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CHM 2102: Physical Chemistry 1

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Mode of Delivery:

  • Online
  • Blended mode/ mixed: online and face-to-face
  • Face-to-face


1. Rationale

Physical chemistry is the study of the underlying physical principles that govern the properties and behavior of chemical systems. The knowledge of these principles is important and provide a framework for all branches of chemistry, whether we are synthesizing compounds in a research laboratory, manufacturing chemicals on an industrial scale or trying to understand the intricate biological processes in the cell. This module is intended to broaden your understanding of physical principles in chemistry. It deals with three main areas: thermodynamics, quantum chemistry and chemical kinetics. Studying thermodynamics enables the chemist to predict whether or not a reaction will occur when reactants are brought together under a specific set of conditions. Indeed industrial chemists often place more emphasis on speeding up the rate of a reaction than on its percentage yield. Organic chemists use kinetic studies to determine the mechanisms of reactions and to tell how fast products will be formed.

2. Prerequisite or Knowledge

The learner should have covered Energy and Chemical Reactions in Unit III in the
Module Chemistry 2: Introductory Chemistry. The learner should be able to:

  • Distinguish between exothermic and endothermic reactions and draw their reaction profiles
  • Do stochiometric calculations involving heat changes
  • Explain the concept of enthalpy and perform calculations using it
  • Predict spontaneity of chemical reactions based on enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy qualitatively and quantitatively
  • Do calculations involving energy changes occurring in chemical reactions
  • Write and interpret a rate law given the rate determining step
  • State and explain factors that control reaction rates


3. General objectives

On completion of this module the learner should be able to:

  • Explain the behavior of gases using the kinetic molecular theory
  • Carry out computations involving gas law problems, calculate the magnitude of energy released or absorbed in chemical reactions
  • Predict whether the entropy change of the system in a given reaction is positive or negative
  • Identify qualitatively, entropy changes associated with physical and  chemical processes
  • Predict the spontaneity of chemical process direction
  • Use the Gibbs free energy equation to

(a)    predict the spontaneity of a process and
(b)    to explain the effect of change in enthalpy, entropy and temperature on a chemical reaction

 

  • Explain and define the terms favorable for spontaneous change: entropy, Second Law of thermodynamics and free energy
  • Apply the concepts learnt in the module to solve and explain practical problems found in the real world

4. Time

The required hours required to complete the module is 120 hours

5. Material

In order to successfully complete this module, learning activities will require Internet connectivity to enable:

  • Access of learning activities online
  • Online assessment in form of quizzes, tests, assignments and experiments
  • Multimedia interaction (including video conferencing)
  • e-Library and data base utilisation
  • Interactive group discussions/chat sessions
  • Access to a library and self-study centre
  • Access to recommended textbooks and reference materials (web-based learning materials)