Physical ChemistryLaajuus (6 ECTS)

Objective

After completion of this course the student is able to assess whether a proposed reaction may proceeds spontaneously and if heat is released or absorbed in the reaction. He is also able to calculate the equilibrium compositions of chemical reactions, as well as the pH for aqueous solutions of strong and weak acids and bases. He can interpret the phase diagrams of pure substances, liquid-vapor diagrams and distillation diagrams. The student also knows how to determine the rate law for a chemical reaction on the basis of experimental data. In addition, he can calculate electrode potentials and cell potentials and is able to assess the corrosion resistance of materials by means of pH-potential equilibrium diagrams. He can also apply the concept of surface tension when assessing the behaviour of surface-active agents as well as to calculate adsorption equilibria by means of applying adsorption isotherms.

Content

Thermochemistry and its applications, the spontaneity of reactions and phase transitions, the concept of chemical equilibrium; acids and bases, the concept of buffer solutions; solubility product; phases, the phase diagrams of pure substances and binary mixtures, theory of distillation; reaction kinetics: rate laws, the order of reaction, the dependence of reaction rates on temperature; equilibrium electrochemistry: the spontaneity of electrochemical reactions, electromotive force, cell reaction, electrochemical corrosion, electrochemical techniques; surface and colloid chemistry: surface tension, surfactants; solid substances and their surfaces: adsorption isotherms, introduction to techniques to study solid substances and their surfaces; electric conduction, the structure and reactivity of solid substances.


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After completion of this course the student understands the thermodynamic basis for thermochemistry and equilibrium chemistry, as well as the influence of process conditions on the equilibrium. He also understands which factors may influence the rate of a chemical reaction and understand the fundamental concepts of electrochemistry. In addition, he knows how surface-active agents (surfactants) operate and where they can be utilized. The student also knows the most common and important techniques to study solid substances and their surfaces. Additionally, he understands the structure of solid substances, the factors on which electric conduction is based on and the factors which affect the extent of adsorption on a solid surface.