About CHEM 3610 A
Calculus-based exploration of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics (gases, equilibrium, free energy, laws of thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, phase transitions, mixtures, chemical reactions), from both a chemistry and physics perspective. This topic is a cornerstone of many scientific and engineering disciplines. Appropriate for students in Chemistry and other STEM fields. Prerequisites: CHEM 1070, CHEM 1450, or CHEM 1455; MATH 1224, MATH 1248, or MATH 1242; PHYS 1450, PHYS 1550, or PHYS 1650. Co-requisite: CHEM 3602.
Notes
Prereqs enforced by the system: (CHEM 1070 or 1450 or 1455) and (MATH 1224 or 1248 or 1242) and (PHYS 1450 or 1550 or 1650) PACE students with permission and override colocated with CHEM 5610 and cross-listed with MATS 5610
Section Description
Course Learning Objectives/Outcomes:
The objective of this course is to learn the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, from both a chemistry and physics perspective. This topic is a cornerstone of many scientific and engineering disciplines. After completing this course, the fully successful student will be able to:
1) Explain energy, entropy, temperature, and equilibrium.
2) Perform coordinate changes and partial differentiation in the context of chemical equations of state.
3) Understand real gases and deviations from the ideal gas laws, including phase transitions.
4) Compute state variable changes for mixtures and chemical reactions performed under various conditions.
Required Books:
P. Atkins, J. de Paula, and J. Keeler, Atkins’ Physical Chemistry, 12th ed., 2023, Oxford, Volumes 1 and 2.
B. Poirier, A Conceptual Guide to Thermodynamics, 1st ed., 2014, Wiley.
Section Expectation
Required supplies:
Scientific Calculator.
Attendance Policies:
Attendance at classroom lectures is mandatory.
Exams missed due to illness will not be made up; instead, the remaining exam scores will be reweighted to reach the same total exam contribution to the final class score (see below).
Assessments (Graded Work):
• Homework: Problem sets will be assigned weekly, except for the first week of class, and during the week of an exam. These will not be graded, and will not contribute towards your final class score. However, you are strongly encouraged to work on these homework assignments for your own for practice. Solutions will also be provided.
• Quizzes: There will be one or more unannounced quizzes, assigned in lecture. These will be graded and will contribute towards your final class score.
• Midterms: There will be three midterm examinations held during the course of the semester. These will be closed-book, 60-minute exams, for which you will only be allowed to use (unprogrammed) scientific calculators.
• Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive standardized (American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education) final examination at the end of the semester, covering all of the material that was presented in class.
Evaluation
Grading Criteria/Policies:
For each of the problem sets, quizzes, midterms, and the final exam, you will receive a numerical score. These scores will be weighted as follows,
• Quizzes 10%
• Midterm Exams (3) 60% (20% each)
• Final Exam 30%
and summed together to obtain your final class score. Letter grades will be assigned at the end of the semester, using grade cutoffs established by previous classes.
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.
| Last Day to Add | |
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| Last Day to Drop | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 50% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 25% Refund | |
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Resources
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