is the difference between Nuclear Chemistry and Physical Chemistry?
Post by: Schrödinger on July 21, 2012, 10:36:28 AM

Its not really hardcore physical chemistry. Although treated as physical chemistry a few decades back, now it is also found in some inorganic texts. Basically, it has evolved as another branch altogether - like biochemistry. Initially bio molecules came under organic chemistry, and even now you can find them in organic texts. But its a whole new branch now

Title: Re: What is the difference between Nuclear Chemistry and Physical Chemistry?
Post by: Bublik on July 21, 2012, 12:19:13 PM

I see. When I look at undergraduate programs at various universities, I see "Biochemistry" under Life Sciences and maybe "Chemical Physics" under Mathematical and Physical Sciences, but I have never seen Nuclear Chemistry, or Radiochemistry. The fact that the discipline is a whole division in this forum is what sprung my curiosity. Sounds fascinating though.

Thank you for your input.