Quantum Chemistry

Quantum Chemistry

Spring Term 2002

Professor S. M. Blinder sblinder@umich.edu

Teaching Assistant: Elvera Baron barone@umich.edu

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This course is designed to introduce students to a thorough, research-oriented view of Physical Chemistry. Required for Honors Chemistry concentrators. Graduate students take course as Chemistry 570.

This is the second of the three-term physical chemistry sequence Chemistry 260/461/463. Chemistry 461 builds on the introduction to quantum mechanics that was begun in Chemistry 260. Students will solve the Schrödinger equation in 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensions for several problems of interest in chemistry, including the particle-in-a-box, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, and hydrogen atom. Further topics include atomic structure, valence-bond and molecular orbital theories of chemical bonding and group theory. The concepts of quantum theory are applied to molecular spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Prerequisites & Distribution: Chem. 260, Phys. 240 (or 260), and Math. 215. (3). (Excl). (BS). Credits: (3).

Textbook: This Website. Supplementary reference: Atkins, Physical Chemistry, 6th or 7th Edition (Freeman, 1998, 2002), Chapters 11-18.

Meetings: M, W, F 9-11 am, Rm 1636.

Examinations (open notes format):

Exam 1: Wednesday, May 15 (30% of grade).
Exam 2: Monday, June 3 (30% of grade).
Final Exam: Monday, June 17 (40% of grade)

Tentative Schedule:

DATES	READING	TOPICS
May 1	Chaps 1, 2	Quantum Theory; Waves & Particles
May 3-6	Chap 3	Q M of Some Simple Systems
May 8	Chap 4	Principles of Quantum Mechanics
May 10	Chap 5	Harmonic Oscillator
May 13	Chap 6	Angular Momentum
May 15	EXAM 1	Covering Chaps 1-6
May 17-20	Chap 7	Hydrogen Atom
May 22-24	Chap 8	Helium Atom
May 29	Chap 9	Atomic Structure; Periodic Law
May 31	Chap 10	The Chemical Bond
June 3	EXAM 2	Covering Chaps 6-10
June 5	Chap 11	Molecular Orbital Theory
June 7-10	Chap 13	Molecular Spectroscopy
June 12-14	Chap 14	Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
June 17	FINAL EXAM	Covering everything

Front Cover Physical Constants
Chap 1. Atoms and Photons: Origin of the Quantum Theory

Supplement 1A. Maxwell's Equations
Supplement 1B. Planck Radiation Law

Chap 2. Waves and Particles

Double Slit Diffraction Experiment
Review of Complex Numbers
Exercises 2

Chap 3. Quantum Mechanics of Some Simple Systems

Exercises 3

Chap 4. Principles of Quantum Mechanics

Exercises 4

Chap 5. Harmonic Oscillator

Supplement 5. Gaussian Integrals
Exercises 5

Chap 6. Angular Momentum

Supplement 6. Curvilinear Coordinates

2001 Exam 1 & Answers
2002 Exam 1 & Answers
Chap 7. Hydrogen Atom

Exercises 7

Chap 8. Helium Atom

Exercises 8

Chap 9. Atomic Structure & the Periodic Law

Dynamic Periodic Table
Exercises 9

Chap 10. The Chemical Bond

Exercises 10

2002 Exam 2 & Answers
Chap 11. Molecular Orbital Theory

Diatomic Table
Exercises 11

Chap 12. Molecular Symmetry (omitted this term)
Chap 13. Molecular Spectroscopy

Exercises 13

Chap 14. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Exercises 14

Back Cover Periodic Table
2001 Final Exam & Answers
2002 Final Exam & Answers


Some possibly useful websites on quantum theory, etc:

A Brief Review of Elementary Quantum Chemistry
Primer on Quantum Theory of the Atom
Quantum Theory

Other websites of interest:

Atkins Webpage
Science Learning Center
UM Chemistry Department
The University of Michigan
American Chemical Society