CH 431
From WolfWikis
| CH 431 |
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| Lecture 1 |
| Lecture 2 |
| Lecture 3 |
| Lecture 4 |
| Lecture 5 |
| Lecture 6 |
| Lecture 7 |
| Lecture 8 |
| Lecture 9 |
| Lecture 10 |
| Lecture 11 |
| Lecture 12 |
| Lecture 13 |
| Lecture 14 |
| Lecture 15 |
| Lecture 16 |
| Lecture 17 |
Contents |
CH431: Physical Chemistry 1: Thermodynamics
The CH 431 course is based on the book:
- Physical Chemistry: A molecular approach by Donald A. McQuarrie & John Simon.
| S&McQ This indicates corresponding pages in the book |
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You can use this to find topics |
There is a that explains terms |
History versus the teaching of Physical Chemistry
Undergraduate Physical Chemistry typically takes two semesters to teach and comprises topics as:
- Classical thermodynamics
- Statistical thermodynamics
- Introductory quantum mechanics
- Spectroscopy
- Kinetics
There are different philosophies about the order in which to teach Physical Chemistry. Many books roughly follow the order of historical events. Classical thermodynamics were invented long before quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics and are often treated first. This has a major disadvantage, because it means that entropy remains an enigmatic concept for a while, just as it did historically. What entropy really is only becomes clear with statistical thermodynamics.
The book we use does not follow history. Instead it starts with quantum mechanics and deals with thermodynamics in the second half of the book. The treatment of quantum mechanics and spectroscopy in the first half is very detailed, as it should be for a good understanding of those subjects, but all the detail is not necessary just to remedy the entropy problem.
Our course therefore covers Chapters 16 through 26 first. Between 16 and 17 a preview of the concept of energy levels will be given, facilitating a first limited treatment of statistical thermodynamics. We approach the particle in the box problem without using the Schrödinger equation. This gives us just enough background to be able to discuss the statistical nature of the entropy and lay the foundation for a better and more detailed understanding of both quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics in the second semester.
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Another place you might try is the 733 Solid State Chem lab I’ll try and hold office hours Wed 9-11. My TA is Matthew Thompson and he'll hold sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoon The course is based on McQuarrie & Simon's book Physical Chemistry : a molecular approach. |
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There are a number of general things to be said about the course. See: CH 431/What (not) to do |
Third order equations
A cubic equation like ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0 typically has three solutions, just like a quadratic one like bx2 + cx + d = 0 has two.
However, these roots do not have to be real. Some of them may be imaginary and are therefore not interesting for our story.
A cubic equation can have: three real roots (dark blue) + a minimum and a maximum three coinciding roots (purple) + no extremes, but a flat inflection point one real roots (+two imaginary ones) + monotonic behavior
Roots can be found in various ways. One is the Newton-Raphson method that the book advocates. A much simpler but less precise one is to simply make a good graph of the function and look where it passes through the origin.
Words of the thermodynamic language