CHEM 4361: Physical Chemistry I

Covers thermodynamics and kinetics from a molecular perspective. Major topics include atomic and molecular degrees of freedom, gases, statistical mechanics, macroscopic thermodynamics, and kinetics. An emphasis is placed on understanding the assumptions that go into first principle derivations and how those assumptions can break down in practical application. Main application areas are molecular spectroscopy, expansion/compression of gases, thermodynamic cycles, chemical equilibrium, pure and mixed phase behavior, and dynamics of chemical reactions. The language of calculus is used throughout.