Atoms, Molecules, and Reactions: Thermodynamics

The full-time program Atoms, Molecules, and Reactions covers quantum mechanics, inorganic chemistry (in fall and winter), and thermodynamics (in winter and spring), all at the upper-division science level. Each of these subjects is available to students as an individual component by taking the variable credit option within Atoms, Molecules, and Reactions .

In winter, we will study the fundamentals of thermodynamics including the zeroth, first and second laws of thermodynamics, work, heat, energy, the equipartition theorem, entropy, enthalpy, equations of state, ideal gases,  calorimetry, refrigerators, engines, and the Carnot cycle.

In spring, we will add the study of kinetics to thermodynamics. Spring quarter topics include: Gibbs and Helmholtz energy, phase transitions, colligative properties, chemical equilibrium, Boltzman statistics, and reaction kinetics (reaction rates, rate law, orders, Arrhenius effects, molecularity, chain reactions, reaction mechanisms, the Eyring relationship, the Boltzmann distribution, and the Maxwell distribution of speeds). Laboratory exercises may be included if time permits.