Chemistry and mathematics have a very close relationship. Mathematics acts as a universal language in describing chemical phenomena, from atomic levels to industrial scales. In this article, we're going to focus on two essential fields in chemistry where mathematics plays a crucial role: kinetic reaction and molecular structure.
The kinetic reaction is a chemical branch that studies the rate of chemical reactions. The rate of this reaction can be influenced by many factors such as concentration of reaction, temperature, and the presence of a catalyst. To measure and analyze the reaction rate, we need a mathematical tool.
Example: For example, the radioactive decay reaction follows the equation of the first order. By using the equation of the first order, we can calculate the halftime of a radioactive isotope.
The molecular structure is the atomic-atomic structure in a molecule. To describe molecular structures, we need mathematical tools like geometry, trigonometry, and linear algebra.
Example: Spectroscopy NMR produces a complex spectrum. To interpret the NMR spectrum, we need to understand the concept of magnetic resonance, chemical shift, and spin-spin coupling. NMR spectrum analysis involves the use of Fourier transformation.
Mathematics is a very important language in chemistry. Without mathematics, we wouldn't be able to understand a quantifiable chemical phenomenon. From kinetic reactions to molecular structures, mathematics provides a powerful tool to analyze experimental data, build models, and make predictions.
Source: Levine, I. N. Quantum Chemistry. Prospective Hall.