How mysterious The rules of our universe To wit, entropy...

CHEMISTRY 4501

INTRODUCTION TO THERMODYNAMICS, KINETICS, AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS

SECTION 1

M, W, F 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM

312A/B Bruininks Hall

Fall Semester 2017

Paraprofessional (TA): Katelyn (Katie) Youmans

• Here is a pdf version of the syllabus, which includes a day-by-day outline of the course schedule.
• Reading assignments, by day, can be found in the syllabus.

• The course lectures are delivered as videos.
  • Modules 1 through 8 are hosted on the Coursera website associated with the course. They can also be found on this YouTube playlist, but they will lack the embedded self-assessments included on the Coursera platform (although copies of those can be found here).
  • Modules 9 through 13 are hosted on this YouTube playlist. Self-assessments are presented as slides with problems that can be worked on while the video is paused.
• White-background copies of all slides are available for download here.
• In-the-classroom active learning materials may be found here after their presentation. Additional worked out problems and examples are also provided.

• Assignments and answer keys can be found here.
• Note that group collaboration on homework is allowed. See the syllabus for details.

The final exam (Wed., Dec. 20, 2017, 1:30 - 3:30 PM) will be taken by all students in the same location, namely Room 100 Smith Hall (map).

An equation sheet will be provided with each exam. It is also provided here for those wishing to use it in studying. In addition, while it will not be provided with the exam, some may find this sheet a handy reminder of how to manipulate logarithms and exponentials.

• Exam 1 pdf and its answer key pdf.
• Exam 2 pdf and its answer key pdf.
• Exam 3 pdf and its answer key pdf.
• Final Exam pdf and its answer key pdf.

You are welcome to alert me to links that you think would benefit the class by being included in the below listing.

• An essay on the meaning of the partition function (pdf).
• A detailed explanation of the concept of "reversibility" (thanks to Prof. David Blank for this pdf).
• A detailed explanation of the concept of "reversibility" as it affects changes in entropy (thanks again to Prof. David Blank for this other pdf).
• A detailed (and highly amusing) explanation of statistical entropy and spontaneity using, um, sheep!
• A mapping of McQuarrie and Simon's Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach textbook that connects directly to Modules 2-12 of this course, distilling out some of the most important concepts.
• A free online textbook by DeVoe entitled Thermodynamics and Chemistry that may offer slightly contrasting coverage of many of the topics in this course, and also includes some worked out problems and useful appendices reviewing relevant background math, physics, and nomenclature.