2024 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Chemistry
Chemical and Statistical Thermodynamics
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Chemistry
- Instructor(s)
- Tomoaki Nishino / Shinya Koshihara
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue / 3-4 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CHM.C202
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 17, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course facilitates students’ understanding of the laws of thermodynamics, which has a macroscopic viewpoint, and fundamentals of statistical thermodynamics having a microscopic viewpoint. Specifically, topics include the first and second laws of thermodynamics and entropy for thermodynamics. For statistical thermodynamics, topics include Boltzmann distribution law, molecular partition function, number of microstates, thermal interaction between macroscopic systems, canonical distribution, and molecular thermodynamics for a simple system.
The aims are to learn thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics, which have macro- and microscopic viewpoints, respectively, and to explain the classical thermodynamics by statistical mechanics on the basis of probability and statistics.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain the concepts and physical quantities of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics, 2) Describe physical changes, such as phase transition, and chemical reactions on the basis of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics from the macro- and macroscopic viewpoints, respectively.
Keywords
physical chemistry, thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, partition functions
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lecture including short exam.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | System and state variable | Explain the concepts of system, state variable, and extensive and intensive properties. |
| Class 2 | The first law of thermodynamics | Calculate the internal energy of a system. |
| Class 3 | The second law of thermodynamics | Calculate the entropy change for physical and chemical changes. |
| Class 4 | Free energy | Explain the free energy. |
| Class 5 | Chemical equilibrium | Explain the chemical potential. |
| Class 6 | Quantity of states | Calculate entropy by using Boltzmann formula. |
| Class 7 | Molecular partition function | Calculate the molecular partition function. |
| Class 8 | Molecular partition function and average energy | Calculate the average energy by using the molecular partition function. |
| Class 9 | Partition function of a system | Explain the canonical ensemble. |
| Class 10 | Molecular partition function of translation | Calculate the molecular partition function of translation. |
| Class 11 | Molecular partition function of rotation | Calculate the molecular partition function of rotation. |
| Class 12 | Molecular partition function of vibration | Calculate the molecular partition function of vibration. |
| Class 13 | Statistical thermodynamics of solids | Calculate the specific heat of solids. |
| Class 14 | Molecular partition function and chemical equilibrium | Calculate the equilibrium constant by using the partition function. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
P. Atkins. Atkins' Physical Chemistry
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' knowledge of the laws and physical properties of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics, and their ability to describe physical changes and chemical reactions on the basis of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics.
Learning achievement is evaluated by a final exam (80%) and exercise problems (20%).
Related courses
- CHM.C204 ： Exercise in Chemical and Statistical Thermodynamics
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.