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Theoretical Chemistry—Quo Vadis?
Author(s) -
Thiel Walter
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201105305
Subject(s) - chemistry , quantum chemistry , computational chemistry , computer science , statistical physics , nanotechnology , biochemical engineering , molecule , physics , materials science , engineering , organic chemistry , supramolecular chemistry , green chemistry
Theoretical concepts permeate chemistry more thoroughly than we often think. Chemists are intuitively familiar with different types of chemical bonding; with the structure, spectroscopy, and dynamics of molecules; and with the variety of different possible chemical reactions. They use theory-based concepts, for example from quantum mechanics or statistical mechanics, to describe and analyze chemical phenomena. The primary task of theoretical chemistry has always been to provide the conceptual and terminological framework that is necessary to understand chemistry.