Physical chemistry is the quantitative study of the physical properties of matter, including their transformations. The properties of macroscopic matter at equilibrium (such as the relationships among temperature, pressure, and volume in gases; heat capacity of solids; solubility of saturated solutions; melting and boiling temperatures; and behavior of electrolyte solutions, to name a few) are historically among the earlier interests of physical chemistry. All of the examples mentioned just above belong to the subject of thermodynamics, a remarkable science which unified a wide variety of empirical laws under the broader concepts of energy and entropy.

Some Fundamental Chemical Concepts / Empirical Properties of Gases / Real Gases / The Structure of Gases / Some Properties of Liquids and Solids / The Laws of Thermodynamics: Generalities and the Zerothe Law / Energy and the First Law of Thermodynamics: Thermochemistry / Introduction to the Second Law of Thermodynamics / Properties of the Entropy and the Third Law of Thermodynamics / Spontaneity and Equilibrium / Systems of Variable Composition: Chemical Equilibrium / Phase Equilibrium in Simple Systems: The Phase Rule / Solutions – The ideal Solution and Colligative Properties / Solutions – More Than One Volatile Component; The ideal Dilute Solution / Equilibria Between Condensed Phases / Equilibria in Nonideal Systems / Equilibria in Electronchmical Cells / Surface Phenomena / The Structure of Matter / Introduction to Quantum Mechanical Principles / The Quantum Mechanics of Some Simple Systems / The Hydrogen Atom / The Covalent Bond / Atomic Spectroscopy / Molecular Spectroscopy / Intermolecular Forces / Structure of Solids / Electronic Structure and Macroscopic Properties / Structure and Thermodynamic Properties / Transport Properties / Electrical Conduction / Chemical Kinetics – Empirical Laws and Mechanism / Chemical Kinetics – Theoretical Aspects / Chemical Kinetics – Heterogeneous Reactions, electrolysis, Photochemistry / Polymers / Appendices / Index

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