How importent is Chemistry in physics?

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Chemistry plays a significant role in various fields of physics, particularly in areas like nanotechnology and materials science. While some physics disciplines, such as high-energy physics (HEP), may not require extensive chemistry knowledge beyond a general course, a solid understanding of chemistry is crucial for comprehending the physical properties of materials. Many universities may require at least one chemistry course for physics students, often serving as a recap of high school chemistry. The discussion highlights the overlap between physics and chemistry, emphasizing the importance of a broad education to keep future career options open. Although the introductory chemistry curriculum may seem less mathematical and more focused on memorization, the underlying concepts often involve complex mathematics that becomes relevant in advanced studies. Ultimately, while it may be tempting to drop chemistry due to current struggles, maintaining a foundational knowledge in the subject can be beneficial for future studies and career opportunities in physics.
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I'd like to study Physics after Gymnasium (equivalent High School).
How impotent is Chemistry in the different fields of physics? I still haven't decided which direction at all to do in physics, and I'm thinking what would be blocked by not doing Chemistry?

I have Chemistry right not, but I'm doing terribly in it, and really do no enjoy it. My main problem is nothing seems very Mathematical or Logical, and it's just a collection of small "thumb-rules" for a lot of different cases. (At least at the current level I have it.) There's tons of stuff you have to remember, but not very good explonations.

The time for choosing whether to upgrade Chemistry or just leave it behind is coming soon.
I'd really like to just drop it, and forget it, but If I need it later in studying physics, I can't do that. I don't want to close any/to many doors!
I think I'm very good in both mathematics and Physics.

Thank you all very much in advance! :)
 
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Not at all :) Just as unimportant as physics is to math, with the difference that physics can derive chemistry.

I didn't have an obligatory course in chemistry at my university, but I think that some universities require their physics students to take at least one course in chemistry. You might want to check into that? But anyway, that doesn't seem like a big hurdle; such a course is often little more than a recap of high school chemistry.
 
Sebastian H said:
I'd like to study Physics after Gymnasium (equivalent High School).
How impotent is Chemistry in the different fields of physics? I still haven't decided which direction at all to do in physics, and I'm thinking what would be blocked by not doing Chemistry?

I have Chemistry right not, but I'm doing terribly in it, and really do no enjoy it. My main problem is nothing seems very Mathematical or Logical, and it's just a collection of small "thumb-rules" for a lot of different cases. (At least at the current level I have it.) There's tons of stuff you have to remember, but not very good explonations.

The time for choosing whether to upgrade Chemistry or just leave it behind is coming soon.
I'd really like to just drop it, and forget it, but If I need it later in studying physics, I can't do that. I don't want to close any/to many doors!
I think I'm very good in both mathematics and Physics.

Thank you all very much in advance! :)

Research in physics and chemistry heavily overlap in many areas e.g. nanotechnology. In fact, many universities offer degrees in "Chemical Physics".

Chemistry is an important subject, and it will keep doors open to you later down the line.

In the research laboratory in which I work, about 10% of the people are mathematicians, 10% physicists, 60% engineers (process, chemical, mechanical) and 20% chemists.

Everything overlaps. It's important that you get a broad education IMO. You never know where you might end up.

The mathematics required to understand most of physical chemistry is probably far too advanced for you right now. That's why you have so little math in chemistry at high school. But, isn't it the same in your physics class too?
 
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Sebastian H said:
I'd like to study Physics after Gymnasium (equivalent High School).
How impotent is Chemistry in the different fields of physics? I still haven't decided which direction at all to do in physics, and I'm thinking what would be blocked by not doing Chemistry?

I have Chemistry right not, but I'm doing terribly in it, and really do no enjoy it. My main problem is nothing seems very Mathematical or Logical, and it's just a collection of small "thumb-rules" for a lot of different cases. (At least at the current level I have it.) There's tons of stuff you have to remember, but not very good explonations.

The time for choosing whether to upgrade Chemistry or just leave it behind is coming soon.
I'd really like to just drop it, and forget it, but If I need it later in studying physics, I can't do that. I don't want to close any/to many doors!
I think I'm very good in both mathematics and Physics.

Thank you all very much in advance! :)

It depends. Probably you do not need chemistry --beyond a general course-- to work in HEP, but you need a lot of chemistry to understand the physical properties of materials.

There are also disciplines of chemistry that extend disciplines of physics. For instance, quantum chemistry adds chemical concepts and theories over a quantum mechanical base. Chemical thermodynamics extend thermodynamics to systems with variable chemical composition, reaction rate theory has applications beyond chemical reactions, many techniques of nuclear chemistry techniques are needed in nuclear physics, etcetera.

Regarding the reason for which you are given little math in your introductory course in chemistry is because the mathematics needed to understand, even simple chemical phenomena, are very complex.
 
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Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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