Recommended Text:
Physical Chemistry by Ira N. Levine, McGraw-Hill, 5th Ed'n (2002).
Physical Chemistry by P. W. Atkins and J. De Paula, W. H. Freeman, 2009 (or earlier)
Course Content
1. Thermodynamics: First, Second, and Third Laws, thermodynamic functions and processes, heat engines and efficiency, entropy and free energy.
2. Statistical Mechanics: Boltzmann distribution, fundamental postulates, ensembles, microstates, non-interacting systems, particle partition functions translational, rotational, and vibration contributions to partition functions, Equipartition Principle, applications of Statistical Mechanics and connection with thermodynamics, including ideal chain.
3. Phase diagrams, chemical potential, activity coefficients, chemical equilibria, open systems, partial molar quantities, standard states, ideal and non-ideal solutions, Raoult’s and Henry’s laws.
4. Applications (as time permits): Osmotic pressure, ion activities, electrochemical potential, Donnan membrane equilibrium, transition state theory.