This course facilitates, through solving exercises, students’ understanding of the laws of thermodynamics, which has a macroscopic viewpoint, and fundamentals of statistical thermodynamics having a microscopic viewpoint. Specifically, topics include the first and second laws of thermodynamics and entropy for thermodynamics. For statistical thermodynamics, topics include Boltzmann distribution law, molecular partition function, number of microstates, thermal interaction between macroscopic systems, canonical distribution, and molecular thermodynamics for a simple system.
The aims are to learn thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics, which have macro- and microscopic viewpoints, respectively, and to explain the classical thermodynamics by statistical mechanics on the basis of probability and statistics.
Through solving exercises in this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain the concepts and physical quantities of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics,
2) Describe physical changes, such as phase transition, and chemical reactions on the basis of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics from the macro- and macroscopic viewpoints, respectively.
physical chemistry, thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, partition functions
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Solving exercises and its explanation.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | The first law of thermodynamics | Calculate the internal energy of a system. |
Class 2 | The second law of thermodynamics | Calculate the entropy change for physical and chemical changes. |
Class 3 | Free energy and chemical equilibrium | Explain the free energy and chemical potential. |
Class 4 | Boltzmann distribution | Calculate entropy by using Boltzmann formula. |
Class 5 | Molecular partition function and average energy | Calculate the average energy by using the molecular partition function. |
Class 6 | Molecular thermodynamics for a simple system | Calculate the molecular partition function of translation, rotation, and vibration. |
Class 7 | Molecular partition function and chemical equilibrium | Calculate the equilibrium constant by using the partition function. |
Class 8 | Quantum statistical thermodynamics | Explain the difference between classic and quantum statistical thermodynamics. |
None required.
P. Atkins. Atkins' Physical Chemistry
Students' knowledge of the laws and physical properties of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics, and their ability to describe physical changes and chemical reactions on the basis of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics.
Learning achievement is evaluated by a final exam (40%) and exercise problems (40%).
Attending at Chemical and Statistical Thermodynamics (CHM.C202) is desirable.