Department of Chemistry, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
CH10173: Physical chemistry 2 for visiting students |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Certificate |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| EX100 |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Supplementary assessment information not currently available (this will be added shortly) |
| Requisites:
| In taking this unit you cannot take CH10137 or take CH10138 |
| Description:
| Aims: To introduce the basic concepts of physical chemistry upon which understanding of modern chemistry depends. These include the principles governing chemical processes in terms of thermodynamic properties, the measurement and analysis of reaction rates, chemical equilibria, phase behaviour, molecular spectroscopy and basic quantum mechanics. Learning Outcomes: After studying this unit, students should be able to achieve: * Describe simply the role of thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy and quantum mechanics in chemistry; * Discuss the fundamental ideas lying behind thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy and quantum mechanics and how they can be used to interpret chemical behaviour; * Perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of and solve problems involving thermodynamic and kinetic concepts and data; * Solve numerical problems in of thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy and quantum mechanics Apply some basic mathematical methods to the solution of chemical problems. Skills: Numeracy (F, A); Problem solving (T, F, A); Oral communication (F). Content: * Calculation of changes in U, H, S, G under a range of temp., pressure and composition conditions. Le Chatelier principle. Relation between Gibbs free energy and equilibrium constants with examples drawn from chemical reactions, redox and electrochemical processes. * Energy levels and molecular speeds in gases, Boltzmann equation,. Relationship between rate and equilibrium constants * Phase behaviour of solids, liquids and gases. Qualitative and quantitative characterisation of phase transitions. Emphasis will be placed on the solution of a range of types of problems. * Vibrational spectroscopy. Linear diatomic and polyatomic molecules. IR spectra of functional group containing compounds. Vibration-rotation spectroscopy. * Quantitative methods and problem solving in chemistry. Revision of basic calculus and trigonometric functions. Application of mathematical methods to solving chemical problems. |