Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Equilibrium

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Define the terms and determine the enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs energy change associated with a reaction.
• Explain basic principles including perfect gas behaviour, fundamental forces in chemistry, state functions, spontaneity of reactions, phase diagrams and titration curves.
• Calculate the equilibrium constants, standard Gibbs energy of reactions, and standard cell potentials for Galvanic cells.
• Describe the thermodynamics of phase transitions, and of ideal gas and liquid mixtures, and how dilution affects melting and boiling points in mixtures.
• Calculate the pH for different solution mixtures involving strong and weak acids and bases.
• Apply the concept of thermodynamic equilibrium.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Meet the learning outcomes of a co-requisite practical module.

Chemical thermodynamics: concepts of enthalphy, entropy and internal energy; first and second laws of thermodynamics; Hess cycles; use of energies of formation; definition and use of heat capacity; Gibbs energies and chemical potential; links to chemical equilbria; solution phase equilbria; activities and activity coefficients; effects of pressure and temperature on equilibrium constants; Le Chatelier’s principle; Henderson Hasselbach equation; exploration of equilibria, with emphasis on those important in aqueous acids and bases; electrochemical equilibria

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, small group tutorials and laboratory sessions.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula. Elements of Physical Chemistry.

Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula, and James Keeler. Atkins' Physical Chemistry.

Assessment strategy

Final exam, tutorials and laboratory marks. The latter are accumulated under the co-requisite lab module.

External repeat only possible if lab module is already passed.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External