Fall 2009 Courses:  (Pchem Syllabi) CHEM 105: General Chemistry I- LAB CHEM 452: Physical Chemistry I- LEC CHEM 452: Physical Chemistry I- LAB CHEM 452: Physical Chemistry I- REC CHEM 309: Chem Seminars CHEM 497: Research Problems (Syllabus)

Physical Chemistry is the study of the basic principles that govern the behavior of matter.  It tries to understand the properties and transformations of matter (one substance to another), at the molecular levels, in terms of energies and particles such as molecules, atoms and electrons. Two approaches are possible in physical chemistry: Macroscopic and Microscopic. On the macroscopic scale, properties such as volume, temperature, and pressure are measured (i.e. thermodynamics).  In order to understand the macroscopic behavior of matter, one needs to investigate and understand the very basic constituents of matter, the fundamental particles, such as molecules, atom and electrons (microscopic approach).    The three principle subject areas of physical chemistry are: Thermodynamics: chemical equilibrium, and energy changes, Quantum chemistry: bonding at the molecular level, and Chemical kinetics: rates and mechanisms of chemical processes approaching equilibria.