5/23/2016
Syllabus for Physical Chemistry
Course Syllabus Jump to Today
Instructor
Phillip Geissler (
[email protected] ), aka PLG 207 Gilman Hall Office hours: Mon 1:30-2:30 pm, Thurs 1:30-2:30 pm GSIs:
Sumana Raj (
[email protected]) Office hours: Wed 5-6 pm (Library Room E), Fri 9-10 am (425 Latimer) Pratima Satish (
[email protected]) Office hours: Tues 11am-noon (Library Room D), Wed 10-11 am (Bixby North) Jon Weisberg
(
[email protected] )
Office hours: Mon 4-5 pm, Thurs 4-5pm (both in Library Room D) Chenlu Xie (
[email protected]) Office hours: Tuesday 12-1 pm (Library Room D), Friday 4-5 pm (Library Room E) Class meetings
PLG will give lectures in 120 Latimer on MWF 11am-noon. GSIs will lead discussions in 100 Lewis on Tuesdays from 6-8 pm (on Oct 20 discussion will either be moved or cut short due to a scheduled Midterm in this location at 7 pm).
Exams
Midterm 1: Tues, Oct 6, 6-8 pm, Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB), Room 2050 Midterm 2: Tues, Nov 17, 6-8 pm, Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB), Room 2050 Final: December 14, 11:30am-2:30pm
Content and Logistics
The previous previous semester of physical chemistry chemistry (Chem 120A) focused on the microscopic microscopic nature nature of matter matter, and in particular particular how quantum mechanics mechanics determines the structures and energies of atoms and molecules. This second semester concerns collections of many, many such particles, i.e., gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. A statistical description is essential for these macroscopic systems. We will derive probability distributions distributions of physical quantities (such as molecular structures and energies) from a handful of basic postulates. The principles of thermodynamics will emerge as natural consequences consequences of these distributions. Our studies will therefore therefore provide a quantitative connection connection between observable properties of chemical systems (such as equilibrium constants and kinetic rate laws) and the microscopic features features of atoms and molecules that comprise them. Lectures are intended intended to be self-contained, so that a textbook is not necessary to follow the course. As sources for additional reading and exercises, we suggest McQuarrie and Simon's Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach and Dill and Bromberg's Bromberg's Molecular Driving Forces: Statistical Thermodynamics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Nanoscience . Homework will be assigned approximately weekly and will constitute 1/8 of your final grade. Each problem set will be due roughly one week after it is posted on the course website. Late homework will be accepted for 50% credit (ie 8/10 becomes 4/10) up until the solutions are posted, after which no credit will be available. All homework is due in class on the due date. One midterm, worth 1/4 of your grade, will primarily cover material in section
I of the
outline below. A second midterm, also worth 1/4 of your grade, will cover primarily section II of the outline. A comprehensive final exam will constitute the remaining remaining 3/8 of your final grade. Students who have not yet completed Chem 120A will be at a disadvantage in this course. A detailed knowledge of quantum mechanics is not necessary to follow lectures or solve assigned problems, but we will extensively make use of the fact that physical systems have discrete sets of microscopic states and energies. We will also perform calculations for the specific energy levels (translational, vibrational, and rotational) of small molecules. The study of quantum mechanics mechanics further provides practice with concepts and tools of statistics, which will feature prominently in our studies.
5/23/2016
Syllabus for Physical Chemistry
Outline
I. Foundations of statistical thermodynamics A. Equilibrium states of macroscopic systems B. The Boltzmann distribution C. Partition functions D. Heat and work: The 1 st law of thermodynamics E. Entropy: The 2nd law of thermodynamics F. Temperature, pressure, and chemical potential G. Heat capacity and stability H. Free energies and conjugate variables II. Mass equilibrium A. Probability, chemical potential, and reversible work B. Chemical equilibrium 1. Law of mass action 2. Molecular partition functions C. Phase equilibrium D. Solutions 1. Ideal solutions 2. Dielectric solvation 3. Electrolyte solutions III. Dynamics A. Chemical kinetics 1. Phenomelogical laws 2. Transition state theory B. Electron transfer C. Viscosity and thermal conductivity
Honor Code
The student community at UC Berkeley has adopted the following Honor Code: “As a member of the UC Berkeley community, I act with honesty, integrity, and respect for others.” The hope and expectation is that you will adhere to this code. Collaboration and Independence: Reviewing lecture and reading materials, studying for exams, and developing approaches to solve homework problems can be enjoyable and enriching things to do with fellow students. This is recommended. However, written assignments should be completed independently. No credit will be given for submitted problem sets in which content has been copied from or by another student. Cheating: A good lifetime strategy is always to act in such a way that no one would ever imagine that you would even consider cheating. Anyone caught cheating on an exam in this course will receive a failing grade in the course and will also be reported to the University Center for Student Conduct. In order to guarantee that you are not suspected of cheating, please keep your eyes on your own materials and do not converse with others during exams. Plagiarism: To copy text or ideas from another source without appropriate reference is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade for your assignmen t and usually further disciplinary action. For additional information on plagiarism and how to avoid it, see, for example: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/citations.html#Plagiarism http://gsi.berkeley.edu/teachingguide/misconduct/prevent-plag.html Academic Integrity and Ethics: Cheating on exams and plagiarism are two common examples of dishonest, unethical behavior. Honesty and integrity are of great importance in all facets of life. They help to build a sense of self-confidence, and are key to building trust within relationships, whether personal or professional. There is no tolerance for dishonesty in the academic world, for it undermines what we are dedicated to doing – furthering knowledge for the benefit of humanity. Your experience as a student at UC Berkeley is hopefully fueled by passion for learning and replete with fulfilling activities. And we also appreciate that being a student can be stressfu l. There may be times when there is temptation to engage in some kind of cheating in order to improve a grade or otherwise advance your career. This could be as blatant as having someone else sit for you in an exam, or submitting a written assignment that has been copied from another source. And it could be as subtle as glancing at a fellow stude nt’s exam when you are unsure of an answer to a question and are looking for some confirmation. One might do any of these things and potentially not get caught. However, if you cheat, no matter how much you may have learned in this class, you have failed to learn perhaps the most important lesson of all.
