Physical Chemistry is the sub-discipline of science that seeks to explain and interpret chemical phenomena. This is accomplished by first assuming that chemical behavior is governed by a finite number of scientific laws. The job of the physical chemist is to discover and understand these scientific laws.

A knowledge of this ‘complete set of rules’ will enable chemist to make predictions about chemical behavior in previously untested systems. Such predictive power can greatly benefit humankind; for example, chemist will no longer be restricted to the mere discovery of novel cancer and AIDS drugs or environmentally friendly industrial and consumer products, but can instead develop these substances from first principles.