CHEM 640: Biological Physical Chemistry (3 credits)

Fall 2005




The course gives an introduction to the basic principles of physical chemistry with applications to biological systems. Topics include the laws of thermodynamics, phase equilibria, chemical equilibria, chemical reaction kinetics and quantum chemistry.



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Line number: 13157
Instructor: Krzysztof Kuczera, 5088 Malott, phone: 864-5060
  kkuczera@ku.edu
Time & Place: 8:30-9:20 MWF, 120 Snow
Textbook: P. Atkins and J. de Paula, Physical Chemistry
  for the Life Sciences, W.H. Freeman, 2006.
Discussion meetings: Wednesdays 2:30-3:20, 105 MS
  Thursdays 2:30-3:20, 1003 Malott
Office hours: T,W 10:00-11:00 am or by appointment



The overall course grade will be determined by the sum of four components: in-class quizzes, problem portfolio, the average of two partial exam scores (hour-exam) and the final exam score (final-exam):




\begin{displaymath}grade =  0.10 \cdot (quiz) +  0.15\cdot(portfolio) +  0.25... ...mework)  +  0.25 \cdot (final-exam) +  0.25 \cdot (hour-exam) \end{displaymath}



Exam dates:

Exam 1 October 1
Exam 2 November 5
FINAL Tuesday, December 13, 7:30-10:00 am



Quizzes. Weekly 5-10 minute quizzes will be given on Wednesdays to help systematic study and instructor/student feedback.



Homework. Problem sets will be assigned weekly.



Reading:I recommended reading the relevant chapters of textbook and Web Lecture Notes both before and after the material is covered in class. In order to better understand the material it is useful to look at alternative presentations of material, such as


1. Tinoco, Sauer & Wang, Physical Chemistry, Principles and Applications in Biological Sciences, 3$^{rd}$ Ed. QH345.T56 2002

2. Eisenberg & Crothers, Physical Chemistry with Applications to the Life Sciences. QD453.2E37 1979

3. Alberty & Silbey, Physical Chemistry. QD453.2.A45 2001

Problem solving:Learning of the complex concepts of physical chemistry cannot be achieved without the experience and insight gained by problem solving. Solutions to sample problems are given in textbook, will be discussed in class, presented on Web site, assigned as homework and covered in discussion sections. Familiarity with the problems covered is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for success in the exams. Problem portfolios will be used to help with this.



Problem portfolios: To organize the mass of problems we will be tackling in class, each student will prepare a problem portfolio in a signed 1-3 inch three-ring binder. Enter all examples solved in class, given in lecture notes, as well as solutions to homework and trial exam problems in the portfolio in the following way:


  1. Start each problem on a new sheet


  2. At top (front or back) of sheet give problem text - cut and paste from xerox or printout, copy by hand or at least give brief summary of text.


  3. Provide one-sentence summary of problem area, e.g "Problem deals with gas expansion"


  4. Solution should contain brief explanation of equations, e.g. don't just write "pV = nRT", but rather "For ideal gas pV = nRT".


  5. Use the correct number of significant digits.


  6. Use SI units for all quantities


  7. Try to provide a comment to the final answer, e.g. if the answer is "w = 10 kJ" you could say "the work done is positive, energy enters the system".
I will examine the portfolios at the end of September to give you feedback and collect folders for grading at the final exam.



Syllabus


Dates Topic Chapter
     
08/19-08/22 Introduction, Gases F
08/24-09/09 The First Law & Thermochemistry 1
09/12-09/21 The Second Law & Entropy 2
09/23-09/28 Free energy 2
09/30 Exam #1  
10/03-10/05 Phase equilibria of pure substances 3
10/07-10/12 Mixtures 3
10/17-10/28 Chemical Equilibrium 4
11/04 Exam #2  
10/31-11/09 Chemical Reaction Kinetics 6
11/11-11/19 Reaction Mechanisms 7-8
11/21-12/07 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 9



Class website:
Lecture notes, homework assignments and sample exam questions will be on the site
      http://oolung.chem.ku.edu/~kuczera/640/640.html

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