Syllabus

Chemistry 341

Physical Chemistry

Instructors:

Prof: Neal Woodbury, NWoodbury@asu.edu , BDA130E, 965-3294, Office Hours Tues. 2:40-3:30 pm and Fri. 4:00 - 5:00 pm.  I will also try and make myself available for a short time after class on Friday if possible. Monday I have two classes in a row.

TA: Daniel Martin, danmart_us@yahoo.com or daniel.martin@asu.edu, Office Hours Thursday 10:40 to 11:30 am in the LRC

Course Description: Chemistry 341 is a physical chemistry course which focuses on thermodynamics and kinetics (very little on quantum mechanics and spectroscopy). There are two sections offered, but the material covered will be very similar. This course should interface directly with the biophysical chemistry course, BCH463, which is meant to be taken after this course by Biochemistry majors. For non-biochemistry majors, this course will provide you with a fundamental grounding in thermodynamics and kinetics that can be applied to any field. The class meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8:40 am. The course is based on the text book Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences by Atkins and de Paula. There is also a solutions manual that is available from the publisher which should be in the bookstore shortly. The publisher’s web site is http://bcs.whfreeman.com/pchemls/default.asp?s=&n=&i=&v=&o=&ns=0&uid=0&rau=0 . This web site also has some study tools on it that may be of use to you.

Course Structure: In addition to the lectures, students will read the book, perform problems from the book and example problems that I provide, and will work through on-line tutorials in certain cases (see below). Solving many problems is the key to learning physical chemistry! The key is to actually do the problems yourself and only use the solution manual (or come see me) if you have struggled with the problems and really hit a dead end. I promise you that you will not learn to do the problems by listening to me solve them (though I encourage you to come to my office hours and ask me about the problems) or by reading the solution in the book. You have to grapple with them until you get them right. It is fine to look up examples, but in the end, you have to take the tests so make sure you can really do the problems yourself.

Computer-based Resources: There are a number of resources available to students on the net as study aides and guides. This file, as well as reading and problem assignments can be accessed from the Chemistry 341 main page :

http://www.public.asu.edu/~laserweb/woodbury/classes/chm341.htm

On the website, there are additional example problems and sample exams. Students are also welcome to ask questions of myself or the TA using e-mail. I usually answer within a day.

Grading: The grade for the course is based on three in-class exams, a final exam and electronic in-class participation (“clickers”). See the exam schedule for dates. Each in-class exam is worth 20% and the final will be 35%. The final will be half on the last section of the course and half comprehensive. I do not drop any exams except in very unusual circumstances. The remaining 5% of the grade will be for the in-class activities.

Missed Exam Policy: If you miss one of the in-class exams because you are ill or because you have a serious family problem (death in the family or something) or an ASU sanctioned activity, contact me as soon as possible and we will try to arrange a makeup. In the case of an ASU sanctioned activity, please tell me ahead of time.