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  3. Chemistry 251: Physical Chemistry for Engineers

Chemistry 251: Physical Chemistry for Engineers

Course Level: 
Second Year
Academic Year: 
2007/2008

States of matter, properties of gases, phase diagrams. Elementary chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. Reaction equilibria.

Prerequisite: 2 of CHEM 111, CHEM 112 or 2 of CHEM 122, CHEM 123 or 1 of CHEM 154

[3-0-1*; 0-0-0]

Introduction

The book Physical Chemistry, by Joseph H. Noggle, 3rd Edn. (1996) may be useful, and the Bookstore has been asked to order a limited number of copies, but this is not a required text.  The course outline below indicates where the various topics are covered in Noggle, but it is emphasized that Chemistry 251 is defined by the material covered in lectures and tutorials, and in the assigned problems.  Some additional notes will be provided on the webCT site athttp://www.webct.ubc.ca/public/chem_251/index.html

Assigned Problems: Students must study all the assigned problems for this course.  These problems are to be found on the webCT site.  Performance in Chemistry 251 will depend strongly on an ability to solve the assigned problems (and others like them).  The lectures will emphasize the essential background material needed to understand and solve the problems.

Tutorial Sessions: These will be held each week, and they should provide an excellent opportunity for students to solve assigned problems and to discuss the course material with the instructor.

Exams: There will be two mid-term tests plus a final examination for Chemistry 251 in 2004.  The final course mark will be determined with 70% from the final exam and 30% from the mid-terms.  The sheet headed Equation Sheet (first link on Supplementary Materials page of this WebCT site) will be provided as part of all exams and tests.  No other information (for example stored on a calculator or on paper) may be taken to any exam or test.  The mid-terms and final exam for 2003 will be available on the Exams page of this WebCT site.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Properties of Matter

  • Macroscopic and microscopic descriptions of matter.
  • Equations of state: ideal gas, condensed phases.
  • Van der Waals equation, compressibility factor, virial series, Boyle temperature.
  • Liquefaction of gases, critical point.
  • Law of corresponding states, Hougen-Watson curves.
  • Introduction to kinetic theory of gases.

(Noggle Chapter 1)

2. First Law of Thermodynamics

  • Heat and work; internal energy and enthalpy.
  • Types of processes: reversible, irreversible, isothermal, adiabatic, constant P, constant V.
  • Heat capacities: variation with T, equipartition of energy.
  • Expansion real gases: Joule & Joule-Thomson experiments.

(Noggle Chapter 2, but omit Section 2.8)

3. Second Law of Thermodynamics

  • Carnot cycle to introduce entropy; dS = dqREV/T. Boltzmann’s relation S = k lnW.
  • Calculation of DS for different processes.
  • Criteria for equilibrium & spontaneity: free energy (Helmholtz, Gibbs).
  • Basic equations for dU, dH, dA, dG; introduction to other important thermodynamic relations (e.g. Noggle Table 3.1).
  • 3rd law of thermodynamics; calculation of absolute entropy.

(Noggle Chapter 3; omit Sections 3.7 & 3.8 but add Section 5.1)

4. Equilibrium in Pure Systems

  • Introduction to chemical potential; phase equilibria & the Clapeyron equation.
  • T dependence of vapor pressure; the Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
  • One-component phase diagrams; triple point.

(Noggle Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5 & 4.6)

5. Thermochemistry and Chemical Reactions

  • Formation reaction; calculation of DG, DH, DS etc for reactions.
  • Temperature dependence of DH & DS; adiabatic flame temperature.
  • Extent of reaction; equilibrium constant; activities & standard states.

(Noggle Chapter 6 but ignore pp 302-306)

6. Solutions and Phases

  • Raoult’s law, Henry’s law; thermodynamics of ideal solutions.
  • Introduction to real solutions; Gibbs-Duhem equation.
  • Gibbs phase rule; two-component phase diagrams (both P-comp & T-comp); lever rule calculations; cooling curves.
  • Colligative properties: vapor pressure lowering, freezing point depression, boiling point elevation, osmotic pressure.

(Noggle Chapter 7)

7. Chemical Kinetics

  • Review rate laws, effect of T.
  • Theory of reaction rates; introduction to reaction mechanisms.

( Noggle Chapter 10)