Learn the basics of thermodynamics in this complete and practice-oriented introduction for students of chemical engineering. Thermodynamics is a vital branch of physics that focuses upon the interaction of heat, work, and temperature with energy, radiation, and matter. Thermodynamics can apply to a wide range of sciences, but is particularly important in chemical engineering, where the interconnection of heat and work with chemical reactions or physical changes of state are studied according to the laws of thermodynamics.