Chem 471 - Elementary Physical Chemistry

Meets 9:05a-9:55a in LGRT 101

Instructor: Professor Craig Martin

News

• Final exam answer key is available
• Exam equation sheets are available.
• The answer key for the short in-class quiz is available.
• A hand-out on numerical integration of rate equations is available.
• Occam's Razor: scientific and philosophic rule that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily which is interpreted as requiring that the simplest of competing theories be preferred to the more complex or that explanations of unknown phenomena be sought first in terms of known quantities.
  • William of Occam, 14th century (thanks to Monica for correction, and for inspiring finding of all of the links below - have fun!)
  • Discussions of Occam's Razor
  • Dilbert's perspective on Occam's Razor
  • Arguments against Occam's Razor
  • Still looking for origin of "razor" in this context - anyone know?

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Shop on-line at the UMass Textbook Annex. Prices shown above are new/used prices at the textbook annex.

1	Intro	Getting you ready
2	The 1st Law - Energy is Conserved	Setting the framework for everything to follow: define system, surroundings, universe. State properties & equations. Relationship between different forms of energy (heat and work). Molecular interpretations.
3	The 2nd and 3rd Laws - Entropy	Why entropy? Entropy is not conserved. Entropy of the universe always increases. Gibbs (biochemist's) free energy.
4	Free Energy & Chemical Equilibria	This is why we're here. Equilibria. Ideal vs. non-ideal. Examples.
5	Free Energy & Physical Equilibria	Transport. Phase equilibria (essential to life as a cell!). Energetics of surfaces.
6	Molecular Motion & Transport	Intro to kinetic theory. Diffusion, random walks. Sedimentation.
7	Kinetics	Fundamentals: rate laws, transition states, catalysts, methods of analysis
8	Enzyme Kinetics	Enzymes follow the same kinetic rules as any other chemical catalyst. This chapter focuses on typical applications of those rules in biochemical experiments.

Points are earned as follows:

The course grade will be determined as follows:

Unless otherwise changed (announced here and in class), homework due dates are absolute and are the date indicated in class. Late homeworks will not be accepted.