Physical Chemistry Branches

Physical Chemistry

Branches of Physical Chemistry

• Thermochemistry: study of heat and energy changes during chemical reactions
• Chemical Kinetics: study of rates of chemical reactions
• Quantum Mechanics: study of behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic level
• Spectroscopy: study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation
• Electrochemistry: study of chemical reactions involving electron transfer

Key Concepts

• States of Matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma
• Phase Changes: changes between states of matter (e.g. melting, boiling)
• Equations of State: mathematical relationships between state variables (e.g. ideal gas law)
• Thermodynamic Properties: internal energy (U), enthalpy (H), entropy (S), free energy (G)

Thermodynamics

• Laws of Thermodynamics:
  1. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted.
  2. Entropy always increases or remains constant in a closed system.
  3. Absolute zero is unreachable.
• Thermodynamic Processes:
  • Isothermal: constant temperature
  • Adiabatic: no heat transfer
  • Isobaric: constant pressure
  • Isochoric: constant volume

Chemical Kinetics

• Reaction Rate: rate at which reactants are converted to products
• Rate Law: mathematical expression describing reaction rate
• Activation Energy: minimum energy required for reaction to occur
• Catalysts: substances that speed up reaction without being consumed

Quantum Mechanics

• Wave-Particle Duality: particles (e.g. electrons) exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior
• Schrödinger Equation: mathematical equation describing behavior of quantum systems
• Atomic Orbitals: mathematical descriptions of electron distribution in atoms
• Molecular Orbitals: mathematical descriptions of electron distribution in molecules

Physical Chemistry

Branches of Physical Chemistry

• Thermochemistry is the study of heat and energy changes during chemical reactions
• Chemical Kinetics is the study of rates of chemical reactions
• Quantum Mechanics is the study of behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic level
• Spectroscopy is the study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation
• Electrochemistry is the study of chemical reactions involving electron transfer

Key Concepts

States of Matter and Phase Changes

• There are four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma
• Phase changes occur between states of matter, such as melting and boiling

Equations of State and Thermodynamic Properties

• Equations of state are mathematical relationships between state variables, like the ideal gas law
• Thermodynamic properties include internal energy (U), enthalpy (H), entropy (S), and free energy (G)

Thermodynamics

Laws of Thermodynamics

• The First Law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted
• The Second Law states that entropy always increases or remains constant in a closed system
• The Third Law states that absolute zero is unreachable

Thermodynamic Processes

• Isothermal processes occur at constant temperature
• Adiabatic processes occur with no heat transfer
• Isobaric processes occur at constant pressure
• Isochoric processes occur at constant volume

Chemical Kinetics

Reaction Rates and Rate Laws

• Reaction rate is the rate at which reactants are converted to products
• Rate law is a mathematical expression describing reaction rate

Activation Energy and Catalysts

• Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur
• Catalysts are substances that speed up a reaction without being consumed

Quantum Mechanics

Wave-Particle Duality and Schrödinger Equation

• Particles like electrons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior (wave-particle duality)
• The Schrödinger Equation is a mathematical equation describing the behavior of quantum systems

Atomic and Molecular Orbitals

• Atomic orbitals are mathematical descriptions of electron distribution in atoms
• Molecular orbitals are mathematical descriptions of electron distribution in molecules