What is a mathematician doing…in a chemistry class?

IF 1.8 3区化学 Q1 HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Foundations of Chemistry Pub Date : 2024-02-04 DOI:10.1007/s10698-023-09497-4

Ernesto Estrada

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Abstract

The way of thinking of mathematicians and chemists in their respective disciplines seems to have very different levels of abstractions. While the firsts are involved in the most abstract of all sciences, the seconds are engaged in a practical, mainly experimental discipline. Therefore, it is surprising that many luminaries of the mathematics universe have studied chemistry as their main subject. Others have started studying chemistry before swapping to mathematics or have declared some admiration and even love for this discipline. Here I reveal some of these mathematicians who were involved in chemistry from a biographical perspective. Then, I analyze what these remarkable mathematicians and statisticians could have learned while studying chemical subjects. I found analogies between code-breaking and molecular structure elucidation, inspiration for statistics in quantitative analytical chemistry, and on the role of topology in the study of some organic molecules. I also analyze some parallelisms between the way of thinking of organic chemists and mathematicians in terms of the use of backward analysis, search for patterns, and use of pictures in their respective researches.

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一个数学家......在化学课上干什么？

摘要数学家和化学家在各自学科中的思维方式似乎有着截然不同的抽象程度。前者从事的是所有科学中最抽象的学科，而后者从事的则是以实验为主的实用学科。因此，令人惊讶的是，数学界的许多名人都把化学作为主修科目。还有一些人在转学数学之前就开始学习化学，或者对这门学科表示钦佩甚至热爱。在此，我将从传记的角度揭示其中一些与化学有关的数学家。然后，我将分析这些杰出的数学家和统计学家在学习化学学科时可以学到什么。我发现了密码破译与分子结构阐释之间的类比、统计学在定量分析化学中的启发，以及拓扑学在某些有机分子研究中的作用。我还分析了有机化学家和数学家在各自研究中使用逆向分析、寻找规律和使用图片的思维方式之间的一些相似之处。

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来源期刊

Foundations of Chemistry HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE-

自引率

22.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： Foundations of Chemistry is an international journal which seeks to provide an interdisciplinary forum where chemists, biochemists, philosophers, historians, educators and sociologists with an interest in foundational issues can discuss conceptual and fundamental issues which relate to the `central science'' of chemistry. Such issues include the autonomous role of chemistry between physics and biology and the question of the reduction of chemistry to quantum mechanics. The journal will publish peer-reviewed academic articles on a wide range of subdisciplines, among others: chemical models, chemical language, metaphors, and theoretical terms; chemical evolution and artificial self-replication; industrial application, environmental concern, and the social and ethical aspects of chemistry''s professionalism; the nature of modeling and the role of instrumentation in chemistry; institutional studies and the nature of explanation in the chemical sciences; theoretical chemistry, molecular structure and chaos; the issue of realism; molecular biology, bio-inorganic chemistry; historical studies on ancient chemistry, medieval chemistry and alchemy; philosophical and historical articles; and material of a didactic nature relating to all topics in the chemical sciences. Foundations of Chemistry plans to feature special issues devoted to particular themes, and will contain book reviews and discussion notes. Audience: chemists, biochemists, philosophers, historians, chemical educators, sociologists, and other scientists with an interest in the foundational issues of science.