Course Description: This class is the continuation of Chem 531. While the latter involved the physical chemistry of macroscopic systems, Chem 532 focuses on the description of microscopic systems, e.g., atoms and electrons, as well as molecular structure. This is the purview of Quantum Mechanics, which will be the primary subject of this course.
Textbook: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry, by Mark Ratner and George Schatz (Prentice Hall )
Instructor: Kirk Peterson (335-7867, Fulmer 104b) Homepage: http://tyr0.chem.wsu.edu/~kipeters/Chem532
Schedule: MWF at 9:10 in Fulmer 124
Office hrs: by arrangement
| January 10-14 |
Read: Chapter 1: Introduction and Background. Please work through the exercises
Ch.1 topics: Math review (complex numbers, vector algebra), review of classical mechanics (Newton's eqn, wave theory), first look at quantum theory: particles as waves, uncertainty principle HW #1: 1.1 - 1.6. Due in class on Friday 1/21 |
| January 17-21 | no class on Monday (MLK day) |
| January 24-28 | Read: Chapter 2: Quantum Theory
Topics: The postulates of quantum mechanics; review of operators: hermiticity, commutators; measurement and the uncertainty principle HW #2: 2.1 - 2.11. Due on Monday 1/31 |
| Jan. 31 - Feb 4 | Read: Chapter 3: Particle-in-box models
Topics: the chapter title says it all; Solutions to particle-in-box with finite step here HW #3: 3.3 - 3.10; additional problems perhaps to be assigned by Friday. |
| February 7-11 | Read: Chapter 4: Rigid-Rotor models and angular momentum eigenstates
Topics: Free electron MO model; rigid rotors and angular momentum eigenfunctions HW #4: 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 ; Due on Friday, 2/18 |
| February 14-18 | Topics: Continue with angular momentum stuff; (spherical harmonics, raising and lower operators, etc.) HW #5: 4.6, 4.7 |
| February 21-25 | no class on Monday (President's day)
Exam on Wed.; Finish up Ch. 4 |
| Feb. 28 - March 4 | Read: Chapter 5: Molecular Vibrations and Time-independent Perturbation Theory
HW #6: 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7; Due on Monday, 3/7 |
| March 7-11 | Read: Chapter 6: The Hydrogen Atom |
| March 14-18 | Spring Break |
| March 21-25 | Read: Chapter 7: The Helium Atom / Start-in on Chapter 8: Electron Spin and the Pauli Principle
HW #7: 6.4(a), 6.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3; Due on Monday, 3/28 |
| March 28 - April 1 | Finish Chapter 8
HW #8: 8.1, 8.5(a,b), 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.10; Due Wed., 1/6 |
| April 4-8 | Read: Chapter 9: Many-Electron Atoms |
| April 11-15 | Exam on Wednesday Finish Ch. 9 HW #9: 9.2, 9.5, 9.6, 9.8, 9.10, 9.14; Due Friday, 4/22 |
| April 18-22 | Read: Chapter 10: Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules |
| April 25-29 | Read: Chapter 11: Ab Initio and Density Functional Methods
HW #10: 10.4, 10.6, 10.7, 10.11; Due Friday, 4/29 |
|
May 6
|
FINAL EXAM : FRIDAY, 8:00 - 10:00 |
| points | |
| 2 exams | 500 |
| homework | 200 |
| final exam | 300 |
| total | 1000 |