This the course page for Physical Chemistry I, taught by Prof. Pratyush Tiwary in Fall 2021, MWF 0900 to 0950. This class is an introduction to the principles and concepts of thermodynamics, and time-permitting, kinetics. The aim is to build an understanding of the equilibrium properties of matter, and of the laws that govern transformations between equilibrium states. We will discuss these ideas in the context of real and ideal systems, and will illustrate how they apply to physical and chemical processes. See course syllabus below for further details including prerequisites.
Final exam is now available here (PDF file), due by 9AM Monday Dec 20. Details on how to submit provided in exam question paper.
Math helper videos for this course are available below! More videos will be gradually added here. Additional videos covering more math for PChem and beyond, as well as associated notes, exercises and answers are available through a dedicated course on ELMS page
Fun with functions playlist (4 modules of average 15 min duration)
Single variable calculus playlist (8 modules of average 15 min duration)
Multi variable calculus playlist (5 modules of average 16 min duration)
Course Syllabus: PDF file
Week 15 (Dec 6, Dec 8, Dec 10): Spontaneous is not equal to instantaneous - how do we calculate time taken by reactions? Activated barrier crossing and diffusion processes, and their rate equations. Fick's laws of diffusion. Transition state theory - Eyring, Harmonic/Vineyard, and generalized. Example of crystal nucleation. Ostwald Ripening. Semester recap.
Lecture 38 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 37 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 36 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Optional reading on rate theories: Berne, Bruce J., Michal Borkovec, and John E. Straub. "Classical and modern methods in reaction rate theory." The Journal of Physical Chemistry 92, no. 13 (1988): 3711-3725. PDF File
Week 14 (Nov 29, Dec 1, Dec 3): Real solutions and activities. Equilibrium constants. Mid-term 2 presentations in class.
Lecture 35 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 34 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 13 (Nov 22): Lever rule.
Lecture 33 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Midterm 2 (docx file). Your team assignment can be found here.
Week 12 (Nov 15, Nov 17): Thermodynamics of regular solutions. Construction of solid-liquid-vapor phase diagram for 2 component system.
Lecture 32 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 31 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 11 (Nov 8, Nov 10, Nov 12): Critical point. Mixing of ideal gases. Thermodynamics of ideal solutions. Thermodynamics of regular solutions.
Lecture 30 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 29 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 28 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 10 (Nov 1, Nov 3, Nov 5): Gibbs Duhem equation. Intro to phases, phase diagrams and phase transitions. Gibbs' phase rule. Properties of phase boundaries. Clapeyron equation. Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
Lecture 27 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 26 PDF notes, audio (youtube link, ONLY AUDIO).
Lecture 25 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 9 (Oct 25, Oct 27, Oct 29): More properties of Gibbs free energy including how it leads to change of state of matter. Chemical potential. Partial molar quantities.
Lecture 24 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 23 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 22 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 8 (Oct 18, Oct 22): Spontaneity and Helmholtz/Gibbs free energies. Integrated first and second laws of thermodynamics. Maxwell's relations.
Lecture 21 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 20 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 7 (Oct 11, Oct 13, Oct 15): Carnot cycle continued. Clausius inequality. Entropy changes in reversible and irreversible processes. Measuring entropy. Third law of thermodynamics. Spontaneity and Helmholtz/Gibbs free energies.
Lecture 19 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 18 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 17 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 6 (Oct 6, Oct 8): Illustration as to how entropy might be a state function for an ideal gas. Carnot cycles. Proof that entropy is a state function for any material.
Lecture 16 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 15 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Week 5 (Sep 27, Sep 29, Oct 1): Thermochemistry. Introduction to second law of thermodynamics - Kelvin and Clausius statements. Entropy - classical and molecular definitions. Illustration as to how entropy might be a state function for an ideal gas.
Lecture 14 PDF notes, video (youtube link).
Lecture 13 PDF notes, video without audio(youtube link). See alternate video from last year with functioning audio.
Lecture 12 PDF notes, video without audio (youtube link). See alternate video from last year with functioning audio.
Midterm 1 (PDF file). Solutions (PDF file).
Week 4 (Sep 20, Sep 22, Sep 24): Enthalpy, heat capacities at constant pressure/constant volume continued. Changes in enthalpy and internal energy with pressure, temperature etc. Thermal expansion and isothermal compressibility. Joule Thomson effect. Reversible adiabatic change.
Lecture 11 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 10 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 9 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Week 3 (Sep 13, Sep 15, Sep 17): First law of thermodynamics continued. Reversible change and work. Isothermal processes. Internal energy, enthalpy and heat capacities at constant pressure/constant volume.
Lecture 8 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 7 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 6 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Week 2 (Sep 8, Sep 10): Intro to real gases and their equations of state (virial equation, Van der Waals equation). First law of thermodynamics. Basics of systems, surroundings, heat, work, energy and state functions.
Lecture 5 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 4 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Optional reading material: The first law of thermodynamics follows from a powerful mathematical theorem called Noether's Theorem, which was derived by an absolutely amazing mathematician who in late 1800s had to lecture under someone else's name for years, since she was a woman.
Week 1 (Aug 30, Sep 1, Sep 3): General introduction, math refresher, equation of state, ideal gases, kinetic model.
Lecture 3 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 2 PDF notes, video (youtube link)
Lecture 1 PDF notes, video (youtube link)