chemiefysica

Chemiefysica is a field at the interface of chemistry and physics that studies the physical principles governing chemical systems and their transformations. It seeks to explain how molecular structure, interatomic forces, and energy exchange determine the properties and behavior of matter, from molecules in solution to condensed phases and materials. The term is used in some Dutch- and German-language contexts to denote what is commonly called physical chemistry in English.

It combines experimental and theoretical approaches to explore thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum phenomena, spectroscopy, and materials science. Typical methods include calorimetry, NMR, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray techniques, and mass spectrometry, together with computational tools such as quantum chemistry, density functional theory, and molecular dynamics simulations. The aim is to predict and control phenomena such as reaction rates, phase equilibria, and electronic structure.

Historically, the field emerged in the late 19th century with thermodynamic and kinetic concepts developed by van ’t Hoff, Arrhenius, and Gibbs, and grew with the advent of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics in the 20th century. It has since expanded to include surface science, electrochemistry, and soft matter, and now integrates with nanoscience and materials research.

Applications range from catalysis and energy storage to drug design and sustainable materials. The discipline also provides fundamental insights into phase transitions, solvent effects, and molecular interactions that support advances in chemistry, physics, and engineering.

In English, the term physical chemistry is standard; chemiefysica is used primarily in certain linguistic contexts to refer to the same or closely related practices.