The course Chemical Principles provides an initial overview of chemical disciplines (such as thermodynamics,
spectroscopy, kinetics, chemical structure and bonding) and their relationships. In-depth understanding of
individual disciplines is left for more specialized lectures in the later stage of the curriculum. The position of
chemistry within the broader range of natural sciences is defined, focusing on the overlaps with physics and
biology. Chemical Principles set the stage for follow-up courses on chemical transformations and characterization.
Due attention is devoted to the connection between microscopic and macroscopic understanding of matter.
The course is built from topical blocks (see Syllabus) each of them consisting of lecture (2h), Q&A session (1h) and
workshop (2h).
Last update: Ušelová Kateřina, RNDr., Ph.D. (31.01.2022)
Literature
P. Atkins, L. Jones, L. Laverman: Chemical Principles - the Quest for Insight, 7th edition, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, 2016
Lecture notes
Pre-recorded lectures
Problem sets
Flowers, Theopold et al. - Chemistry: atoms First (2nd edition, Openstax) - free text
Last update: Ušelová Kateřina, RNDr., Ph.D. (31.01.2022)
Requirements to the exam
For each topical block students will be provided with the study materials and problem sets and it is expected that students will critically review those materials before Q&A sessions and Workshops, respectively.
Final mark is based on the oral examination (67%) and results of tests taken during the course (33%). Oral examination takes place during the examination period and students must first obtain the credit for workshops. Credit for workshops is based on the solution of take-home exercises (34%) and two tests (midterm and final, each 33%).
Last update: Ušelová Kateřina, RNDr., Ph.D. (31.01.2022)
Syllabus
Chemical Principles 1: What is chemistry (length, time, energy; units) 2: Matter and energy (elementary particles; bosons and fermions; energy-matter equivalence; structure of nucleus; radioactivity) 3: Quantum world (black body; photoelectric effect; Rutherford experiment; duality and de Broglie wavelength; uncertainty principle; Schrödinger equation; hydrogen atom; electron spin; periodic table) 4: Chemical bond (electron density; Born-Oppenheimer approximation; dissociation curve and PES; MO theory; covalent, polar and ionic bonds) 5: Spectroscopy (electromagnetic radiation; interaction of light and matter; absorption, emission, scattering, difraction; MW, IR, NMR) 6: Kinetic theory of gases (Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of velocities; mean-free path; collision frequency; transport properties) 7: Reaction kinetics (reaction rate; reaction order; elementary and composite reactions; catalysis and inhibition; transition state; activation energy; Arrhenius law) 8: Thermodynamics I (energy, work, heat; intensive and extensive; equilibrium; Joule experiment; 1st law; heat capacity; enthalpy; thermochemistry; Hess law) 9: Thermodynamics II (isothermal and adiabatic processes; 2nd law; Carnot cycle; entropy; free energies; absolute zero) 10: Equilibrium I (chemical potential; Gibbs law; phase diagram; Henry and Raoult laws) 11: Equilibrium II (solutions; colligative properties; adsorption; chemical equilibrium; equlibrium constant; Le Chatelier principle) 12: Electrochemistry (electrolytes; acids and bases; salts; electrochemical cells; Nernst law; batteries and fuel cells; electrolysis)
Last update: Uhlík Filip, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. (03.01.2025)