Introduction
Fundamentals of Chemistry theme in two volumes, is a component of Encyclopedia of Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias.
The Theme is organized into six different topics which represent the main scientific areas : History and Fundamentals of Chemistry; Chemical Experimentation and Instrumentation; Theoretical Approach to Chemistry; Chemical Thermodynamics; Rates of Chemical Reactions; Chemical Synthesis of Substances.
These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs
Editor(s) Biography
Sergio Carrà was born in Milan in 1929 and is married with two sons and one grandson. He obtained a doctorate in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Milan in 1953, and has served as assistant professor and associate professor at the University of Milan. In 1968 he become full professor of physical chemistry at the University of Messina and two years later at the University of Bologna. At the present he is full professor of Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics at the Polytechnic of Milan. Some of his research and teaching activity has been carried out in USA.Sergio Carrà has been President of the Italian Association of Physical Chemistry, Vice President of the Italian Chemical Society and is a member of the “Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei” and of the “Academia Europeaea. He won the “Antonio Feltrinelli” award in 1991, the “Mario Giacomo Levi” in 1997, and the “Bonino” of the Divisione di chimica fisica della Società Chimica Italiana, and the Gold Medal of Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa in 1999.Sergio Carrà has had important responsibilities in the organization of research activities performed with public financial support. He has also been a consultant for different companies (Montedison, ENI, SnamProgetti, ENEL, SISAS, Atochem, Dow and others) for the development of industrial projects.His research interest focuses on some aspects of molecular thermodynamics, applied chemical kinetics, catalysis, and modeling of chemical processes. He has published about 370 papers, six patents, and seven books.
