Stetson University
Department of Chemistry
Fall Semester, 2006
CY 351 - Physical Chemistry
Instructor:
Dr. Tandy Grubbs
Office: 252, Sage Hall
Office Phone: 822-8184
E-mail address:
Course Website: http://www.stetson.edu/~wgrubbs
Office Hours: As posted on my door (or anytime I am in my office and available).
Texts and Homework Solution Manuals:
1) “Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy” by Thomas Engel (Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006, ISBN 0-8053-3843-8) & Solution Manual to homework problems (ISBN 0-8053-3849-7).
2) “Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetics” by Thomas Engel and Philip Reid (Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006, ISBN 0-8053-3844-6) & Solution Manual to homework problems (ISBN 0-8053-3851-9).
3) “CY351 Lab Manual” – 2006 edition (available in the bookstore)
Tentative Lecture and Examination Schedule:
Date Chapter and Topic
Aug. 23,25 Introductions and Math Orientation
Aug. 28,30 Classical-to-Quantum Mechanics (Chapter 1)
Sept. 1 Error Analysis and Linear-Least Squares (Lab Book)
Sept. 6 Postulates of QM, Wavefunctions, Operators (Chapters 2-3)
Sept. 8 Simple QM Models, Particle-in-a-box (Chapter 4-5)
Sept. 11 Use class-lab time to work on Mathcad Problem Set
Sept. 13 Class cancelled
Sept. 15,18 Uncertainty Principle & Rotational motion (Chapters 6-7)
Sept. 20 Exam #1 (13%)
Sept. 22 The Hydrogen Atom (Chapter 9)
Sept. 25 Electron Spin – Multielectron Atoms (Chapter 10)
Sept. 27 Periodic Properties (Chapters 10-11)
Sept. 29 Chemical Bonding, Diatomics (Chapters 12-13)
Oct. 2,4 Chemical Bonding, Polyatomics (Chapters 13-16)
Oct. 6 Exam #2 (13%)
Oct. 11 Thermodynamic Properties, Gas Laws (Chapter 1)
Oct. 13 1st Law of TD (Chapter 2)
Oct. 16, 18 Heat Capacity, Enthalpy, Calorimetry (Chapter 3-4)
Oct. 20,23,25,27 2nd & 3rd Laws of TD, Entropy (Chapter 5)
Oct. 30 ; Nov.1 Chemical Potential & Gibb’s ‘Free’ Energy (Chapter 6)
Nov. 3 Exam #3 (13%)
Nov. 6,8,10 Chemical Equilibria & Le Chatelier (Chapter 6)
Nov. 13,15 Electrolytic Solutions (Chapter 10)
Nov. 17,20 Electrochemical Cells (Chapter 11)
Nov. 22 Exam #4 (13%)
Nov. 27,29; Dec. 1 Elementary Kinetics (Chapter 18)
Dec. 4,6 Mechanisms (Chapter 19)
Final exam date Exam #5 (13%)
Homework Problems (from Engel’s text) & Data-Driven Exercises:
Your ability to master physical chemistry will be greatly enhanced by completing the homework problems that will be periodically assigned at the beginning of class. While the solution manual will aid you when you encounter difficulties, you should try not to rely on it. This work will be handed in and checked for completeness (due dates will be announced in class). In addition to the problems assigned from the back of the text, I will occasionally assign homework problems (not from the textbook), and will also assign exercises from the “Data-driven exercises for physical chemistry” website (http://www.stetson.edu/~wgrubbs/datadriven/index.html). These additional assignments will be graded on a 100 pt scale. You are encouraged to use Mathcad to solve exercises (for example, to plot and fit a line to a data set). You will also need to consult the data tables in the appendices of your textbook to work many of the problems.
Mathcad:
Mathcad is an extremely powerful computer software program that can be used to analyze and graph experimental data, as well as perform complex mathematical calculations. Using the software takes much of the tedium out of the non-trivial, calculations that are often required to answer chemical problems. The first few weeks of lab will be dedicated to learning how to use this software. You will also see several examples of using the software in class and in lab. You are strongly encouraged to use this software throughout the semester as a medium for carrying out your homework and laboratory calculations.
Course Evaluation:
20% - Laboratory reports
15% - Homework assignments
65% - Examinations (see above for specific breakdown)
Final Letter Grade Scale:
97.0-100 A+ 93.0-96.9 A 90.0-92.9 A-
87.0-89.9 B+ 83.0-86.9 B 80.0-82.9 B-
77.0-79.9 C+ 73.0-76.9 C 70.0-72.9 C-
67.0-69.9 D+ 63.0-67.9 D 60.0-62.9 D-
<60.0 F
Only For Teacher Education Majors (Chemistry 6-12):
The following Florida Subject Area Competencies are covered in this class, pursuant to the Chemistry 6-12 Secondary Education degree.
· Knowledge of concepts of matter
· Knowledge of concepts of atomic theory
· Knowledge of chemical stoichiometry
· Knowledge of chemical kinetics and equilibrium
· Knowledge of thermochemistry
· Knowledge of electrochemistry
· Knowledge of foundations
· Knowledge of laboratory skills and safety
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