Atoms, Molecules, and Reactions III: Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Materials Chemistry

This upper division science program will further your studies in chemistry and prepare you for graduate school or a career in chemistry. Our focus as we explore topics in thermodynamics, kinetics, and materials chemistry will be on addressing the "why" question. In previous chemistry work, you learned the definition of a conductor. In this program, we will examine the solid-state structural characteristics that allow us to predict that a material will be a good conductor. Previous work introduced the concept of absolute zero; in this program we will derive it. With lectures, labs, and workshops we will study the laws of thermodynamics, enthalpy, entropy, chemical potential, phase diagrams, Gibbs free energy, reaction spontaneity, Maxwell relations, the kinetic theory of gases, rates of reactions, rate equations, current kinetic theories, solid-state structure, solid-state bonding theories, transition metal complexes, materials synthesis, and electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of materials. Comfort with and the ability to use both differential and integral calculus are required for the thermodynamics and kinetics portions of this program.

Students who wish to pursue chemistry as a part-time option may enroll for 6 credits of Materials Chemistry or 10 credits of Thermodynamics and Kinetics with a faculty signature only.