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CH30220: Chemical thermodynamics in context

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2019/0
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Chemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 3      [equivalent to 6 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 60
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX-TH 100%*
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Open Book Examination of 24 hours duration* (EX-TH 100%)

*Assessment updated due to Covid-19 disruptions
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you must take CH20151 OR take CH20152
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To develop concepts of advanced Chemical Thermodynamics, place these into context and show how these are important for a range of application areas.

Learning Outcomes:
After studying the Unit, students should be able to:
* Describe various context of advanced chemical thermodynamics, both mathematically and descriptively
* Describe the context in which these underlying principles are of value in understanding the behaviour of real chemical systems, including those at the interface with materials and biology
* Assess the experimental methods used in thermodynamic studies, relating these to the underlying principles
* Describe examples
* Solve problems using the methods introduced including the application of techniques to unseen situations.

Skills:
Problem solving (T, F, A), Scientific writing (F, A), Independent working (F).

Content:

* Reviewing fundamentals: Thermodynamic state functions, Maxwell relations; applications to defects
* Temperature dependence of thermodynamic functions: heat capacity, differential scanning calorimetry, isothermal titration calorimetry; applications in materials and biophysics (binding constants)
* Phase transitions, their investigation and application: Ehrenfest classification of phase transitions; order, Gibbs phase rule, lever rule, phase boundaries; applications in polymorphism
* Entropy: third law, determining absolute entropies; populations and probabilities; estimating absolute configurational entropies of macromolecular systems
* Thermodynamic cycles: Joule-Thomson effect; Carnot cycle, Nernst heat theorem; applications in refrigeration and liquefaction
* Thermodynamics in Context: Superfluidity; Thermodynamics of the Earth.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CH30220 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Chemistry
  • USCH-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry (Year 3)
  • USCH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCH-AFB07 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 3)
  • USCH-AAB08 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCH-AKB08 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Industrial Placement (Year 4)
  • USCH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Industrial Placement (Year 4)
  • USCH-AFM02 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry (Year 3)
  • USCH-AFM05 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 3)

Notes: