CHEM 311-01, Physical Chemistry, Fall 2011

Abstract

This semester focuses on Molecular Quantum Mechanics, or Quantum Chemistry, and Spectroscopy. The concepts we begin to learn here guide the behavior of all of chemistry and molecular biology and are thus crucial to you in whatever career you choose. The material is somewhat mathematical, but I do not wish for anyone to get hung up on the math. I will cover mathematical topics as we need them. If you need any additional help, please ask in class, ask in my office, or ask in math-help. The four (4) points I would like you to own at the conclusion of the semester are: 1. Basic quantum mechanical formalism as expressed in simple models 2. How quantum mechanics governs the information we get from spectroscopy. 3. How molecular modeling programs work. 4. How quantum mechanics governs reactivity with an emphasis on organic reactions. These four (4) points are the themes of the four projects you will complete, thus the projects are really the emphasis of the class. If you put effort into the projects, the exams should be simple by comparison