CHEM 341 - Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics (3 credits)

(Prereq: PHYS 212 and MATH 161) Students may not take both CHEM 341 and PHYS 341 for credit. Statistical thermodynamics provides a link between the microscopic and bulk properties of matter. The course begins with the derivation of the Boltzmann distribution and the partition function followed by the use of the partition function to obtain thermodynamic information about various systems. The partition function is further developed to investigate the translational, rotational and vibrational modes of motion. Finally, the equations developed are applied to the energies of modes of motion, the heat capacities of substances, residual entropies, and the equilibrium consistent of a reaction and its variation with temperature.