Physical chemistry
The latest chemistry news and research on physical chemistry, including quantum and theoretical, bonding, computational and surfaces and interfaces, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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ResearchMolecules with largest dipole moments aren’t due to electronegativity differences
Computational analysis challenges Pauling’s idea of polarity
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OpinionSharpening chemical intuition
Chemists are moving beyond hand-waving explanations by quantifying factors like the anomeric effect and steric repulsion
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PodcastAtomic radii & synthetic food dyes
In this episode, we discuss the where the true limits of an atom lie, the US’s plan to eliminate synthetic food dyes, and hear the latest headlines
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ResearchPolytope formalism offers a new way to chart chemical space
Framework can investigate regions of chemical space that are normally inaccessible, painting a clearer picture of how molecules can form, transform and interconvert
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ResearchQuantum tunnelling harnessed to radically improve efficiency of separation of deuterium from water
Electrochemical approach counterintuitively relies on making water’s bonds stronger
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OpinionMaxwell’s demon might lurk in enzyme behaviour
The controversial process of enhanced enzyme diffusion could enable living systems to resist local equilibrium
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ResearchThe quest to understand where atoms end
Atomic size measurements like van der Waals and covalent radii are central to chemistry, but are they grounded in reality?
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OpinionHarrison’s bimetallic strip and the problems with temperature control
Making thermostats possible – now we need to learn how to use them correctly
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FeatureUnravelling the chemistry behind the sea’s bioluminescent sparkle
Researchers are piecing together the unusual chemical reactions that enable dinoflagellates to create spectacular light displays in tropical bays. But the mechanism behind their bioluminescence remains one of nature’s most puzzling chemical mysteries
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PodcastAlphaGenome & the RNA world hypothesis
In this episode, we discuss Google DeepMind’s latest deep learning model AlphaGenome, dissect the origins of life from chemicals to complex lifeforms, and hear the latest headlines.
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ResearchMapping tool delivers quantitative visualisations of steric interactions
Technique uncovers subtle interactions that previous methods have missed
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ResearchWas the ‘Baghdad battery’ really two cells?
A new study suggests it had an ‘outer’ cell that reacted with air to supply a higher voltage. But was it a battery at all?
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ResearchAtomic physics gets its own ‘periodic table’ that covers highly charged ions
New table could help with the redefinition of the second and creation of the next generation of atomic clocks
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WebinarFrom bean to brew: the chemistry behind the perfect cup of coffee
Discover the chemistry behind the aromas and flavours of one of the world’s favourite beverages
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ResearchAI tool dramatically reduces computing power needed to find protein-binding molecules
New protocol is up to 10 million times faster than current docking-based methods
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ResearchPurer silicon lets robust quantum computing get started on a new medium
System is highly accurate and amenable to scaling without compromising quality
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ResearchAnomeric effect cannot be explained by hyperconjugation alone
Computational studies suggest this textbook principle is governed by a range of factors
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ResearchAI agents set to democratise computational chemistry
Large language models are powering a new generation of AI agents that could transform computational chemistry from a specialist discipline into one any researcher can use, reports Julia Robinson
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OpinionDemocratising science, one step at a time
Artifical intelligence is just the latest method to open up chemistry to more people
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OpinionLangmuir’s pump and the optimism of science
Creativity nurtured by an explorative environment