66920 - Chemical Kinetics and Elements of Statistical Mechanics

Academic Year 2012/2013

  • Moduli: Francesco Zerbetto (Modulo 1) Stefania Rapino (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Chemistry and Materials Chemistry (cod. 8006)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able to understand and describe elementary and complex reaction kinetics, both in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases. He/She is also able to understand and apply reaction rate theory from microscopic statistical principles.

Course contents

Elementary processes. First order reactions, Second order reactions. Integration of elementary reactions kinetics. Complex reaction schemes. Numerical integration with matrices. Stationary state. Arrhenius. Hindelmann-Hinshelwood. Michaelis-Menten; Lineweaver-Burke. Kinetics in the presence of phase transfer. Langmuir. Probability and entropy. Lagrange multipliers. Boltzmann distribution. Partition functions, free energy and chemical potential. Transition state theory.

Readings/Bibliography

P. Atkins, Physical Chemistry, Oxford University Press; lecture notes

Teaching methods

The lectures will focus on the practical use of kinetics and of the theoretical tools associated to it. The lectures will be supplemented with exercises and laboratory. The practical exercises/laboratory will be carried out individually and aimed at giving the students the opportunity to tackle real problems while working independently or in small groups.

Assessment methods

Written test and viva. The written test verifies that the student is able to calculate the time evolution of all the species involved in a reaction. The viva verifies the ability of the student to understand the theoretical framework of chemical kinetics.

Teaching tools

PC, overhead projector, laboratories

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Zerbetto

See the website of Stefania Rapino