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Curricular information is subject to change
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
Employ statistical thermodynamics to understand the distribution of molecular states by considering configurations and weights; derive the Boltzmann distribution and use it to predict the populations of states in systems at thermal equilibrium; define what is meant by the molecular partition function, interpret it, and, in certain simple cases, calculate it; describe how thermodynamic information, such as the internal energy or the statistical entropy of a system, may be extracted from the partition function; employ the partition function to obtain any thermodynamic function, for example, the Helmholtz energy, the pressure, the enthalpy, the Gibbs energy, for a system; factorize the molecular partition function into a product of translational, rotational, vibrational and electronic contributions.
Understand the dispersal of energy and the origin of the spontaneity of physical and chemical change; define the property of entropy in thermodynamic terms and describe it from a statistical viewpoint; understand that entropy is a state function; Describe the entropy changes that accompany specific processes such as expansion, phase transition, and heating.
Understand the criteria for spontaneity in terms of the properties of the Helmholtz energy and the Gibbs energy; use the Gibbs energy to express the spontaneity of a process in terms of the properties of a system; use the Gibbs energy to predict the maximum non-expansion work that a system can do; use the fact that the Gibbs energy is a state function to find relations between system properties in terms of Maxwell relations.
Describe mixtures of substances in thermodynamic terms using the class of properties known as partial molar quantities; describe the thermodynamics of mixing; apply the concept of the chemical potential of a substance to describe the physical properties of liquid mixtures; understand how Raoult’s and Henry’s laws may be used to express the chemical potential of a substance in terms of its mole fraction in a mixture; understand the effect of a solute on the thermodynamic properties of a solution, e.g. the lowering of vapour pressure of the solvent.
Describe the use of phase diagrams as a means to discuss the thermodynamic description of the stabilities and transformations of one or more phases; describe the characteristic properties of phase transitions; apply the phase rule to explain phase stability and equilibria between phases for systems involving more than one component; describe the thermodynamic aspects of phase transitions with reference to the dependence of stability on conditions such as temperature and pressure and to the location of phase boundaries.
Execute laboratory experiments involving the construction of simple electrochemical cells ad the measurement of equilibrium processes; Calculate relevant physical properties from laboratory experiments, including appropriate propagation of measurement uncertainty; explain the relationship between Gibbs Free Energy and equilibrium; describe the relevance of equilibrium to simple electrochemical systems; use the Nernst equation to predict the energy generated by simple Galvanic cells to extract parameters such as electromotive force and solubility constant.
The Energy Levels of Atoms and Molecules: Quantization of energy; electronic, translational, rotational and vibrational energies,
The Boltzmann Factor and Partition Functions: Probability; ensemble energy; electronic, translational, vibrational, rotational, molecular and system partition functions; statistical molecular energy.
Statistical entropy: The third law of thermodynamics and the relationship between absolute entropy and the partition function.
The First Law: Heat, work and pressure (classical and statistical); state and path functions; reversible processes; enthalpy; heat capacity.
The Second Law: Entropy, and spontaneity, entropy temperature dependence, heat flow and heat engines
Helmholtz and Gibbs Energy: Derivation of Gibbs and Helmholtz energies; natural variables; the Maxwell relations; statistical Gibbs and Helmholtz energies.
Physical Transformation: Chemical potential; phase change, phase diagrams and phase boundaries; Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
Mixtures: Ideal and non-ideal solutions; Raoult and Henry's laws; liquid-liquid and liquid-solid solutions; colligative properties.
Equilibrium Electrochemistry (Laboratory & Self-Study): Reversible reactions; the relationship between Gibbs energy and equilibrium constant; activity; properties and applications of electrochemical cells.
Student Effort Type | Hours |
---|---|
Lectures | 24 |
Practical | 30 |
Autonomous Student Learning | 60 |
Total | 114 |
CHEM20080 Basis of Physical Chemistry AND CHEM20120 Physical Chemistry (Level 2) of Atoms and Molecules or equivalent
Description | Timing | Component Scale | % of Final Grade | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continuous Assessment: A single item of continuous assessment during the semester | Varies over the Trimester | n/a | Graded | No | 10 |
Lab Report: Continuous assessment of laboratory work | Varies over the Trimester | n/a | Graded | No | 30 |
Examination: Written examination | 2 hour End of Trimester Exam | No | Graded | Yes | 60 |
Resit In | Terminal Exam |
---|---|
Summer | Yes - 2 Hour |
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
Feedback will be provided after in-class tests and on lab reports. One-to-one feedback can be sought through meeting the relevant lecturer.
Name | Role |
---|---|
Ms Shekemi Denuga | Tutor |
Mr Patrick Waldron | Tutor |
Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Mon 11:00 - 11:50 |
Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Wed 11:00 - 11:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 22, 25, 30 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 2 | Week(s) - 22, 25, 30 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 3 | Week(s) - 22, 25, 30 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 4 | Week(s) - 23, 26, 31 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 5 | Week(s) - 23, 26, 31 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 6 | Week(s) - 23, 26, 31 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |
Laboratory | Offering 7 | Week(s) - 24, 29, 32 | Thurs 14:00 - 17:50 |