CHEM 2400/2480 Analytical Chemistry I
This course provides instruction in quantitative analysis of important inorganic species in solution by volumetric, gravimetric and spectrophotometric techniques. The students will utilize spreadsheet applications to study solution equilibria and data analysis. This course is intended to build the foundations of good analytical laboratory practice
CHEM 2820 Physical Chemistry: Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics
CHEM 2820 is intended to provide a background in the fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics, and their applications to modern science. The material is presented at a level of depth that will allow it to be used as a foundation for further study. Topics in thermodynamics include ideal and non-ideal gases, the three laws, physical transformations of pure substances, simple mixtures, and chemical equilibrium. The latter part of the course includes the kinetic theory of gases, transport properties and chemical kinetics.
CHEM 4880 / 7500 Physical Chemistry: Aqueous Solutions and Interfaces
The purpose of the course is to provide an introduction to aqueous solution chemistry, from classical macroscopic descriptions to modern treatments of the properties of electrolytes and non-electrolytes at a molecular level The properties of aqueous solutions and interfaces have been the subject of study for over a century and continue as an area of intense research. Near 25°C, water is a “special” solvent whose solvation properties result from a complex interplay of hydrogen bonding effects. A consideration of the underlying physical chemistry of solutions and interfaces over a wide range of conditions puts these effects in the context and provides tools for practical applications, some of which will be presented in the course.
The course is aimed at physical chemistry students undertaking graduate work in areas related to aqueous solutions and interfaces, and to students in the applied sciences who seek to understand the fundamental underlying principles of aqueous geochemistry and chemical engineering processes. The syllabus is based on the textbook “Liquids, Solutions and Interfaces” by Professor Ron Fawcett, (Oxford University Press, 2004), and on research papers from the modern literature. An undergraduate background in physical and analytical chemistry is expected. An undergraduate course in statistical thermodynamics is desirable but not essential. Students with an undergraduate degree in geology, engineering, or environmental science should consult with the instructor before enrolling.
