CEM 991: Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics I (Fall 2017)

 

Lectures:

MWF 9:10 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Room 126, Chemistry Bldg.

Lectures begin on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, and end on Friday, December 8, 2017.

 

Instructor:

Professor Piotr Piecuch, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, Chemistry Bldg., Room 17 (enter through Room 19, Theory Suite), tel.: 517-353-1151, email: piecuch at chemistry dot msu dot edu, internet: www.chemistry.msu.edu/piecuch and www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/piecuch/.

 

Course web site:

http://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/courses/cem991/FS17/syllabus-CEM991.htm (this page).

 

Course Contents:

The contents of the course, with references to the relevant chapters in the principal textbook (a PDF file), can be downloaded from here.

 

Office hour:

Mondays, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Room 17, in Theory Suite (enter through Room 19), Chemistry Bldg.

 

Principal Textbook:

Eugen Merzbacher, Quantum Mechanics, 3rd edition  (Wiley, New York, 1998).  This book (particularly, Chapters 1-6, 8-12, and 14-19) provides a general framework for the course. Other books and sources of information will be used to discuss specific topics (see, for example, books on reserve). Thus, attendance at lectures and taking notes is strongly recommended to facilitate learning.

 

Related Books:

A number of related books on quantum and classical mechanics, quantum chemistry, mathematical methods of physics and chemistry, and physical chemistry that may be used for various aspects of the course material have been placed on reserve in the Main Library. Please use the link http://www.lib.msu.edu/resources/reserves/?ref=ql and search for CEM991 or the instructor’s name (last, first) for further information.

 

Homeworks:

There will be eight assignments, which will be successively added to the course web site during the semester as PDF files. They will contain information about the relevant due dates. Students, who have registered for CEM 991, will be able to access them by clicking here and using the MSU NetID information. All homework assignments can contribute up to 200 points (20 %) to the final grade (assuming 25 points per assignment). The instructor will collect homework assignments at the end of the lecture on the day indicated as a due date. Late homeworks will not be accepted. Assignment solutions will be made available as PDF files and posted after the successive due dates.

 

Some Useful Items from Lectures and Other Information:

The course web site provides some useful items from lectures and additional information related to the material taught in the course. Please click here to access this additional information.

 

Midterm exams:

There will be two midterm exams, each contributing up to 250 points (25 %) to the final grade. Students must bring their MSU ID’s to every examination. The first midterm exam is scheduled on Monday, November 13, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in room 127 in the Chemistry Bldg. The second midterm exam is scheduled on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in room 127 as well. The solutions of the midterm exam problems will be posted immediately after the respective exams in the homework page.

 

Final exam:

The final exam has been scheduled by the Office of the Registrar on Thursday, December 14, 2017, from 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. in Room 126 in the Chemistry Bldg. The final exam will contribute up to 300 points (30 %) to your final grade. Students must bring their MSU ID’s to the final examination.

 

Grading scheme:

 

Assignments

  200 points

  20 % of the final grade

Midterm exam I

  250 points

  25 % of the final grade

Midterm exam II

  250 points

  25 % of the final grade

Final exam

  300 points

  30 % of the final grade

Total

1000 points

100 %

 

Final grades will be assigned according to the following table:               

85.0 – 100.0 %  (850 – 1000 points)

4.0

75.0 –   84.9 %  (750 –  849 points)

3.5

65.0 –   74.9 %  (650 –  749 points)

3.0

60.0 –   64.9 %  (600 –  649 points)

2.5

55.0 –   59.9 %  (550 –  599 points)

2.0

50.0 –   54.9 %  (500 –  549 points)

1.5

45.0 –   49.9 %  (450 –  499 points)

1.0

  0.0 –   44.9 %      (0 –  449 points)

0.0

 

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities:

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities.  Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at www.rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a Verified Individual Services Accommodation (“VISA”) form. Please present this form to Professor Piecuch at the start of the semester and/or at least two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, final exam, homework, etc.). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.