Posted by caraher on November 8, 2008, at 17:30:38
In reply to What's the difference between chemistry + physics?, posted by TexasChic on November 8, 2008, at 15:53:55
I'm a physicist, and I tend to think about this kind of thing hierarchically. The boundaries can blur between fields. I think chemistry is easier to define, so I'll do that first.
Chemistry is all about interactions between atoms and molecules. Organic chemistry is a chemistry subfield concerned with molecules containing carbon atoms.
Physics can include study of atoms and molecules, but goes beyond that to formulate more general laws about the behavior of matter and energy. Chemistry is largely confined to consideration of a range of distances and energies pertinent to how atoms rearrange themselves in molecules; physicists study all extremes of nature.
The existence of the chemistry subfield known as physical chemistry probably best sums up the relationship between the disciplines. Physical chemistry is the effort to apply the laws of physics to explain chemical processes at the most fundamental level. Physical chemists are ribbed for not being "real chemists" by some of their colleagues; they can be teased as being physicists who somehow wound up in the wrong department.
Most chemists are what I think of atomic engineers. Synthetic chemists work with all the ways to create molecules; they are master chefs of the atomic world. Analytical chemists are wizards of measurement. Both use physics in the work, but mostly as an instrument. By contrast, the physical chemist tries to bridge any gaps between how their colleagues understand formation of molecules, etc. and the basic principles physicists develop.
My apologies to any chemists who feel this is overly simplistic; I know it is. But I'm just trying to point out contrasts...
poster:caraher
thread:861561
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20081031/msgs/861590.html