The big A-HA moment: Chemistry is governed by physical principles - 4 views

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  #1 mmavros on 12 Oct 14

   

  As a young undergraduate taking my introductory chemistry and sophomore organic chemistry courses, I was really good at answering "how" chemical change happened, but I was really bad at answering the "why": why is the equilibrium constant for this reaction so large but for this other reaction so small? Why do electrons attack this particular atom in a molecule versus another one?
  
  One day, while sitting in my introductory physics E&M class, I realized the answer: chemistry is governed by Coulomb's Law. Electrostatic potentials governed where electrons go and how stable a particular configuration of atoms is. This concept was further reinforced when I realized one can (approximately) _compute_ the electrostatic potential of a molecule from first-principles quantum mechanics.
  
  Once I made this realization, I began seriously studying physics in order to better understand chemistry. It was a huge moment for me as a student; I hope to inspire similar moments in all of my students today and in the future.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">As a young undergraduate taking my introductory chemistry and sophomore organic chemistry courses, I was really good at answering "how" chemical change happened, but I was really bad at answering the "why": why is the equilibrium constant for this reaction so large but for this other reaction so small? Why do electrons attack this particular atom in a molecule versus another one? <br /> <br /> One day, while sitting in my introductory physics E&M class, I realized the answer: chemistry is governed by Coulomb's Law. Electrostatic potentials governed where electrons go and how stable a particular configuration of atoms is. This concept was further reinforced when I realized one can (approximately) _compute_ the electrostatic potential of a molecule from first-principles quantum mechanics. <br /> <br /> Once I made this realization, I began seriously studying physics in order to better understand chemistry. It was a huge moment for me as a student; I hope to inspire similar moments in all of my students today and in the future.</div>

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