An Introduction to the Physics of Organic Chemistry

This paper presents three concepts of physical organic chemistry that may help students understand the connection between physics and chemistry. Organic chemistry is not magical, but follows a logical sequence of well thought out scientific principles including mathematical formulations that give reasons and validity to chemical reactions and predictions of physical parameters. Mathematics is the language of chemistry, and, with physic, can explain some important aspects of the behavior of organic molecules. This paper serves to enhance the underlying principles that connect organic chemistry to physics. The paper will discuss three important concepts that give insight into the physics of organic chemistry. These concepts are the Hückel Molecular Orbital Theory (MOT); pericyclic reactions, and an alternant method for ascertaining electron densities for delocalized charges in hydrocarbons systems.