r2 c:\files\courses\3610\361syl11.docx 1 Course: Physical Chemistry, 3610 Lecture Fall 2011 Chem 3610-05 (CRN 1547) Credit: 3 hours Location: Sundquist E306 Times: 10:10 – 11:05 MWF Prerequisite: Chem 1120 and Math 1910, Physics 2010-2020 highly recommended Instructor: Dr. Ron Robertson Office: C303 Sundquist Office phone 221-6298 Office hours posted but you are welcome to come by anytime Home phone 615-763-2146 E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] Web and Discussion Board: http://forums.apsu.edu/ Text Physical Chemistry, 8th edition, P.W. Atkins and Julio de Paula, W. H. Freeman Publishing, 2006 (available in APSU bookstore) ISBN 0-7167-8759-8 Supplementary materials This text has a good bit of multi-media support online. The student solutions manual is not available in the bookstore but you should be able to purchase it online although I really don’t recommend it. Use it very carefully – the solutions often do not follow from our treatment of the material. I grade homework on a logical development of a solution – you can lose points by blindly copying a solution! A scientific calculator is essential. Special function keys should include scientific notation, fractional roots, natural and common logarithms, and exponential functions (ex and 10x). The use of programmable calculators (like the TI-80 series) is prohibited on Exams and Quizes. Course Description, Content, and Objectives This course emphasizes and develops the general core areas of reasoning, scientific knowledge and numerical understanding. These areas involve the university's mission to develop skills of inquiry, abstract and logical thinking, and critical analysis; the ability to understand and use numbers and statistics; and an understanding of the scientific method. Physical chemistry studies the underlying physical principles that govern the properties and behavior of chemical systems. In a sense all other chemists come back to physical chemistry to truly understand what is happening. Chemical systems can be studied from a microscopic or macroscopic viewpoint. The microscopic viewpoint makes explicit use of the concept of molecules. The macroscopic viewpoint studies large-scale properties of matter without the explicit use of the molecule concept. There are many ways to organize the study of physical chemistry. One way outlined in your text is between the areas of “Equilibrium”, “Structure”, and “Change”. Another way is to break p chem into five area disciplines: thermodynamics, transport, quantum chemistry (including spectroscopy), statistical mechanics, and kinetics. In this 2 course sequence we will use the macro view to explore heatr2 c:\files\courses\3610\361syl11.docx 2 and energy (thermodynamics) and the related areas of equilibrium and electrochemistry. We will use a micro viewpoint to explore kinetics, spectroscopy and transport properties. Statistical mechanics is the link between the micro and macro world; it is where we scale up the micro world to arrive at macro parameters. It is chemistry in the finest sense, but unfortunately is beyond the scope of this course. Introductory calculus is required for this course - you must know how to differentiate (including partial differentiation) and integrate! This differentiation and integration will include exponential/logarithmic functions. In 3610 we will cover some of the material in chapters 1-7 and 21-22: gases, - 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, phase equilibria, chemical equilibria, and kinetics. In 3620 we develop kinetics even more and look at some applications such as atmospheric gas reactions and polymer formation. Then it’s on to electrochemistry, transport properties, and quantum mechanics and spectroscopy. Your physical chemistry text shows you many equation derivations as well as “number” problems; remember I said that other chemists come to physical chemistry for their theory. You will be held accountable for the derivation of some of these equations; for others we will merely use them to solve problems. Equations summarize concepts and ideas; they are in one sense a shorthand way of explaining the operation of the world. Equations do even more, however; they allow us to be predictive. The main reason for understanding the operation the physical world is to be able to predict what will happen in another situation. For this reason physical chemistry looks very mathematical, but try to think of our problems as a means of predicting the future or understanding the past. I encourage your active participation in class. We are a select group. Feel free to ask questions before, during and after class. I would hope to pull you "kicking and screaming" through this course. My definition of science is "organized curiosity" and I don't want you to lose your sense of wonder as we explore together the complexities of Mother Nature. If you find yourself having difficulty, please come and see me before you get too far behind. Since our time together in class is short, I will focus first on the presentation of ideas and concepts. Our text is long and difficult, and I will be condensing much of the material. It is vital that you read the text and study the class notes to get the best understanding of the material. After you think that you have an understanding of the ideas and concepts presented (after you have the mental model) you should attempt the homework problems. Some problems will merely be review type questions, but others will allow you to "flex" your intellectual muscles and see how the concepts presented can be used to answer questions that a scientist would be asked. Attendance and Conduct You must be present to win. I consider this class to be "you and me" against the physical chemistry book. Take advantage of class time. I do reserve the right to reduce your final grade for excessive absences (more than 4). Each absence after 4 may reduce your final percentage grade by 3 percentage points. Also as explained below I do give pop quizzes and your grade may be affected by your absence (see evaluation below). Be there! Nuff said. Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Academic and classroom misconduct will not be tolerated. Students should read the “Code of Student Conduct” in the new Student Handbook for an understanding of what will be expected of them within the academic setting. It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain