Can I Start Studying Physical Chemistry Without a Chemistry Background?

[Aleoa]

Hi guys,
i'm a computer scientist with no background in Chemistry and I'm very interested in the field of Physical Chemistry.

Do you think i can directly start to study a Physical Chemistry book ?
If yes, do you have some books to suggest ?

 

[Charles Link]

Physical Chemistry is a lot of thermodynamics, and to adequately prepare for it, you really need a good basic chemistry book that introduces you to some of the thermodynamics. I recommend "University Chemistry" by Mahan as a very good book to get started. See https://www.amazon.com/dp/8131729575/?tag=pfamazon01-20 $\\$ Our professor, who himself was a thermodynamics and physical chemistry expert, used this book when I was a college student in a one year=3 quarters honors first year chemistry sequence, and it is really quite excellent.

 

[Borek]

I doubt you will be able to grasp the ideas without any general chemistry background.

 

[symbolipoint]

Hi guys,
i'm a computer scientist with no background in Chemistry and I'm very interested in the field of Physical Chemistry.

Do you think i can directly start to study a Physical Chemistry book ?
If yes, do you have some books to suggest ?

Borek is right, but what he said was not enough.

A pathway to understanding Physical Chemistry will depend on at least one year of university undergraduate Calculus, MORE THAN the one-year study of General Chemistry; and undergraduate Physics courses THROUGH at least the Thermodynamics course.

Physical chemists with more than just undergraduate degree may have more accurate comments about this.

 

[Aleoa]

Borek is right, but what he said was not enough.

A pathway to understanding Physical Chemistry will depend on at least one year of university undergraduate Calculus, MORE THAN the one-year study of General Chemistry; and undergraduate Physics courses THROUGH at least the Thermodynamics course.

Physical chemists with more than just undergraduate degree may have more accurate comments about this.

Hi thanks.
With calculus I'm good, and talking about Physics, i may find a good undergraduate Physical Chemistry book that includes a nice Thermodynamics section. What do you think ?

 

[symbolipoint]

Hi thanks.
With calculus I'm good, and talking about Physics, i may find a good undergraduate Physical Chemistry book that includes a nice Thermodynamics section. What do you think ?

Worth a try. Better if you are an undergraduate student trying for Chemistry as your major field, so you would have academic study and laboratory exercises. You would find some Thermodynamics and reaction Kinetics and other parts to Physical Chemistry; at first in your General Chemistry course, and then later there would be a Physical Chemistry course/courses. I only stated a Physics "Thermodynamics" course in my belief that it might give a stronger understanding of this, but I may be mistaken.