Chemical reactions underpin the production of pretty much everything in our modern world. But, what is the driving force behind reactions? Why do some reactions occur over geological time scales whilst others are so fast that we need femtosecond-pulsed lasers to study them? Ultimately, what is going on at the atomic level? Discover the answers to such fundamental questions and more on this course in introductory physical chemistry.
The course covers the key concepts of three of the principal topics in first-year undergraduate physical chemistry: thermodynamics, kinetics and quantum mechanics. These three topics cover whether or not reactions occur, how fast they go and what is actually going on at the sub-atomic scale.
This module explores thermodynamic definitions, the zeroth law of thermodynamics and temperature, the first law of thermodynamics and enthalpy, reversible expansion, and heat capacity.
What's included
7 videos2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 51 minutes
Introduction•4 minutes
Thermodynamic Definitions•9 minutes
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics and Temperature•5 minutes
The First Law of Thermodynamics and Enthalpy•11 minutes
Reversible Expansion•12 minutes
Heat Capacity•9 minutes
Thermodynamics I Recap•1 minute
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
About Us•10 minutes
Thermodynamics I Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Thermodynamics I - Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Thermodynamics II
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module explores the second law of thermodynamics and entropy, the second law of thermodynamics and spontaneity, the second law of thermodynamics and equilibrium, the third law of thermodynamics and absolute entropy, and Hess' Law.
What's included
7 videos1 reading2 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 56 minutes
Thermodynamics II Introduction•1 minute
The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Entropy•7 minutes
The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Spontaneity•16 minutes
The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Equilibrium•11 minutes
The Third Law of Thermodynamics and Absolute Entropy•6 minutes
Hess' Law•15 minutes
Thermodynamics Recap •1 minute
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Thermodynamics II Overview•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Thermodynamics Assessment•30 minutes
Thermodynamics II - Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Virtual Lab 1: Thermodynamics
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lab allows you to further explore thermodynamics.
This module explores the rate of reaction, stoichiometry and order, zero order reactions, first order reactions, second order reactions, determination of reaction order, and effect of temperature on reaction rate.
What's included
11 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 114 minutes
Introduction to Chemical Kinetics I•1 minute
Rate of Reaction•6 minutes
Stoichiometry and Order•10 minutes
Zero Order Reactions•9 minutes
First Order Reactions•9 minutes
Second Order Reactions•18 minutes
Determination of Reaction Order•13 minutes
Experimental Determination of Reaction Order•7 minutes
Examples of Measurements I•8 minutes
Examples of Measurements II•10 minutes
Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rate•23 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Chemical Kinetics I Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Chemical Kinetics I - Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Chemical Kinetics II
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module explores complex reactions, steady-state approximation, and catalysis.
Using the Steady State Approximation (Lindemann Mechanism)•12 minutes
Using the steady state approximation (Chain Reactions)•24 minutes
Catalysis•8 minutes
Chemical Kinetics Recap•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Chemical Kinetics II Overview•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Chemical Kinetics Assessment•30 minutes
Chemical Kinetics II - Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Virtual Lab 2: Kinetics
Module 6•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lab allows you to further explore kinetics.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 27 minutes
Introduction to Experiment•2 minutes
Gas Burette Experiment•10 minutes
Experiment Extra Data•9 minutes
Lab 2 Feedback•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Kinetics Lab Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 4 minutes
Kinetics Virtual Lab•4 minutes
Quantum Chemistry I
Module 7•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module explores Planck's quantum of energy, particle nature of light, wave nature of matter, Heissenberg's uncertainty principle, the Schrödinger equation, free particle & the particle in a box, Born's interpretation of the wavefunction, and normalisation of the wavefunction.
What's included
11 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 123 minutes
Introduction to Quantum Chemistry by Dr. Patrick O'Malley•3 minutes
Planck's Quantum of Energy•6 minutes
Particle Nature of Light•11 minutes
Particle Nature of Light - Example•5 minutes
Wave Nature of Matter•11 minutes
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle•15 minutes
The Schrödinger Equation•16 minutes
The Free Particle & the Particle in a Box•27 minutes
Born's Interpretation of the Wavefunction•11 minutes
Normalisation of the Wavefunction•8 minutes
Particle in a Box Application to Polyene Electronic Spectra•11 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Quantum Chemistry I Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quantum Chemistry I - Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Virtual Lab 3: Particle in a Box
Module 8•25 minutes to complete
Module details
This experiment involves the visible absorption spectra of dyes.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 3 minutes
Particle in a Box Introduction•3 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Particle in a Box Overview•10 minutes
Spectrometer Simulation•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 2 minutes
Particle in a Box Lab•2 minutes
Quantum Chemistry II
Module 9•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module explores hydrogen atoms, hydrogen atom quantum numbers, radial and angular solutions for hydrogenic atoms, and energy levels for hydrogenic atoms.
What's included
8 videos1 reading2 assignments
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 105 minutes
Introduction to Quantum Chemistry I by Dr. Patrick O'Malley•2 minutes
Introduction to Hydrogenic Atoms•14 minutes
Hydrogenic Atom Quantum Numbers•7 minutes
Radial Solutions for Hydrogenic Atoms•28 minutes
Angular Solutions for Hydrogenic Atoms•16 minutes
Interpretation of Hydrogenic Atom Solutions•23 minutes
Energy levels for Hydrogenic Atoms•16 minutes
Quantum Chemistry II Recap•1 minute
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Quantum Chemistry II Overview•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Quantum Chemistry Assessment•30 minutes
Quantum Chemistry II - Practice Quiz•30 minutes
Virtual Lab 4: Hydrogen Emission Spectroscopy
Module 10•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lab allows you to further explore quantum chemistry.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 11 minutes
Hydrogen Emission Introduction•2 minutes
Quantum Lab Feedback•9 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Quantum Chemistry Lab Overview•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quantum Virtual Lab•30 minutes
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Reviewed on Nov 8, 2024
Very intersting course but hard concepts to interact with but overall very worth doing especially if u want to put on a personal statement
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Reviewed on Sep 22, 2016
I like this course very much as it talks clearly about the basic concept in this course.(Prerequisite: I have learned this course before, I just try to review all the info in this class.)
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Reviewed on Sep 30, 2020
It's really an excellent course , it helped me to define well my foundations in physical-chemistry,Thank you very much!
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