Quantum Chemistry

Spring Term 2002
Professor S. M. Blinder sblinder@umich.edu
Teaching Assistant: Elvera Baron barone@umich.edu

This course is designed to introduce students to a thorough, research-oriented view of Physical Chemistry. Required for Honors Chemistry concentrators. Graduate students take course as Chemistry 570.
This is the second of the three-term physical chemistry sequence Chemistry 260/461/463. Chemistry 461 builds on the introduction to quantum mechanics that was begun in Chemistry 260. Students will solve the Schrödinger equation in 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensions for several problems of interest in chemistry, including the particle-in-a-box, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, and hydrogen atom. Further topics include atomic structure, valence-bond and molecular orbital theories of chemical bonding and group theory. The concepts of quantum theory are applied to molecular spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.
Prerequisites & Distribution: Chem. 260, Phys. 240 (or 260), and Math. 215. (3). (Excl). (BS). Credits: (3).
Textbook: This Website. Supplementary reference: Atkins, Physical Chemistry, 6th or 7th Edition (Freeman, 1998, 2002), Chapters 11-18.
Meetings: M, W, F 9-11 am, Rm 1636.
Examinations (open notes format):

Exam 1: Wednesday, May 15 (30% of grade).

Exam 2: Monday, June 3 (30% of grade).

Final Exam: Monday, June 17 (40% of grade)

 

Tentative Schedule:

 DATES

 READING

 TOPICS
 May 1 Chaps 1, 2 Quantum Theory; Waves & Particles
 May 3-6 Chap 3 Q M of Some Simple Systems
 May 8 Chap 4 Principles of Quantum Mechanics
 May 10 Chap 5 Harmonic Oscillator
 May 13 Chap 6 Angular Momentum
 May 15 EXAM 1 Covering Chaps 1-6
 May 17-20 Chap 7 Hydrogen Atom
 May 22-24 Chap 8 Helium Atom
 May 29 Chap 9 Atomic Structure; Periodic Law
 May 31 Chap 10 The Chemical Bond
 June 3 EXAM 2 Covering Chaps 6-10
 June 5 Chap 11 Molecular Orbital Theory
 June 7-10 Chap 13 Molecular Spectroscopy
 June 12-14 Chap 14 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
 June 17 FINAL EXAM Covering everything

 

 

Front Cover Physical Constants

Chap 1. Atoms and Photons: Origin of the Quantum Theory

Supplement 1A. Maxwell's Equations

Supplement 1B. Planck Radiation Law

Chap 2. Waves and Particles

Double Slit Diffraction Experiment

Review of Complex Numbers

Exercises 2

Chap 3. Quantum Mechanics of Some Simple Systems

Exercises 3

Chap 4. Principles of Quantum Mechanics

Exercises 4

Chap 5. Harmonic Oscillator

Supplement 5. Gaussian Integrals

Exercises 5

Chap 6. Angular Momentum

Supplement 6. Curvilinear Coordinates

2001 Exam 1 & Answers

2002 Exam 1 & Answers

Chap 7. Hydrogen Atom

Exercises 7

Chap 8. Helium Atom

Exercises 8

Chap 9. Atomic Structure & the Periodic Law

Dynamic Periodic Table

Exercises 9

Chap 10. The Chemical Bond

Exercises 10

2002 Exam 2 & Answers

Chap 11. Molecular Orbital Theory

Diatomic Table

Exercises 11

Chap 12. Molecular Symmetry (omitted this term)

Chap 13. Molecular Spectroscopy

Exercises 13

Chap 14. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Exercises 14

Back Cover Periodic Table

2001 Final Exam & Answers

2002 Final Exam & Answers

 

 

Some possibly useful websites on quantum theory, etc:

A Brief Review of Elementary Quantum Chemistry

Primer on Quantum Theory of the Atom

Quantum Theory

 

Other websites of interest:

Atkins Webpage

Science Learning Center

UM Chemistry Department

The University of Michigan

American Chemical Society


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