27/08/2017 Physical Chemistry - American Chemical Society

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Physical Chemistry

What Is Physical Chemistry?

Physical chemistry is the study of how matter behaves on a molecular and atomic level and how chemical
reactions occur. Based on their analyses, physical chemists may develop new theories, such as how
complex structures are formed. Physical chemists often work closely with materials scientists to research
and develop potential uses for new materials.

Training for the Real World

Physical chemistry has traditionally given students broad training, and positioned them to work in a variety of
scientific careers. Many people trained as physical chemists ultimately work as analytical chemists, where
they work to understand the fundamental process involved in analytical techniques, allowing them to
enhance and expand those techniques.

For example, Matt Lynch, senior scientist in the Beauty Care Division of Procter & Gamble, works in
physical/analytical chemistry, conducting applied and basic surfactant research for product development
applications. His work involves looking at the assembly of molecules and determining how to measure and
quantify it. Lynch says, We assemble molecules in crystals and solutions and look at how to measure that in
terms of arrangements of atoms and molecules; how they grow to form bigger aggregates in solutions as
well as in crystals; and how these aggregates of surfactants impart various properties to a product. Lynch
notes that he uses diffraction, infrared, and microscopy methods in his work. By developing better ways to
measure and quantitate aspects of the ingredients, he helps his company develop better products.

What Do Physical Chemists Do?

Physical chemists are focused on understanding the physical properties of atoms and molecules, the way
chemical reactions work, and what these properties reveal. Their work involves analyzing materials,
developing methods to test and characterize the properties of materials, developing theories about these
properties, and discovering the potential use of the materials. Using sophisticated instrumentation and
equipment has always been an important aspect of physical chemistry. Most physical chemistry labs are full

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of analytical instruments, which can include lasers, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance, and
electron microscopes.

Physical chemists discoveries are based on understanding chemical properties and describing their
behavior using theories of physics and mathematical computations. Physical chemists predict properties and
reactions of chemicals, then test and refine those predications. They use mathematical analysis and
statistics on huge datasets, sometimes with millions of data points, to reveal hidden information about
compounds, materials, and processes. They may also conduct simulations, developing mathematical
equations that predict how compounds will react over time.

Recently, more and more physical chemists have found homes in the emerging fields of materials science
and molecular modeling where their skills in analyzing and predicting the behavior of physical properties
have exciting new applications. By combining the mathematical rigidity of physical chemistry with the
practicality of new materials and new applications, the field of physical chemistry is expanding in new and
exciting ways.

Professional Organizations

ACS Division of Computers in Chemistry (COMP Division)

ACS Division of Physical Chemistry (PHYS)
ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY)
ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE)

Where Is Physical Chemistry Used?

Physical chemists work in a variety of different areas, but their common goal is to discover, test, and
understand the fundamental physical characteristics of a materialbe it solid, liquid, or gas. Precision and
attention to detail make their work somewhat similar to analytical chemistry, though physical chemists also
stress the importance of applying knowledge of math and physics to develop a thorough understanding of
the material.

Physical chemists generally have a strong curiosity about how things work at the atomic level and enjoy
working with lab instrumentation and machines. Many are drawn to the fact that physical chemistry
processes are similar to those of engineering, and many chemists enjoy using their knowledge and love of
chemistry to make discoveries.

A physical chemistry lab is characterized by the large machines and sophisticated instrumentation these
scientists use to test and analyze materials. Many who work in the lab say their time is divided between
working at the bench and working at their desks doing calculations and reviewing data. Physical chemists
who go into management also spend time supervising other scientists, reviewing department needs and
goals, and meeting with business managers in their companies.

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Work Settings
A degree in physical chemistry provides ideal training for some high-tech and materials science careers.
However, fewer physical chemists are being hired by industry and government labs because the basic
research performed by physical chemists is becoming an increasingly small part of industrial research. As a
result, many physical chemists are redirecting their skills into applications research and interdisciplinary
fields such as materials science.

Industries Where Physical Chemistry Is Used

Materials

A few physical chemists find employment in industries that are involved with the development of materials,
including plastics, ceramics, catalysis, electronics, fuel formulation, batteries, surfactants and colloids, and
personal care products, with most of them working as material scientists or analytical chemists.

Companies that employ materials chemists:

GlaxoSmithKline, 3M, Ford, Aerospace, BASF, Qualcomm, Fitbit

Wall Street, Law Firms, Venture Capital Firms

Physical chemistry requires significant mathematical and statistical understanding, and that combination is
valuable in many industries that have large data sets that need to be mined for information. Wall Street
financial firms, law firms, and venture capital firms are examples of places that hire scientists to read and
analyze material from the chemical industry.

Firms that employ physical chemists:

TEKLA Capital Management LLC, Drexel Burnham Lambert, Goldman, Sachs and Company

Pharmaceuticals

Computational modeling is another application of physical chemistry and involves quantifying and predicting
how materials will function. The pharmaceutical and materials industries especially conduct significant
amounts of molecular modeling, but an advanced degree is usually required for this work.

Pharmaceuticals companies:
Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Hoffman-LaRoche,
AstraZeneca, Abbott

Universities and Government Labs

Many physical chemists work at national labs such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where they
ensure the safety, security, and reliability of nuclear weapons, or Sandia National Laboratory, where they
develop, engineer, and test the non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons.

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More physical chemists go to graduate school than those in most other fields, as the amount of math
required for serious physical chemistry work is beyond the scope of most undergraduate programs. An
advanced degree is required for many industrial, governmental, and academic positions.

Federal goverment employers:

Environmental Protection Agency; Department of the Navy; Consumer Products Safety Commission,
Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, and Department of Agriculture

Career Areas for Physical Chemists

Astrochemistry
Chemical engineering
Computational chemistry
Crystallography
Nanochemistry
Nuclear chemistry

Chemists in the Field

Eric Breitung
Research Scientist

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Herman Cho
Battelle Northwest

Senior Research Scientist

Amy Paris
Eastman

Senior Chemical Engineer

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Ranjit Koodali
University of South Dakota

Associate Professor

Michelle Schulberg
TEL NEXX, Inc.

Principal Process Engineer

Bryan Balazs
Lawrence Livermore National Lab

Program Leader

Li Guo
Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Associate

Brian Toby
Argonne National Laboratory

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Senior Physicist

All Chemists
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