Physical Chemistry II

4.0 credits

This course covers thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and chemical kinetics. The course follows the textbook “Molecular Thermodynamics” by D.A. McQuarrie and John Simon, and “Molecular Driving Force” by K.A. Dill and S. Bromberg. The course begins with the concept of Microstates and Entropy, the equal a priori probabilities assumption, the direction of approaching equilibrium as a process that maximizes the total number of microstates. It then discusses the nature of Temperature and uses heat transfer as an example to illustrate the process that maximizes the number of microstates. It continues with the derivation of the Boltzmann distribution and the physical meaning of partition function, followed by simple and concise applications of Boltzmann distribution. It then covers the factorization approximation, Translational Partition Function and Partition function of the monatomic ideal gas, obtaining energy and pressure from the partition function. It follows with the vibrational and rotational partition functions, and the intuitive understanding of heat capacities of solid and diatomic molecules. The course continues with the equipartition theorem of energy, and the concept of negative temperature. It then covers the Statistical Entropy, Entropy for model systems and detailed examples, Gibbs Entropy Formula and applications. For the Thermodynamics part of the class, it begins with the Basic logic of Thermodynamics, spontaneous processes, and the direction of approaching equilibrium. It continuous with the first law of Thermodynamics, Work, and Heat, The second law of Thermodynamics, and thermodynamics definition of Entropy, The third law of Thermodynamics, the Temperature dependence of Entropy, the concept of Enthalpy and its application in Thermochemistry. Then it follows with the Helmholtz Free energy, Gibbs Free Energy, Maxwell Relation and Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. The course then discusses the applications, focusing on Phase Equilibria, Chemical Potential, Gibbs-Duhem Equation, Solutions. It ends with the discussions of Chemical Equilibrium, Chemical Kinetics, Transition State Theory. The course also has peer-lead workshop sessions. In these sessions, students will work in teams and lead by workshop leaders to discuss concepts learned in lectures and solve problems that exemplify the concepts discussed in lecture material and explain their solutions to each other. Workshops help the students to engage with the material together with their peers. The class also contains 2-3 midterm exams and 10-11 homework problems, as well as a final exam.