Course syllabus for Physical chemistry

The course syllabus contains changes
See changes

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameFysikalisk kemi
  • CodeKFK163
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKBIO
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyBioengineering, Chemical Engineering
  • DepartmentCHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 48112
  • Maximum participants70
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0115 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		1.5 c
0215 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH		6 c
  • 23 Okt 2021 am L
  • 03 Jan 2022 pm J
  • 17 Aug 2022 am J

In programmes

Examiner

  • Nikola Markovic
Go to coursepage (Opens in new tab)

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Basic chemistry, multivariable calculus and linear algebra.

Aim

The aim of the course is to provide a deeper understanding of the theoretical foundations of chemistry.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • explain the principles of quantum mechanics, in particular energy quantization and the physical interpretation of the wave function
  • describe the solutions to the hydrogen atom (orbitals, energy levels, quantum numbers), know the concept of spin and be able to use the orbital approximation and the building-up principle to analyze the electronic properties of multi-electron atoms
  • be able to form molecular orbitals as linear combinations of atomic orbitals for diatomic molecules and understand how the variation principle can be used in this context
  • describe and calculate different contributions to intermolecular interactions and be able to use simple equations of state
  • explain spectroscopic principles and be able to analyze spectra for diatomic molecules and have qualitative knowledge of the spectra of polyatomic molecules
  • know the concepts of singlet and triplet states and be able to describe the fluorescence and phosphorescence processes
  • explain the background to the Boltzmann distribution and be able to calculate the probability of different energy states
  • calculate thermodynamic quantities for a gas phase molecule via the partition function
  • calculate thermodynamic quantities for state changes and phase transitions
  • explain why thermodynamic processes are spontaneous based on a statistical understanding of entropy and be able to define entropy thermodynamically
  • argue for the introduction of the quantities enthalpy and free energy
  • calculate activity coefficients for substances in binary mixtures based on experimental data and calculate changes in state functions when mixing two components
  • describe what affects a chemical equilibrium and be able to calculate the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction from thermodynamic data
  • write down cell diagrams and reaction formulas for electrochemical cells and be able to calculate cell potential, activity coefficients and thermodynamic quantities
  • describe how a reaction's order, rate constant and activation energy can be determined and apply this knowledge to given experimental data
  • set up rate equations for a given reaction mechanism and, where appropriate, simplify the problem using the steady-state approximation
  • be able to calculate second order rate constants via gas phase collision theory and for diffusion controlled reactions in solution
  • perform basic laboratory measurements and be able to analyze, discuss and report the results from these in writing

    • Content

    The aim of the course is to provide a deeper understanding of the theoretical foundations of chemistry, and to provide the necessary skills to apply this understanding to biological systems but also to analytical and organic chemistry. One fundamental goal is to show how physical chemistry can be used to understand nature from a molecular perspective.  In addition to the covalent bond, emphasis is put on the role non-covalent intermolecular interactions play in the structure and flexibility of biological systems. Quantum mechanics provide the allowed energy levels for the various kinds of motions molecules undergo (translation, rotation, vibration), which are used in statistical thermodynamics to predict what drives chemical reactions in macroscopic systems (many molecules). A second goal is to demonstrate the importance of the randomness in molecular motions and how it is best described by the concept of entropy. The rates of chemical reactions are treated both macroscopically and in molecular terms.

    The course deals with the following topics: kinetic and potential energy of molecules, atomic and molecular structure, spectroscopy, statistical thermodynamics, the laws of thermodynamics, physical and chemical equilibrium and chemical kinetics.

    Organisation

    Lectures, Tutorials, Laborations

    Literature

    Atkins, dePaula, Friedman: Quanta, Matter and Change, 2nd Ed, Oxford 2014

    Examination including compulsory elements

    Written exam (6 hp), pass on laborations and assignments (1.5 hp).

    The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.

    The course syllabus contains changes

    • Changes to examination:
      • 2021-10-14: Location Location changed from Johanneberg to Halls at Lindholmen by moty
        [2021-10-23 6,0 hec, 0215]