CH265 - Statistical Mechanics
- Module code: CH265
- Module name: Statistical Mechanics
- Department: Chemistry
- Credit: 7.5
Content and teaching | Assessment | Availability
Module content and teaching
Principal aims
To introduce the concept of ensembles, and their importance in understanding chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium and entropy; To develop a framework that links the theory used to understand macroscopic (thermodynamic) and microscopic (quantum) behaviour in chemistry;To familiarise students with a number of quantitative and qualitative applications of these concepts and theoretical frameworks.
Principal learning outcomes
By the end of the module the student should be able to: Discuss the concept of a chemical ensemble and demonstrate how it may be used to understand and describe entropy, chemical equilibria and chemical reactions; Describe and use methods by which a knowledge of the quantum states of individual molecules can be used to predict the kinetic, transport and thermodynamic properties of macroscopic collections of molecules; Calculate partition functions for isolated molecules, and use these to calculate equilibrium constants and simple thermodynamic properties; Calculate the entropy of simple systems, such as the residual entropy of molecular crystals and the entropy of a 2-level quantum system;Derive fundamental relationships between Quantum and Statistical Mechanics, and between Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics.
Timetabled teaching activities
Lectures 3 per week over 5 weeks (15 hrs in total); Workshops 3 x 1 hrs 3 hrs in total; Office hours 10 x 1 hr : 10 hrs in total; Total Contact Hours 28 hrs
Departmental link
Other essential notes
Pre-requisites: CH160, CH162
Module assessment
| Assessment group | Assessment name | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 CATS (Module code: CH265-7.5) | ||
| B (Examination only) | Statistical Mechanics | 100% |
| VA (Visiting students only) | Assessed work for visiting/exchange students | 100% |
Module availability
This module is available on the following courses:
Core
- Undergraduate Master of Chemistry Variants (F106) - Year 2
- Undergraduate MChem Chemistry with Industrial Training (F108) - Year 2
- Undergraduate Master of Chemistry Variants (F126) - Year 2
- Undergraduate MChem Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry with Industrial Training (F128) - Year 2
- Undergraduate Chemistry with Management (F1N1) - Year 2
- Undergraduate Chemistry with Management (with Intercalated Year) (F1N2) - Year 2
Optional Core
N/A
Optional
N/A