MNF-chem2003

Physical Chemistry Statistical Thermodynamics

Semester / Duration

Annually: Summer Semester Duration: 1 Semester

Responsible Professor

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Grotemeyer, Email: grote@phc.uni-kiel.de

Course(s) of Studies

M.Sc. Chemistry: 2. Semester

Compulsory

M.Sc. Business Chemistry: 1. – 2. Semester

Elective

M.Ed. Chemistry (2-Fach): 1. – 3. Semester

Elective

Classes

Name of Class / Lecturer

SWS

Status

Lecture on Statistical Thermodynamics Prof. Dr. Jürgen Grotemeyer

2 SWS

Compulsory

Exercise Class on Statistical Thermodynamics Prof. Dr. Jürgen Grotemeyer

1 SWS

Compulsory

Number of Places

Lecture: 30; Exercise Class: 30

Language

English

Work Load

Contact Hours: 42 h

Self Study: 108 h

Credit Points

5

Conditions

B.Sc. in Chemistry or Business Chemistry

desired knowledge

Goals

The students learn the foundations, concepts and methodology of statistical thermodynamics. Next to the the basic concepts, the module focuses on the application of these concepts on practical examples. The students develop an understanding, how statistical thermodynamics forms a bridge from the molecular properties to the macroscopic properties of gases, liquids and solids.

Contents

• Basic postulates of statistical thermodynamics: Boltzmann’s definition olf the entropy, elements of probability theory and combinatorics, binomial distribution, thermodynamics of a system of elements with two energy states;
• Systems of independent particles: Polynomial distribution, Lagrange multipliers, Boltzmann- distribution, molecular partition function of the electron in a box, ideal gas, partition function of the harmonic oscillator, Einstein’s model of solids, semiclassical approximation, state integrals of translation, rotation,a nd vibration, equipartitioning law;
• Systems of interacting particles: The Gibbs ensemble (microcanonical, macrocanonical), relation to the chemical potential, canonical state integrals and partition function, ideal gas and van-der-Waals gas, cluster expansion of the molecular partition function;
• Multi-component systems: Entropy of mixing, Gibbs paradox, partition function of mixtures, van-der-Waals theory of mixtures, Bragg-Williams model, phase transitions, Landau theory;
• Systems of reacting particles: Variational calculation of the equilibrium composition, statistical expression for the equilibrium constant, transition state theory;
• Quantum statistics: Analysis of the partition function for fermions and bosons, ideal Bose gas, Bose-condensation, ideal Fermi gas, theory of metals.