Syllabus
Physical Chemistry I (CHM 3410)
Fall 2007
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Instructor: David Chatfield, CP 336, 305-348-3977, David.Chatfield@fiu.edu, www.fiu.edu/~chatfiel.
Office Hours: W
Class Time and Place: MWF
Texts: (1) Peter Atkins
and Julio de Paula, Atkins’ Elements of Physical Chemistry, 8th Ed.,
Prerequisites: MAC 2311, 2312 (calculus I and II); PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049, 2049L (physics WITH calculus); CHM 3120, 3120L (analytical chemistry)
Course Description: Physical chemistry (PChem) provides a language and set of concepts on which all of chemistry is founded. One could say that PChem makes a science of chemistry. This semester’s topics in PChem are thermodynamics and, briefly, kinetics. Next semester will be devoted to quantum mechanics. Together with statistical mechanics, which you may meet at a later date, these are the cornerstones of the field. Remember: mastery requires application; understanding is the reward.
Grading: Grading will be based on two Exams (50%), a
Final Exam (40%), and Homework (10%).
The Final Exam will be comprehensive.
Final Exam date: Mon., Dec. 10,
Homework: Problem sets will be assigned most Fridays
and will be due in class the following Friday.
Late homework will not be accepted.
Problem sets and their solutions will be posted on my website (see
above). Be sure to keep up with the
homework. Only by doing it will you
solidify your learning.
Course
Outline
Chapters Topic
1-3 Development of formalism of thermodynamics
4-7 Applications of thermodynamics to physical and
chemical equilibrium
21-23 Chemical kinetics (some sections may be omitted)