CHEM 450Physical Chemistry - Thermodynamics

3 credits · Chemistry · Penn State

Introduction to physical chemistry with primary emphasis on chemical thermodynamics and its molecular interpretation.(Graduate credit not allowed for students majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering.) CHEM 450 Physical Chemistry - Thermodynamics is a physical chemistry course that introduces students to chemical properties of matter and the fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics. The theoretical foundations of thermodynamic principles are covered and illustrated with a wide variety of examples from the sciences, engineering and technology fields. The course covers the following topics: gas laws, equations of state, the First Law of Thermodynamics, work and heat, internal energy, enthalpy changes, heat capacity, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, entropy and entropy changes, the Third Law of Thermodynamics, Helmholtz and Gibbs energies, phase stability and phase boundaries, phase diagrams, phase equilibrium, surface tension, capillary action, partial molar quantities, thermodynamics of mixing, chemical potential, solvent and solute activities, colligative properties, the phase rule, thermodynamics of two-component systems, chemical equilibrium, spontaneity of chemical reactions, the response of equilibria to experimental conditions, and equilibrium electrochemistry. Note: Students cannot receive credit for both CHEM 450 and CH E 320.