physical chemistry
- noun
- /ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈkɛmɪstri/
- Specialized
- The study of physical chemistry helps scientists understand how chemical properties impact reactions.
- PhD in physical chemistry
- Physical Chemistry of Nanoscale
So he pioneered a lot of, you know, physical chemistry research in there in those early days.
- So he pioneered a lot of, you know, physical chemistry research in there in those early days.
- I had a physical chemistry professor who asked the simple question, what is pH?
Examples
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I found the readings in physical chemistry very interesting.
Blog text (14) -
Late in 1922, Stern became professor of physical chemistry at the University of Hamburg.
Academic text (2003) -
I had a physical chemistry professor who asked the simple question, what is pH?
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Deutch got his PhD in physical chemistry from MIT in 1965.
Academic text (1993) -
Hamers earned his PhD in physical chemistry at Cornell University in 1985.
Academic text (1993) -
Ugo Bardi teaches physical chemistry at the University of Florence in Italy.
Blog text (22) -
Otto Stern received his doctorate in physical chemistry at the University of Breslau in 1912.
Academic text (2003) -
Peter—it is not a hypothesis—it is Henry's Law—one of the accepted laws of physical chemistry.
Blog text (9) -
When he died at the age of 84 on February 22, 1976, he was aptly described in The Times as a polymath with distinguished careers in medicine, physical chemistry, social thought, economics, and philosophy.
Academic text (1991) -
After a BS in Chemistry from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Dr. Runels spent 3 years as a research chemist in the physical chemistry department of Southern Research Institute in Birmingham.
Blog text (25)
How Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'physical' (relating to physical properties) modifies 'chemistry' (the study of matter), so the phrase denotes the branch of chemistry concerned with physical properties and behavior. This adjective+noun pattern is transparent and common across languages (e.g., Spanish 'química física'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The compound noun physical chemistry combines physical and chemistry to create a clear image of scientists using physics to study chemicals, measuring heat, movement and energy. So the name means 'the study of the physical properties and behavior of chemical substances'.