Chemistry 365: General Information© David Ronis

McGill University

Chemistry 365: Statistical Thermodynamics

Molecular basis of thermodynamics with applications to ideal gases and simple solids. Topics to

be covered will include: calculation of thermodynamic functions, chemical equilibrium constants,

Einstein and Debye models of solids, absolute reaction rate theory, Debye-Huckel theory of strong

electrolytes.

Prerequisites: CHEM 345 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.

Professor: David Ronis

Office: Otto Maass Room 426

Office Hours: Whenever you want. Just drop by my office. If I’m not there, send me an e-mail

and we’ll set up a time.

E-mail: David.Ronis@McGill.CA

(Help my mail program route your e-mail; Please put CHEM 365 somewhere in the subject.)

Course Assistant: TBA

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11:35 A.M. - 12:25 P.M.,

Location: Otto Maass 217

Course Web Site: https://ronispc.chem.mcgill.ca/ronis/chem365

Case sensitive username and password are needed for full access.

This is 2 credit course. We will meet 3 times per week for 2/3 of the term. The last class will be

given on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 (for a total of 26 lectures). The first mid-term exam will

take place on

Tuesday, February 5, 2019, from 6-9 P.M., in Otto Maass 112.

The second mid-term exam will be given on

Wednesday, March 20, 2019, from 6-9 P.M., in Otto Maass 112.

Students may opt to sit a reguarly scheduled final exam, and if they do, the course grade will be

computed as detailed below in scheme II.

Winter Term, 2019

Chemistry 365 -2- General Information

GRADING SCHEME

The grade in this course will be computed in one of the following two ways:

CHEM 365 Grading Schemes

I II

Homework 10% 10%

Midterm I 35% 25%

Midterm II 55% 25%

Final (optional) 0% 40%

Note that if you decide to take the final exam, I will use grading scheme II, no matter what the

outcome.

TEXT

T. L. Hill, An Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics (Dover Publications)

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS

1. L.K. Nash, Elements of Statistical Thermodynamics

2. James R. Barrante, Applied Mathematics for Physical Chemistry, 3rd edition. This isn’t a

statistical thermodynamics book, rather it reviews things taught in Cal. 1-3, using physical

chemistry examples. A good reference or refresher.

Notes:

• McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the

meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offenses under the

Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/

for more information). (Approved by Senate on 29 January 2003.)

• In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have

the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded. (approved by

Senate on 21 January 2009)

• In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or

evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.

Winter Term, 2019

Chemistry 365 -3- General Information

Tentative Outline: General Information, Winter Term, 2019

Lecture Topic Chapter(s) in Hill

Lecture 1 Statistical Mechanics: Why? and Basic Assumptions 1

Lecture 2 The Canonical Ensemble: Partition Functions 2

Lecture 3 " 2

Lecture 4 Microscopic Basis for Thermodynamics 2

Lecture 5 " 2

Lecture 6 Other Ensembles 2

Lecture 7 Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac and Boltzmann Statistics 3, 22

Lecture 8 " 3, 22

Lecture 9 " 3, 22

Classical Statistical Mechanics:

Maxwell-Boltzmann Velocity DistributionLecture 10 6

Lecture 11 Ideal Monatomic Gases 4

Lecture 12 Vibration and Rotation in Diatomic Molecules 8

Lecture 13 " 8

Lecture 14 Polyatomic Gases: Rotation 9

1st Midterm Exam: Tuesday, February 5, 2019, from 6-9 P.M., in Otto Maass 112.

Lecture 15 Polyatomic Gases: Vibration

Lecture 16 Polyatomic Gases: 9

Chemical Equilibrium Revisited: 10

Equilibrium Constant Calculations 10Lecture 17

Lecture 18 Equilibrium Constant Calculations (continued) 10

Lecture 19 Ideal Crystals: Einstein & Debye Solids 5

Lecture 20 " 5

Lecture 21 Activated Rate Theory 11

Lecture 22 " 11

Lecture 23 Real Gases: The Second Virial Coefficient 15

Lecture 24 " 15

Lecture 25 Ionic Solutions: Debye-Huckel Theory 18

Lecture 26 " 18

2nd Midterm Exam: Wednesday, March 20, 2019, from 6-9 P.M., in Otto Maass 112

Winter Term, 2019