CHEM 33200
Spring 2021: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

    The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to quantum mechanics and its basic applications to chemical problems.

    PRE-REQUISITES
    CHEM 33000 (or ChE 22900 and ChE 33000); CHEM 25000 or MATH 213; PHYS 20800.

  1. CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity

    2. TOPICS
  2. Classical Theory of Blackbody Radiation
    The Boltzmann Distribution
    Planck's Theory of Blackbody Radiation
    Photoelectric Effect, Specific Heats of Solids and the Bohr Atom
    Wave Mechanics and the Schrodinger Equation Quantum Mechanical Operators
    Applications of the Schrodinger Equation - Particle in a Box
    Applications of the Schrodinger Equation - Barrier Problems
    First Exam
    The Harmonic Oscillator
    3. The Hydrogen Atom
    The Variation Method
    The Perturbation Method
    Second Exam
    Many Electron Atoms The Chemical Bond
    Polyatomic Molecules
    Hybridization
    Hückel Theory
    Third Exam

    LECTURE NOTES
  3. Lecture 1
     Lecture 2
     Lecture 3
     Lecture 4
     Lecture 5
     Lecture 6
     Lecture 7
     Lecture 8

    4. LECTURE RECORDINGS

CLASSES

Monday, Wednesday 9:00-10:50 AM.
Classes will be held online synchronously.
The last 40 minutes in each class will be for questions/discussion.

GRADING

Exam 1: 30%
Exam 2: 30%
Exam 3: 30%
Class participation: 10%

TEXTS

The following textbooks are suggested but not required:
(1) Physical Chemistry 7th Edition
Atkins and De Paula

(2) Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach
McQuarrie and Simon

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There will be a review session on 03/08/2021 covering the first 8 lectures.
The first exam will be posted on this website after the class on 03/08/2021 and will be due by the end of the day 03/15/2021.
There will be no class on 03/10/2021.