Course Description: Elementary Quantum Theory; molecular structure and spectra; bonding theory; reaction rates; photochemistry and radiation chemistry; energy states and statistical thermodynamics.
| Homework | 15% |
| Hour Tests | 60% |
| Quizzes | 5% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
Physical Chemistry, Peter Atkins [Freeman, Fifth Edition, 1994]
Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry, M. W. Hanna [Benjamin, Third Edition, 1981]
"POSHUSTA": This machine will have course related materials such as this syllabus, problem assignments, solutions, examples, and more. You can access this machine from workstations on the campus ethernet (e.g., SLIC pcs) by connecting to a network drive: CHEMISTRY/ POSHUSTA/ CH332. You can also connect to this machine from off-campus if you have a ppp/slip account: connect to \\POSHUSTA\CH332. Files on POSHUSTA may be opened with a word processor (MS-WORD, .doc files), Mathcad (.mcd files), or your browser (.htm or .html files). Here is a list of directories you can access on POSHUSTA:
An alternate path to reaching course files is from the homepage: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~poshustr/332_syl.htm
Then follow the links to homework and related files.
collection of mathcad tools for physical chemistry
Internet Differential Equations Applications
Getting started with computers in Physical Chemistry
| date | topic | activity orassignment |
| M Jan. 13 | Reaction rate experiments | read chapter 25 |
| W Jan. 15 | Rate Equations | Example Exercises |
| F Jan 17 | Elementary mechanisms | assignment CHK#1 due HINT |
| M Jan 20 | Martin Luther King day | holiday |
| W Jan 22 | Complex Rx Rates | read chapter 26 |
| F Jan 24 | chain rx, polymerization, photochemical rx | Example Exercises |
| M Jan 27 | oscillating rx, movie of Lotka oscillator | assignment CHK#2 due |
| W Jan 29 | Arrehnius | Example Exercises |
| F Jan 31 | Additional topics in Chemical Kinetics | assignment CHK#3 due Oscil. Rx Hint, Michaelis-Menten Hint |
| M Feb 3 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | read chapter 11, web resource |
| W Feb 5 | Principles and Interpretation | Example Exercises |
| F Feb 7 | REVIEW Chemical Kinetics | be prepared to ask questions |
| M Feb 10 | First Hour Exam | in class - no books, no notes |
| W Feb 12 | Operators/observables Superposition/averages postulates | quantum theory quiz |
| F Feb 14 | Elementary Applications: translation, vibration | read chapter 12 |
| M Feb 17 | Presidents' Day | holiday |
| W Feb 19 | Rotation, spin | Example Exercises |
| F Feb 21 | Additional topics: tunneling, uncertainty | assignment QT#1 due , hint: QT1_12.mcd |
| M Feb 24 | Atomic Structure and Spectra | read chapter 13 |
| W Feb 26 | Hydrogen atom, atomic orbitals | Example Exercises, spherical harmonics |
| F Feb 28 | Transitions, selection rules | assignment QT#2 due |
| M Mar 3 | Many-electron Atoms | |
| W Mar 5 | Term symbols, selection rules | Example Exercises |
| F Mar 7 | Additional topics: Magnetic fields, etc. | assignment QT#3 due |
| M Mar 10 | Molecular Structure and Bonding: H2, etc. | read chapter 14 |
| W Mar 12 | Review_2 | Ask questions |
| F Mar 14 | Second Hour Exam | chapters 11, 12 and 13 |
| Mar 17 - 21 | Spring Vacation | holiday |
| M Mar 24 | MO theory | Example Exercises |
| W Mar 26 | Polyatomic Molecules, Huckel theory | more Exercises |
| F Mar 28 | Additional topics: solids | assignment QT#4 due | ^M
| M Mar 31 | Molecular Symmetry, Groups of symmetry operations, WebLabViewer file: water | read chapter 15 |
| W Apr 2 | Character Tables and uses | Examples |
| F Apr 4 | Illustrative Examples | assignment GT#1 due. HINT: H3CCl.mol |
| M Apr 7 | Rotational Spectroscopy | read chapter 16 |
| W Apr 9 | REVIEW | QM of molecules, Symmetry |
| F Apr 11 | Third hour Exam | chapters 13, 14, 15 |
| M Apr 14 | Vibrational Spectroscopy | Example Exercises |
| W Apr 16 | Additional topics: nuclear statistics, Raman spectra | assignment MS#1 due |
| F Apr 18 | Statistical Thermodynamics - distributions of states | read chapter 19 |
| M Apr 21 | Ensembles and Partition Functions | Example Exercises |
| W Apr 23 | Entropy and other Thermodynamic Functions | read chapter 20 |
| F Apr 25 | Additional topics: equilibrium constants | assignment ST#1 due |
| M Apr 28 | Crystals and Diffraction: Lattices and unit cells. Mineral halite crystal | read chapter 21 |
| W Apr 30 | the Bragg law | Example Exercises |
| F May 2 | REVIEW | assignment Xstl#1 due |
| May 5 - 9 | Finals Week |