CH2002:03
Physical Chemistry
Townsville
32 lectures, 4 tutorials, 30 hours practicals. First semester.
Staff: Dr B McCool, Dr M Ridd.
Chemical kinetics. Collision and transition state theories. Diffusion-controlled reactions. Elementary reactions. Reaction mechanisms. Chain reactions. Classical thermodynamics: 1st, 2nd and 3rd laws and their application to chemical systems. Equilibria. Basic concepts of electrochemistry and electrolyte solutions — conductance, activity, standard states, electrodes and electrochemical cells. Surface chemistry. Gas adsorption and heterogeneous catalysis.
Learning Objectives:
- to provide knowledge of a range of fundamental physico-chemical principles, including the laws of thermodynamics and kinetics;
- to provide information on the application of these principles to topics such as ozone depletion, polymer kinetics, gas adsorption and catalysis.
Assessment by a three-hour end-of-semester examination (70%); laboratory work (30%) which includes practical performance in the laboratory, the standard of written reports and demonstration of an adequate understanding of the chemistry involved in the practical assignments.