PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: LUISA D'URSOExpected Learning Outcomes
Students will acquire a detailed basic knowledge of thermodynamic of chemical equilibria, of mass and energy balances, fundamental learning to address topics relating to chemical and energy production as well as issues related to the theme of sustainability. At the end of the course, students will have a detailed knowledge of real gases, phase diagrams, Principles and applications of Thermodynamics to chemical systems such as heat and energy associated with phase transformations and chemical reactions, ideal and real solutions. Students will acquire the ability to solve a variety of numerical problems on the topics of the course, they will be able to identify the chemical and physical parameters of reference and to describe and outline the process under study.
Furthermore, in reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to acquiring the following skills:
-Knowledge and understanding: acquire knowledge on fundamental thermodynamic laws as well as on thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions.
-Applying knowledge and understanding: application of the thermodynamic knowledge acquired to the chemical-physical transformations of real systems.
- Making judgments: identifying, collecting, organizing and interpreting data relating to the chemical-physics quantities that characterize a thermodynamic system and describing and schematizing their transformations
-Communication skills: ability to explain both in written and oral form, with scientific language, the concepts acquired during the course.
-Ability to learn (learning skills): having developed the skills necessary to apply the concepts learned with a high degree of autonomy to processes and transformations of real systems.
Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD.
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.
Students will acquire a detailed basic knowledge of thermodynamic of chemical equilibria, of mass and energy balances, fundamental learning to address topics relating to chemical and energy production as well as issues related to the theme of sustainability. At the end of the course, students will have a detailed knowledge of real gases, phase diagrams, Principles and applications of Thermodynamics to chemical systems such as heat and energy associated with phase transformations and chemical reactions, ideal and real solutions. Students will acquire the ability to solve a variety of numerical problems on the topics of the course, they will be able to identify the chemical and physical parameters of reference and to describe and outline the process under study.
Furthermore, in reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to acquiring the following skills:
-Knowledge and understanding: acquire knowledge on fundamental thermodynamic laws as well as on thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions.
-Applying knowledge and understanding: application of the thermodynamic knowledge acquired to the chemical-physical transformations of real systems.
- Making judgments: identifying, collecting, organizing and interpreting data relating to the chemical-physics quantities that characterize a thermodynamic system and describing and schematizing their transformations
-Communication skills: ability to explain both in written and oral form, with scientific language, the concepts acquired during the course.
-Ability to learn (learning skills): having developed the skills necessary to apply the concepts learned with a high degree of autonomy to processes and transformations of real systems.
Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD.
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.
Course Structure
Classroom lecture and numerical training
Required Prerequisites
The Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics courses of the first year are required for the understanding of Chemical Physics subjects.
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Thermodynamic systems, state functions. Intermolecular forces. Equations of state of systems in the gas phase. Ideal gases and deviation from ideality. Cubic state equations (Van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong), critical state and principle of the corresponding states. Evaluation of the compressibility factor of pure and mixed real gases. Kinetic theory of gases. First Principle of Thermodynamics: Joule experiences. Internal energy; enthalpy. Thermal capacities at constant volume and pressure. Reversible and irreversible isothermal and adiabatic processes. Thermochemistry. Enthalpy and thermal balances.
Second Principle of Thermodynamics: Entropy. Carnot cycle. Clausius inequality. Spontaneity and Entropy. Auxiliary functions: work functions and free energy. Equilibrium conditions in closed systems: Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. Fundamental thermodynamic relations and thermodynamic equations. Chemical potential. Gibbs-Duhem equation.
Third Principle of Thermodynamics. Behavior of matter near absolute zero. Absolute entropies and their use.
Applications of the principles of Thermodynamics: Ideal and real gas systems: chemical potential, fugacity.
Polyphase systems: the phase rule, Clausius-Clapeyron equation; laws of Raoult and Henry; Margules-Duhem equation. Chemical potential and conventions on standard states in solutions. Phase diagrams.
Thermochemistry: enthalpy, heat of reaction and chemical transformations
Chemical kinetics
Electrochemistry (Syllabus Prof. Alessandro Auditore)
Textbook Information
1. 1. Chemical Physics Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli
2. Chemical Physics, un approccio molecolare Donald A McQuarrie John D Simon, Zanichelli
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thermodynamic systems, state functions, partial molar property, Intermolecular forces. Equation of state (ideal gas) and condensed phase systems. Van der Waals equation, critical state, principle of corresponding states thermodynamics and evaluation of the compressibility factor of real pure and mixed gases. Heat; work. | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli |
| 2 | First Principle of Thermodynamics | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli |
| 3 | Second Principle of Thermodynamics | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli |
| 4 | Third Principle of Thermodynamics | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli |
| 5 | Applications of the principles of Thermodynamics | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli |
| 6 | Polyphase systems | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli |
| 7 | Chemical kinetics | CHIMICA FISICA Peter William Atkins Julio de Paula, Zanichelli; CHIMICA FISICA un approccio molecolare Donald A McQuarrie John D Simon, Zanichelli |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Oral examinations with numerical exercises. Assessment of learning outcomes may also be carried out remotely, should regulations allow it and circumstances require it
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Boltzmann distribution law in the kinetic theory of gases
Calculation of changes in free energy, enthalpy and entropy in chemical and physical transformations
Calculation of the expansion work in a reversible and irreversible isothermal and adiabatic transformation