Molecular Thermodynamics

Catalog description

Introduction to physical chemistry with a primary emphasis on the statistical and molecular interpretation of thermodynamics. CHEM 466 CHEM 466 Molecular Thermodynamics (3) CHEM 466 is a physical chemistry course that emphasizes the statistical and molecular interpretation of thermodynamics. This focus enables the student to consider macroscopic properties based on the constituent molecular properties. After a very brief introduction to classical thermodynamics, the statistics of large systems is introduced, used to develop the Boltzmann distribution of energies and then combined with the quantum mechanical structure of energy levels to form a basis to predict and understand atomic and molecular properties such as heat capacity and chemical reaction equilibrium. Solution thermodynamics, interfacial phenomena and colligative properties are discussed in terms of lattice models. The course then turns to a molecular view of transport and chemical reaction rates. Molecular transport is described in terms of random molecular motion and intermolecular forces that tie together to give macroscopic behavior such as ionic conductivity and mass diffusion. Reaction rates are formulated in terms of the distributions of energies and statistical probabilities of the combined reactants in a transition state. Cooperativity in phase transitions is discussed, followed by adsorption and catalysis. Examples with proteins and other biomolecules, as well as polymers and various solutions, appear throughout the course.