Thermodynamics Premaster Course

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

The goal of this course is to give students with a non-academic background a solid basis in thermodynamics and kinetics.

Topics discussed are:

• the behavior of perfect and real gases, on a macroscopic and a microscopic level
• thermodynamic state functions such as energy, enthalpy and entropy, and energy exchange as heat or work
• the relation between free energy and equilibrium
• electrochemistry and redox reactions
• reaction kinetics. 

Study materials

Literature

• Atkins & De Paula, Elements of Physical Chemistry, Oxford University Press

Software

• SOWISO

Other

• Handouts and exercises (digital)

Objectives

• Explain how various state functions (pressure, temperature, volumes..) can be used to describe changes in physical and chemical phenomena
• Use microscopic molecular properties (e.g. mass and velocity of molecules) to explain macroscopic thermodynamic phenomena (e.g. pressure, phase transitions)
• Calculate the heat and work involved in physical and chemical processes (e.g. pressure-volume work)
• Predict the direction of chemical reactions using Gibbs energy and equilibrium constant calculations
• Use thermodynamic parameters (e.g. pressure and temperature) to calculate reaction rates
• Explain how thermodynamics functions can be used to describe redox reactions
• Calculate redox equilibria on the bases of electrochemical potentials
• Illustrate how chemical kinetics concepts can be used to express how rapidly reactants are consumed and products formed
• Calculate reaction orders and rate constants from experimental data (e.g. concentration substrate, temperature) and use these to predict the course of reactions

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Laptop seminar

Learning activities

Assessment

for the exam, the cut-off score is 50%

Inspection of assessed work

Students can contact the teacher via email and fix an appointment to inspect and discuss their exam

Assignments

During the course exercises will be done to practice the subject discussed during the lesson in the form of tutorials (group work) and personal assignment.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. A. Gargano