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CHM301

Physical Chemistry Iii

  • Sciences
  • 300 level
  • 3 credit units
  • 180 pages
  • 12 units

This course, Physical Chemistry III, is designed for Bachelor of Science chemistry students. It explores thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, and phase rule concepts. Students will learn about the laws of thermodynamics, fugacity, chemical potentials, and colligative properties. The course also covers reversible and irreversible reactions, entropy changes, and spontaneous processes. Emphasis is placed on understanding the energetics of chemical reactions and applying thermodynamic principles to chemical systems.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
208 hours
Maths
Intermediate
Content
Theoretical, problem solving
Practical work
No
How it is assessed
  • Self assessment exercises
  • Tutor marked assignments
  • Final examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

CHM301 · UNIT 2: TYPES OF PROCESSES

Closed system allows exchange of energy (heat or work) with the surroundings but, matter is not allowed to enter or leave it. A properly scaled system (to prevent the passage of matter across its boundary) can be considered as a closed system.

What you should be able to do

  1. Explain the laws of thermodynamics and their applications.
  2. Calculate entropy changes in various processes.
  3. Apply the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation to chemical reactions.
  4. Determine the spontaneity of a process using thermodynamic criteria.
  5. Relate fugacity to chemical potentials of an equilibrium system.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Process Chemist
  • Materials Scientist
  • Quality Control Analyst
Where it is applied
  • Petroleum Refining
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Chemical Manufacturing
  • Environmental Monitoring

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 1: Thermodynamics, Types of Process, Heat Change and Enthalpy of Reactions

    Unit 4: Enthalpyof Reactions

    Application of thermodynamic principles to non-ideal systems requires advanced mathematical skills.

  • Module 3: Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes

    Unit 2: Maxwell, Gibbs-Helmholtz and Calusius-Clapeyron Equation

    The Gibbs-Helmholtz equation involves partial derivatives and requires a solid understanding of calculus.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 19.5 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Thermodynamics, Types of Process, Heat Change and Enthalpy of Reactions
    • Unit 1: Law of Thermodynamic · 1.5 hours

      Define system, surroundings, and thermodynamic variables.. Explain the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.. Differentiate between extensive and intensive variables..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Thermodynamics, Types of Process, Heat Change and Enthalpy of Reactions
    • Unit 2: Types of Processes · 1.5 hours

      Define isothermal, adiabatic, and cyclic processes.. Explain work, heat, and heat capacity.. State the First Law of Thermodynamics..

  3. Week 3Module 1: Thermodynamics, Types of Process, Heat Change and Enthalpy of Reactions
    • Unit 3: Heat Change · 1.5 hours

      Explain internal energy of a system.. Calculate work done on an ideal gas in isothermal processes.. State the significance of enthalpy and enthalpy change of a system..

  4. Week 4Module 1: Thermodynamics, Types of Process, Heat Change and Enthalpy of Reactions
    • Unit 4: Enthalpyof Reactions · 1.5 hours

      Explain Joule-Thomson Effect.. Derive Kirchhoff's Equation and state its significance.. Define bond enthalpy and calculate enthalpies of reactions from bond enthalpies..

  5. Week 5Module 2: Reversible and Irreversible Reactions, Entropy of Change
    • Unit 1: Reversible, Irreversible and Cyclic Process · 1.5 hours

      Differentiate between reversible and irreversible processes based on heat exchange.. Describe Carnot cycle and derive an expression for the efficiency of a Carnot engine..

  6. Week 6Module 2: Reversible and Irreversible Reactions, Entropy of Change
    • Unit 2: Entropy of Change · 1.5 hours

      Define entropy.. State the Second Law of Thermodynamics.. Calculate entropy changes for isothermal and non-isothermal processes..

  7. Week 7Module 2: Reversible and Irreversible Reactions, Entropy of Change
    • Unit 3: Entropy of Mixing · 1.5 hours

      Derive an expression for calculating entropy of mixing.. Calculate entropy changes in phase transitions and chemical reactions..

  8. Week 8Module 3: Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes
    • Unit 1: Free energy functions · 1.5 hours

      Distinguish between spontaneous and non-spontaneous processes.. Define Helmholtz free energy and Gibbs free energy.. Calculate ∆A and ∆G for different processes..

  9. Week 9Module 3: Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes
    • Unit 2: Maxwell, Gibbs-Helmholtz and Calusius-Clapeyron Equation · 1.5 hours

      Derive Maxwell relations.. Derive Gibbs-Helmholtz equation.. Explain the significance of Clausius-Clapeyron equation..

  10. Week 10Module 3: Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes
    • Unit 3: Criteria for Spontaneity · 1.5 hours

      Explain the criteria for spontaneity.. State and explain the Third Law of Thermodynamics..

  11. Week 11Module 4: Colligative Properties
    • Unit 1: System of Various Comparison · 1.5 hours

      Define partial molar quantities.. Define fugacity.. Identify the components of an ideal gas..

  12. Week 12Module 4: Colligative Properties
    • Unit 2: Derivation of General Expression for Chemical Equilibrium · 1.5 hours

      Explain the chemical equilibrium constant.. Identify expressions for an ideal gas mixture.. Correlate between equilibrium constant and concentration..

  13. Week 13Module 4: Colligative Properties
    • Unit 3: Thermodynamic Quantities from EMF Values · 1.5 hours

      State the colligative properties.. Define phase rule and component.. Explain the term configuration..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review and understand all the laws of thermodynamics, focusing on their mathematical expressions and practical applications.
  • Practice solving numerical problems related to entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy calculations from TMAs and examples.
  • Create concept maps linking Maxwell's relations, Gibbs-Helmholtz equation, and Clausius-Clapeyron equation to understand their interdependencies.
  • Focus on understanding the conditions for spontaneity and how they relate to different thermodynamic potentials.
  • Memorize key formulas and equations, and practice applying them to different scenarios.
  • Pay close attention to units and conversions in calculations to avoid errors.
  • Review all self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) to identify areas of weakness and focus your study efforts.

Questions students ask about this course

What is CHM301 about?

This course, Physical Chemistry III, is designed for Bachelor of Science chemistry students. It explores thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, and phase rule concepts. Students will learn about the laws of thermodynamics, fugacity, chemical potentials, and colligative properties. The course also covers reversible and irreversible reactions, entropy changes, and spontaneous processes. Emphasis is placed on understanding the energetics of chemical reactions and applying thermodynamic principles to chemical systems.

How many units does CHM301 have?

CHM301, Physical Chemistry Iii, has 12 units across 4 modules, over 180 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is CHM301?

CHM301 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Sciences.

Is CHM301 hard?

CHM301 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and problem solving work.

How long does CHM301 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.

How is CHM301 assessed?

CHM301 is assessed by self assessment exercises, tutor marked assignments and final examination.

What can I do with CHM301?

Chemical Engineer, Process Chemist, Materials Scientist and Quality Control Analyst.

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