Neste trabalho as isomerizações térmica e fotoquímica do 4-dimetilaminoazobenzeno e do ditizonato de mercúrio foram estudadas tanto em solventes quanto em matrizes poliméricas. A cinética destas reações foi estudada usando-se funções exponenciais para o cálculo das constantes aparentes de velocidade. Observou-se que o comportamento cinético em soluções pode ser descrito por uma função mono-exponencial, enquanto que em sistemas poliméricos têm-se que empregar funções bi-exponenciais. As constantes de velocidades são fortemente influenciadas pelas interações soluto/solvente (ou polímero) além de, também, serem influenciadas pelos processos de tratamento térmico dos filmes poliméricos. Observou-se que, em geral, as reações são mais rápidas em meios mais polares (solventes e polímeros) devido a estabilização de diferentes tautômeros.

Thermal and photo-isomerization reactions of mercury dithizonate and 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene were studied in solutions and in polymer matrices. We used exponential functions to calculate the rate constants for both processes. The kinetic behavior was well described by mono-exponential functions for these dyes dissolved in solvents, although bi-exponential functions are required when these dyes are dissolved in polymers. The rate constants are strongly influenced by dye/solvent and dye/polymer interactions, as well as by the aging processes of the polymer matrix. In general, the reaction is faster in more polar mediums, solvents or polymer matrices, since stabilization of different tautomers takes place. We also showed that larger molecules isomerize slowly and slower isomerization has also been observed for annealed samples. Both results are attributed to the importance of free-volumes in polymeric matrices.

We consider the relevance of the study of the glassy state properties and the glass transition as important topics of the physical chemistry for undergraduate courses of Chemistry. Two of the most important theoretical approaches for the description of the glassy state, the thermodynamic and the kinetic models, are summarized with emphasis on the physical chemistry aspects. Examples illustrating the glass transition of some materials are also presented.