Courses/PChemSpring2019

Physical Chemistry II

Course Info

• Course Numbers CHM 4411-001
• Credit Hours: 4
• Meeting Dates: Jan. 8 - Apr. 23, 2019
  • No Class Mar. 11-17
• Meeting Times: Tues. and Thurs., 9:30-10:45 am in ISA 3048
  • Problem Sessions: Fri., 11am-12 pm in ISA 3050
  • Regular quizzes on Fridays
  • Office Hours: Fri., 10-11 am in IDR 200

• Grading:
  • Quiz (30%)
    • To succeed in the quiz, complete the homework and study the topics covered in the previous week!
  • Exam 1 (20%) Fri., Feb. 8 11am-12pm (ISA 3050)
  • Exam 2 (20%) Fri., Mar. 8, 11am-12pm (ISA 3050)
  • Final (30%) Thurs., May 2 7:30-9:30am (ISA 3048)

Overview and Objectives

This course will introduce you to quantum theory, important for quantitatively describing atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding and spectra.

Students in this course will demonstrate the ability to apply the following ideas:

• Relationship between mathematical models and intermolecular forces.
• Explaining quantum states and their mathematical and physical properties.
• Connecting observed molecular properties with quantum measurements.
• Calculation of quantum energy levels and spectra.

Textbooks

• McQuarrie and Simon, Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, University Science Books, 1997. ISBN: 0935702997.

Resources

• Visualization of Modes:
  • Wine Glass
  • Drum Head see also
    • Note: Modes are indexed by 2 numbers for a 2D surface.
  • Another 2D example
    • This one is part-way between a particle in a 2D box and a circular drum, since the center is a special point.
  • Violin String
    • Note: This looks like a sawtooth wave, so is less connected to quantum and more related to classical solitons.
  • Cymbals
    • Note: This shows many modes excited at once, so it is not a simple shape. Quantum-mechanically, this situation is called a superposition.
  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge
    • Acoustic and vibrational modes are very important in mechanical structures. We will calculate them for atoms and optical cavities.

Assigned Homework Problems

1. Part 1: Origins (Ch. 1, A, and 2)
   • Ch. 1, 1-40 (we'll do 41-44 in class)
   • Ch. A, 1-14
     • Hint on 12: use i = exp(...)
   • Ch. 2, 1-16, 19
     • Hint on 1,2, and 4: use y(x) = A exp(ax) + B exp(b\x) and check
     • Hint on 5: use exp(i omega t) = ...