Photochemistry is an interesting and fundamental discipline in science and various other fields, concentrating on light and its chemical effects. Though this predominantly relates to photosynthesis in the natural world, along with vision and the production of vitamin D, there are far more photochemical reactions to consider.

Photochemistry is destructive (where irreparable damage is done, and the process cannot be reversed), and offers a wider scope than thermal reactions. Photochemical reactions can be caused by the absorption and processing of visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.

There are two laws  of photochemistry; the Grotthuss-Draper and the Stark-Einstein. The first refers to how light must be absorbed for a reaction, the second to the ratio of light photons to molecules needed for a reaction to occur.

Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the chemical synthesis, structure, chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. Whereas Polymers are high molecular mass compounds formed by polymerization of monomers. The simple reactive molecule from which the repeating structural units of a polymer are derived is called a monomer. A polymer can be described in many ways: its degree of polymerisation, molar mass distribution, tacticity, copolymer distribution, the degree of branching, by its end-groups, crosslinks, crystallinity and thermal properties such as its glass transition temperature and melting temperature. Polymers in solution have special characteristics with respect to solubility, viscosity, and gelation.

Recommended Books

1. Atkins, P.W. “Physical Chemistry” 6​th​ Ed. ELBS Oxford University Press, UK (1997).
2. Alberty, R. and Silvey, A. “Physical Chemistry” 7​th​ Ed. John Wiley & Sons, NY (1992).
3. Castellan, G. W. “Physical Chemistry” 3​rd​ Ed. Norasa Publishing House, Delhi (2004).
4. Fried, V., Hameka, H.F. and Blukis, U.U. Physical Chemistry. Macmillan
   Publishing Co., Inc., New York (1987).
5. Laidler, K.J. and Meiser. J.H. “Physical Chemistry”. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing
   Company, Inc. NY (1998).
6. Kaufman, E.D. “Advanced Concepts in Physical Chemistry”. McGraw Hill Book
   Company, NY (1966).
7. Aktin, P.W. “Elementary Physical Chemistry” 2​nd​ Edition, Freeman NY (1998).
8. Scott, S. K. “Beginning Mathematics for Physical Chemistry” Oxford University Press,
   UK (1996).

       9. Gurdeep, R. “Advanced Physical Chemistry” 3​rd Ed. Krishna Prakashan Media (P) Ltd.
           Delhi (2008).