KE537: Microscopic and macroscopic physical chemistry

• Apply the ideal gas law and account for deviations from ideality in real gases.
• Use the laws of thermodynamics and apply concepts such as enthalpy, entropy, free energy, and their dependence on pressure and temperature.
• Describe simple phase diagrams based on relevant thermodynamic data.
• Use thermodynamics to describe simple mixtures of gases and liquids, including the use of chemical potential.
• Apply equilibrium chemistry and electrochemistry with deviations from ideality, including the use of the activity concept.
• Describe the time dependence of chemical reactions using kinetics and related integrated expressions, and relate this to equilibrium chemistry and thermodynamics.
• Apply Maxwell’s relations.
• Explain and apply thermodynamic potentials.
• Establish statistical mechanics, probability distributions, and the maximum entropy method.
• Calculate mean values and the spread of thermodynamic variables.
• Use diffusion to describe diffusion-controlled processes.
• Explain partition functions and their relation to thermodynamic potentials.
• Apply kinetic theory of gases.
• Explain regular solution theory for mixtures.
• Explain transition state theory for reactions.
• Use statistical mechanics to connect macroscopic thermodynamics with microscopic molecular physics.
• Combine the above competencies to solve physical chemistry problems.
• Understand and relate to the orders of magnitude of parameters.
• Work quantitatively and understand and interpret results.

• Properties of gases
• The First Law of Thermodynamics: energy, enthalpy
• The Second Law of Thermodynamics: entropy, Helmholtz and Gibbs functions
• Chemical potential
• The concept of activity
• Sublimation, evaporation, and melting of pure substances
• Mixtures, binary phase diagrams, colligative properties
• Chemical reactions and equilibria
• Gas-liquid interfaces and surface tension
• Equilibrium electrochemistry, electrochemical cells
• Reaction kinetics
• Diffusion
• Statistical mechanics
• Partition functions

Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 94
Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 74
Team lessons in laboratory: 20

Usually a subject and/or theory is introduced by its theoretical background and examples. Hereafter students work with problems and exercises where quantitative calculations are practised. In the lab part of the course core theory is exemplified with practical exercises.

Preparation for common/team lessons, e.g. videos. Work with home assignments to practice the concepts of the course. Reflection on feedback from exercises.