First law of thermodynamics
First law of thermodynamics PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS The internal energy of a system is the sum of all kinetic and potential energies of the components of the system. It…
Atomic structure
Atomic structure PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS The Schrödinger equation can be solved exactly for the simple hydrogen atom and hydrogenic ions. For the H atom, solutions to the Schrödinger equation…
Polyatomic molecules and group theory
Polyatomic molecules and group theory PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS Molecules can be classified by the set of symmetry operations that are preserved when they operate on the molecule. These classifications…
Developing quantum mechanical intuition
Developing quantum mechanical intuition PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS Light is thought of classically as an electromagnetic wave. The quantum of the electromagnetic field is called the photon. It is neither…
Solutions of electrolytes
Solutions of electrolytes PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS Electrolytes dissolve in a solvent to produce solvated ions capable of conducting electricity. Strong electrolytes dissolve almost completely into ions. Weak electrolytes remain…
Empirical chemical kinetics
Empirical chemical kinetics PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS A rate law relates concentration to time in terms of the concentrations of the species involved in the reaction. The differential form describes…
Second law of thermodynamics
Second law of thermodynamics PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS The First Law of Thermodynamics is a statement of energy conservation, which does not describe the direction of spontaneous change. The Second…
Third law of thermodynamics and temperature dependence of heat capacity, enthalpy and entropy
Third law of thermodynamics and temperature dependence of heat capacity, enthalpy and entropy PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS At constant T and p, the change in Gibbs energy determines the direction…
Ideal gases
Ideal gases PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS Statistical mechanics can relate macroscopic, easily measurable properties such as pressure, temperature, and volume to the microscopic behavior of molecules and assemblies of molecules,…
Phase stability and phase transitions
Phase stability and phase transitions PREVIEW OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS At equilibrium the chemical potential of a substance is the same throughout the sample. The chemical potential of a gas responds…
