Course Description
Chemical thermodynamics and equilibrium processes covered, including phase equilibria, thermodynamics of solutions, kinetics, and electrochemistry. Prerequisite: MAT 292 or MAT 296 and PHY 292; Notes: Students cannot receive credit for both CHE 461 and CHE 406 toward an undergraduate degree.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Understand and apply the laws of thermodynamics.
- Define, derive, and apply internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy.
- Analyze chemical equilibrium and predict spontaneous processes.
- Interpret phase equilibria and thermodynamics of solutions.
- Define, derive, and apply reaction rates, rate laws, and kinetic models.
- Analyze factors affecting reaction rates and reaction mechanisms.
- Apply thermodynamic and kinetic principles to solve quantitative physical chemistry problems.
Develop intuitive understanding of thermodynamic driving forces and strengthen mathematical problem-solving skills.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Three hourly exams | 60% |
| Homework, In-Class Problems, and Video Lecture Assignments | 20% |
| Oral Lecture Note Reviews | 15% |
| Participation/attendance | 5% |
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 93-100% | A |
| 90-92% | A− |
| 87-89% | B+ |
| 83-86% | B |
| 80-82% | B− |
| 77-79% | C+ |
| 73-76% | C |
| 70-72% | C− |
| 67-69% | D+ |
| 63-66% | D |
| 60-62% | D− |
| <60% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Students are expected to attend and participate in all class meetings. Participation and attendance contribute 5% of the final course grade.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
- Engel and Reid, Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, & Kinetics, 4th Edition. Optional Student Solutions Manual.
- Recommended supplementary reference: Atkins and de Paula, Physical Chemistry (any edition).
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.