Physical Chemistry 3 min read
‘The material of action so variable’
The classical author Epictetus (ca 50–ca 138 AD) once said, ‘The materials of action are variable, but the use we…
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Physical Chemistry 3 min read
How fast is ‘greased lightning’?
In comic books of the 1950s, one of the favourite phrases of super-heroes such as Superman was ‘greased lightning!’ The…
Physical Chemistry 3 min read
The SI unit of length
A common problem in Anglo Saxon England, as well as much of contemporary Europe, was the way cloth merchants could…
Physical Chemistry 4 min read
The practice of thermodynamic measurement
Although the answer to the simple question ‘what is temperature?’ seems obvious at first sight, it is surprisingly difficult to…
Physical Chemistry 3 min read
Thermal equilibrium and the zeroth law of thermodynamics
A fever is often the first visible sign of someone developing an The word ‘thermometer’ has two roots: meter denotes…
Physical Chemistry 3 min read
Laws and the minus-oneth law of thermodynamics
Feeling the temperature of a radiator is one of the simplest of A ‘law’ in physical chemistry relates to a…
Physical Chemistry 3 min read
Observed and controlled variables
We want to turn up the radio because it’s noisy outside, and we want to hear what is broadcast. We…
Physical Chemistry 3 min read
Relationships between variables
The pressure p of the air above any point on the Earth’s surface relates ultimately to the amount of air…
Physical Chemistry 4 min read
The Scope Of Chemistry
The days are long past when one person could hope to have a detailed knowledge of all areas of chemistry.…
Physical Chemistry 3 min read
What Is Physical Chemistry?
Physical chemistry is the study of how matter behaves on a molecular and atomic level and how chemical reactions occur.…
Organic Chemistry 2 min read
What Is Phosphine?
Phosphine is a chemical which belongs to the group of organophosphorus compounds. This compound was first obtained by Philippe Gengembre…
Organic Chemistry 2 min read
Preparation of Ethers
There are various methods for the preparation of Ethers. Ethers are the organic compounds containing an oxygen atom bonded to…
