University of Manitoba Department of Chemistry

Chemistry CHEM 2280 Physical Chemistry: Microscopic Descriptions of Matter

Text:
"The Elements of Physical Chemistry" by Peter W. Atkins (W. H. Freeman and Co., NY, 1993) Second edition.
Lab text:
"Experiments in Physical Chemistry", by Shoemaker, Garland and Seinfeld.
No purchase necessary, copies available in laboratory
Professor:
Dr. Kathy Gough, Room 332 Parker Building
e-mail: kmgough@cc.umanitoba.ca FAX: (204) 474-7608
phone: 474-6262 (voice mail is available at this number)
Laboratory Instructor:
Dr. Elena Smirnova, Room 331 (inside office), Parker Building

Course outline in brief:

3 lecture hours per week
3 laboratory hours per week
  • The failures of classical physics, development of quantization theory
  • Dynamics of microscopic systems, wavefunctions
  • Electronic structure of atoms
  • Chemical bonding: valence bond and molecular orbital theories
  • Electronic structure of diatomic molecules, polyatomic molecules
  • Electronic molecular properties: energy, dipole moments, bond lengths
  • Origin of cohesion, permanent and induced dipole moments, interactions
  • Classical and quantum mechanical pictures of the harmonic and anharmonic oscillators
  • Spectroscopy: absorption, emission, intensity, Beer's law, linewidths and shapes
  • Introduction to basic principles of molecular spectroscopy:
    • Laboratory:
    Experiments related to various aspects of the lecture material
    Assignments:
    Students will be evaluated by means of scheduled in-class quizzes, assignments and a final exam. Students must successfully complete the laboratory portion of the course to obtain credit.
    Discussion:
    In the first term, we present a molecular-based approach to understanding matter. We begin with a look at electronic structure, both of the atom and then of the molecule, which is viewed as a collection of atoms joined by chemical bonds. Various ways of describing the chemical bond, including both valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory and their validity and usefulness, are considered. Electronic molecular properties, such as energy, dipole moments, bond lengths, and non-local bonding are discussed. Having established a picture of the molecule and chemical bonds in general, we proceed to consider further aspects of molecular energy. The classical and quantum mechanical pictures of the harmonic oscillator are introduced, followed by a look at the various ways of storing energy in a molecule: rotation, vibration, electronic, etc.. This leads us to two further topics: 1) the energy in a group of molecules and the applications of statistical mechanics to these systems, and 2) molecular spectroscopy: a host of experimental techniques for measuring and studying energy states of molecules, molecular structure, etc. No one text includes all the topics presented, in the manner presented, and thus you are encouraged to make good use of the reserve material and your lecture notes.
    General topics as per your text:
  • Ch. 8 Atomic structure
  • Ch. 9 The chemical bond
  • Ch. 10 Cohesion and structure (selected portions only)
  • Ch. 11 Molecular spectroscopy

    • Laboratory experiments

    There are five experiments in the lab, one "experiment" in computational chemistry, and one "paper" lab on the treatment of experimental error. You will not be doing an experiment every week, as there are only seven activities. Lab dates will be scheduled when the class enrollment is known. Each lab requires only one week to complete. Because there is only one set of equipment for many of the experiments, it is necessary for you to do them in rotation. This means that you will be doing some experiments before the material has been covered in class. The lab manual has been set up to meet these needs; your lab instructor and TA are available to discuss any questions you may have; you may always approach the professor at any time. The titles of the labs are:
    1. Bomb calorimetry
    2. Acid-base properties of electronically excited molecules
    3. Computational Chemistry - uses of HyperChem
    4. Carbon-carbon bond length by absorption spectroscopy
    5. Raman spectroscopy
    6. Spectophotometric determination of association constant of Fe(SCN)2+
    7. Paper lab - treatment of errors
    The lab report will be due one week after the experiment has been competed. Under normal circumstances, you may not perform your next experiment unless you have handed in the lab report. Requests for extensions based on valid medical certificate, compassion (death in family, other) will always be granted.

    Distribution of marks

    Lab reports (7)  14 
    Assignments (3)  6 
    Bi-weekly test (6) 10 (best five scores out of six possible)
    December exam 20
    Air miles  * 0 
    Total 50 (+?) 
    There will be 6 in-class quizzes during the term. These will be short (~20 minutes) based only on recent material, and worth 2 marks each. This encourages students to remain current with the subject matter. The five best marks will be taken. There is no mid-term exam, as the weekly quizzes provide sufficient feedback on student progress. There will be three assignments, roughly one per month. The December exam will be taken during the regular exam period.
     
    Air miles: There is a strong emphasis on the acquisition and demonstration of computer skills in this course. Students will be instructed in the use of computers and certain software, and are strongly encouraged to make use of them in both assignments and lab reports, where possible. Bonus marks may be assigned for demonstrated prowess in these areas: 
    MathCAD Spreadsheets UNIX system internet 
    at the discretion of the professor, in consultation with Dr. Smirnova, at the end of term, maximum of 2 marks.

    Reserve texts:

    You are encouraged to utilize all library resources wherever possible. See also: reserve texts for Chem 336 and 465, the third and fourth year courses which follow this course.
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    Updated Sept. 7, 1999