physical chemistry

American  

noun

1. the branch of chemistry dealing with the relations between the physical properties of substances and their chemical composition and transformations.

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physical chemistry British  

noun

1. the branch of chemistry concerned with the way in which the physical properties of substances depend on and influence their chemical structure, properties, and reactions

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physical chemistry Scientific  

1. The branch of chemistry that is concerned with the physical structure of chemical compounds, the amount of energy they have, the way they react with other compounds, and the bonds that hold their atoms together.

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Etymology

Origin of physical chemistry

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

physical chemistry

Robert Dryfe, professor of physical chemistry at the University of Manchester, says there are alternatives to battery storage.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2025

"However, in doing so, we have shown the potential of combining tip-scan HS-AFM and a laser source for use across materials science and physical chemistry."

From Science Daily ● Mar. 11, 2024

I first learned of this area of research as a graduate student in physical chemistry.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2023

Dr. Froines completed a doctorate in physical chemistry at Yale in 1967.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 15, 2022

But because of the vast quantities of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the sea could not be ordinary water; physical chemistry required carbonated water.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan