CHEMISTRY 3004

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I
Time: UW: 8:30 to 9:50
Instructor: Dr. Adham Ramadan
Office: P029 Campus Center
Office hours: by appointment

AIM OF THE COURSE

This course aims at providing the thermodynamic principles behind a number of
phenomena, namely the formation of solutions, together with their ideal and non-ideal
behaviours, as well as electrochemical systems. In addition, it builds on fundamentals of
chemical thermodynamics, addressing reaction equilibria in non-ideal systems, as well as
multi-component phase equilibria.

COURSE OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, students would be able to:
Use thermodynamic principles to account for and explain solution behaviour (ideal,
ideally dilute and non-ideal) for electrolyte and non electrolyte solutions
Explain the fundamental principles of the Debye Huckel Theory and apply them to
electrolyte solutions
Explain the colligative properties of solutions in terms of thermodynamic principles,
and apply these colligative properties to account for real-life observations
Use phase diagrams to explain, and express multi-component systems
Use thermodynamic principles to account for and explain electrochemical systems,
components, and applications
Apply the principles covered in the course to explain real life phenomena

TEXTBOOK
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, by Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula; 9th edition, Oxford
University Press, 2010.
Chapters covered are: 5 and 6 in addition to external reading materials
External reading (available on reserve in the Library)
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, by Ira Levine, 6th edition, McGraw Hill, 2009.
Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

SYLLABUS
1. SOLUTIONS:
Solution composition; partial molar quantities; ideal solutions; ideally dilute
solutions; non-ideal solutions.
2. REACTION EQUILIBRIUM IN NONIDEAL SYSTEMS:
Reaction equilibrium in electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions; non-ideal gas
mixtures and reaction equilibria; Gibbs energy changes.
3. MULTI-COMPONENT PHASE EQUILIBRIUM:
 Colligative properties, two component systems; phase diagrams; three component
systems.
4. ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEMS:
Thermodynamics; reversible electrodes; galvanic cells; standard electrode
potentials; the electric double layer.

EXAMINATIONS
Exam dates:
First Exam: Wednesday 8th March 2017
Second Exam: Wednesday 26th April 2017
Final Exam (comprehensive): Monday 22nd May 2017 (8:30 to 10:30)

QUIZZES
Announced quizzes will be held at regular intervals during the semester.

ASSIGNMENTS
Problems will be assigned to assist the students in applying the principles covered during
the course. Students are expected to solve these problems.

PAPER AND PRESENTATION

Each student will write a paper of a minimum of 2000 words, and an in-class presentation,
about a topic of his/her choice related to the course material.
Paper submission: Wednesday 15th March 2017
Presentations: As scheduled

ATTENDANCE
Attendance is crucial for the completion of this course. More than six absences may
result in a failing grade for the course.
Absences during examinations will not be accepted unless accounted for by a valid excuse
from either the AUC clinic or the Office of Student Affairs.

GRADING
The final grade will be composed of:
20% on each of the two midterm exams
30% on the final examination
10% on the paper
10% on the presentation
10% on attendance, class participation, and quizzes

ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students are expected to maintain Academic Honesty. Collaborative efforts, and/or
cheating during examinations/quizzes will result in zero grades. Further action,
according to university regulations, may also be implemented.