1. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
TRENT UNIVERSITY
CHEM 2500H: Elements of Physical Chemistry I
(Quantum mechanics and kinetics)
FALL
Peterborough, Symons Campus
Instructor: Email:
Office Location: Office Hours:
TBA,
Telephone:
705-748-1011
Secretary:
Laurie LaPlante
Email:
chemistry@trentu.ca
Office Location:
CSB D105
Telephone:
705-748-1011 ext. 7505
Course Description:
This course provides a basic understanding of the energy levels of chemical species such as individual
atoms and small molecules. Specific theories of quantized motion and energy levels are introduced,
and the corresponding relationship of these values to spectroscopic methods used in the day-to-day
analysis of chemical compounds. Additional focus is placed on bonding within molecules, in order to
understand how and why molecules behave as they do. Analysis of molecular orbitals as a means of
understanding the shapes and behaviour of individual molecules is presented. The basics of reaction
kinetic and reaction mechanisms, reaction rates, and models which are associated with how
molecules react during chemical transformations are covered within the framework of this course.
Course Pre-requisites: CHEM1000H and CHEM1010H (or CHEM 100), and MATH 1100Y (or MATH
1101Y, or 1005H with permission of instructor). Exclusion: CHEM 200
Please note: Although experience with introductory university mathematics is an asset, students have
completed the course without advanced courses in mathematics. However, it is the responsibility of
the student to cover any material for which they do not have a prerequisite requirement, if they are
admitted to the course with permission of the instructor.
Teaching Assistants:
Please see the MyLearning System site for teaching assistant contact
information.
Email:
See MyLearning System

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Course Format and Meeting Times:
Type Day Time Location
Lecture Wednesday 19:00 – 20:50
(7:00 – 8:50 p.m.)
TBA See
Timetable
Lecture Friday 13:00 – 13:50
(1:00 – 1:50 p.m.)
TBA See
Timetable
Laboratory
(Students
attend one
only)
Wednesday 9:00 – 11:50 CSB D113
Wednesday 13:00-15:50 CSB D113
Thursday 9:00 – 11:50 CSB D113
Course Evaluation:
Course Component Weighting Due Date(s)
Assignments (4) 20%
Laboratory 25% Due 2 weeks after start date of lab
Midterm Test 20% Friday Oct before Reading Week
Final Examination 35% Date set by Registrar’s Office
Total 100%
Please see the Trent University academic calendar for University Diary dates, Academic Information
and Regulations, and University and departmental degree requirements. Last date to withdraw
from Fall term half courses without academic penalty in 2011-12 is Wednesday November 9, 2011.
MyLearningSystem: Chemistry 2500H makes extensive use of the MyLearningSystem (MLS) site. All
relevant information pertaining to the course will be posted for the benefit of all students in the MLS
environment. Announcements made on MLS are considered the same as announcements made in
class-periods. Please FREQUENTLY check in with the MLS site, as this is the area where lecture notes,
assignments, laboratory files, relevant dates within the course, and any discussions regarding aspects
of the course will be presented. Any information posted to MLS is considered ‘known’ 24 hours
following posting. For additional information regarding MLS, please see the instructor.
Required Texts: “Physical Chemistry”, 2nd
Edition, Thomas Engel and Philip Reid, Prentice Hall
(Pearson), c. 2006, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0-321-61505-3. ISBN-10: 0-321-61505-0.
Earlier editions of this textbook are available, and while much of the content in the book is preserved
through the editions, chapter references, textbook problems, and the order of material may be
changed. It is acceptable for students to use alternate editions of the textbook (or other books)
however it is the responsibility of the student to find the associated material within the alternate
book.
Recommended Texts: “Applied Mathematics for Physical Chemistry”, J. Barrante, 3rd
or 4th
edition.
This is a supplementary text, recommended for those students who need a specific resource to help

3. 3
brush up or introduce important mathematical topics in Physical Chemistry. The work provides an
excellent summary, with specific examples taken from Physical Chemistry curricula.
Schedule of Course Topics:
The following list of week-by-week topics is tentative, and is intended as a guideline to help
students as they study the material. The order or time-frame of material may change, as class
develops.
Week 1: Quantum mechanics. Introduction to quantum mechanical concepts and their
relationship to spectroscopy. Historic moments in quantum theory development. (Ch.
12)
Week 2: The Schrödinger Equation. The particle-in-a-box problem. (Ch. 13, exclude 13.7)
Week 3: Solution to the particle-in-a-box problem. Energy levels and the correspondence
principle. Normalization and probability. (Components of Ch. 14-17)
Week 4: Rotational motion. 3-D angular momentum properties. H-atom solution and atomic
orbitals. (Components of Ch. 14-17, Ch. 18, Ch. 20)
Week 5: Visualization of atomic orbitals. Multi-electron atoms. (Ch. 21)
Week 6: The variational method. Orbital approximation, molecular orbital theory. (Ch. 21, 23)
Reading Break
Week 7: Molecular Orbital theory, valence bond theory. (Aspects of Ch. 23-24)
Week 8: Kinetics. Rate laws, rate constants. Determination of rate constants. Reaction half-
life. (Ch. 35.1-35.5)
Week 9: Van’t Hoff plots. Method of initial rates. Indirect measures of concentration, and their
implications for the rate law.
Week 10: Temperature dependence of rate constants. The Arrhenius equation. Unit control
with logarithms. (Ch. 35.9)
Week 11: Molecularity and order. Composite mechanisms for reactions. Developing rate laws
from mechanisms. Parallel reactions. (Ch. 35.6-35.8, 35.10)
Week 12: Consecutive reactions. Limiting cases. The steady-state approximation. Unimolecular
decomposition as a real-life example. (Ch. 36, some additional aspects recovered from
Ch. 35)

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Department and/or Course Policies:
Policy on Late Assignments: Assignments submitted after the posted due date will receive a
reduction in value of 15% of the value of the assignment per business day late, up to a maximum of
two days late. After two days late, the assignment is given a grade of zero, but can be “marked” in
order to provide feedback to the student. In a case where it comes into question, a weekend is
considered one business day.
Policy on Late Laboratory Reports: Laboratory reports are due on a regular cycle, in accordance with
the schedule of the labs. Laboratory reports submitted after their due date will be given a mark of
zero, unless otherwise arranged with the laboratory teaching assistant. Please see MLS for a list of
your teaching assistants, and their associated contact information.
Chemistry Department Policy on Completion of Course Work:
The Department of Chemistry considers that completion of all components of a course is necessary
for a student to be given credit in that course. Therefore, it is the policy of the Department that a
student must complete, and hand in if applicable, all material associated with each component of the
course. This applies equally to work that is handed in or completed too late to earn any marks in the
course, in conjunction with the policy of the course instructor on lateness.
Students who fail to meet this requirement for reasons that would make it reasonable to assign an
”incomplete” mark for the course should consult the instructor well before on which final marks are
due for the course in question. In the absence of an incomplete standing being assigned, the student
will receive a mark of “0” and an “F” grade in the course.
University Policies
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic
offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the
University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out
in Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate yourself –
unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic
Integrity website to learn more: www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity.
Access to Instruction:
It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability
and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in this
course, the student should contact the Disability Services Office (Blackburn Hall, Suite 132, 748-1281,
disabilityservices@trentu.ca) as soon as possible. Complete text can be found under Access to
Instruction in the Academic Calendar.