Do chemists think differently than physicists?

[MidgetDwarf]

Hey, Henryk thanks for your advice. But I'm not in high school anymore, I already attended lectures of physical chemistry as well lectures of theoretical chemistry. The thing which really bugs me is that for example the maths and derivations of formulas is only covered superficially. E.g. we didn't dive into complex analysis even though this is an important part of the Maths behind Quantum Physics (e.g. theoretical chemistry). So Right now i would really love to dive into this stuff, but I am hindered by the other subjects (organic, inorganic etc chemistry). It really feels like a waste of time for me to learn all this chemical stuff instead of just Focusing on the stuff I have interest in and which I didn't cover until now (derivations of maxwell equations, complex Analysis etc etc). Furthermore in my opinion physicists are better suited for physical chemistry or theoretical chemistry than chemists… so the Question I started to ask myself was... what sense does it make for me to continue studying chemistry only to go into theoretical chemistry which I find is better suited for phyisicists anyway.. and also... I actually intended to try to go from theoretical chemistry into some physical Department in the University... but this won't be easy... It's way easier for a physicist to enter theoretical chemistry or physical chemistry than a chemist trying to enter into the world of particle Physics or theoretical physics..

You can learn these things in you're free time. I learn physics on my free time... Major is Pure Math.

 

[pinball1970]

Summary: Do chemists think differently than physicists? And should I Change my subject in University...

Hey guys,

I'm asking myself this question in hoping to find myself in life… some advice and ideas would be really helpful.

I'm from Europe and I'm actually studying chemistry. I still Need like 1 to 1,5 years to finish my bachelor. I'm not really struggling with the Curriculum, I'm struggling with keeping my interest in the subjects of chemistry.

Before I started studying chemistry I was choosing between Physics and Maths and chemistry. I opted for chemistry as 2 Friends of mine were studying it and I thought I would probably be too stupid for the other two.

Anyways, while studying chemistry it turned out that I'm way more interested in the subjects related to Physics (physical and theoretical chemistry) and I'm also better in them than in the chemistry related subjects… and tbh I'm sick of chemistry related subjects. I hate the way reaction mechanisms are written and how you have to think in order to anticipate them… I mean it's mostly just by memorising stuff and connecting These factors. Granted some of the stuff works on Logical principles... but then you still have to "memorise" some Things to make up the Logical principles (i.e. what defines a nucleophile etc).

Now I love theoretical Physics and I also really like physical chemistry, but the Problem for me is.. These subjects are only treated superficially. The Maths behind it, the derivations etc etc. This really Bugs me... and also I don't want to stop thinking at the Level of "theoretical chemistry" which is basically the Level of electrons. I want to dig further into subatomic particles and understand the Maths etc behind it...

Now I feel like I'm wasting my time since I'm just learning stuff which my brain wants to Forget as soon as it has learned them (organic and inorganic chemistry stuff) and I'd rather invest my time in complex analysis or sth… Should I just switch? xD

I guess physicists think differently than chemists... chemists are sort of the lawyers of science related subjects I feel (like they learn all those different factors about different Elements and compounds and make judgements from thereon) while physicists are more like philosophers... oh damn what should i do... I am def not a chemist in my heart...

Go for what you are really interested in and keep us all posted. Good luck

 

[Marisa5]

After I got a BS in chemistry and accepted into an MS program, I began looking at PhD programs and realized I didn't want to work on the research being done. Because I've always loved physics I can tell you a thousand projects I'd like to work on and ended up switching to physics and doing two more years of undergrad to get a BS. Now I'm in grad school for physics and have zero regrets because I learned great things from chemistry. Think about what you want to do with the time given to you in life, that should guide your decision making.

<3

 

[Ssnow]

Im def not a chemist in my heart...

and also not only in your heart because you don't have a degree jet ...
Do chemists think differently than physicists? Sure not!, but remember one thing: if sometimes physicists seems philosophers then sometimes chemists seems poets ...
Ssnow