Physical Chemistry I

Catalog description

This course provides a one-semester overview of the fundamental principles of physical chemistry. Topics include thermodynamics (laws of thermodynamics, energy, and equilibrium), chemical kinetics, and an introduction to quantum mechanics. Students explore the relationships between energy, matter, and molecular behavior through models such as the ideal gas, reaction rate laws, and basic quantum systems, including the particle in a box and hydrogen atom. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding and quantitative problem-solving across core areas of physical chemistry, with applications to biological systems.