CEM 991: Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics I, Fall 2026

 

CEM 991 has a required lecture attendance and includes deadlines for the completion of homework assignments. It also includes testing in the form of midterm and final exams.

Students enrolled in CEM 991, the CEM 991 instructor, and students who wish to attend the CEM 991 lectures without being enrolled in the course must follow the MSU COVID guidelines described on the COVID-19 Guidance website.

 

Lectures:

MWF 4:10–5:00 pm, Chemistry Bldg., Room 183.

Lectures begin on Monday, August 31, 2026, and end on Friday, December 11, 2026.

After consulting with the students, additional lecture time or review sessions, at the level of an extra hour per week, may be scheduled as the need arises.

 

Instructor:

Professor Piotr Piecuch, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, Chemistry Bldg., Room 17 (inside Theory Suite, Room 19).

Office telephone: 517-353-1151.

Email (preferred): piecuch at chemistry dot msu dot edu.

Websites: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty-research/faculty-members/piecuch-piotr.aspx (department) and https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/piecuch/ (research group)

 

Course website:

https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/courses/cem991/FS26/syllabus-CEM991-FS26.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. It can also be found by logging in to D2L at https://d2l.msu.edu/d2l/loginh/ using your MSU NetID credentials and selecting “FS26-CEM-991-001 - Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics I”.

 

Office hour:

Mondays, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Room 17 in Theory Suite (enter through Room 19), Chemistry Bldg. For additional in-person or virtual appointments, contact the instructor by email.

 

Principal textbook (recommended, but not required), lecture notes, and handouts:

Eugen Merzbacher, Quantum Mechanics, 3rd edition (Wiley, New York, 1998).  This book (particularly, Chapters 1-6, 9-12, and 14-17 and Appendix) provides a general framework for the material included in the course. However, other books and sources of information will be used to discuss specific topics (see, for example, books on reserve).

All homework assignments and exams will be based on the material presented by the instructor during lectures. Thus, regular classroom attendance and taking accurate and thorough notes during the lectures will be essential for learning the material. For the students who must miss a class due to illness or other similarly serious circumstances, appropriate accommodations will be provided by the instructor. The lecture notes created by the instructor on an iPad during the Fall 2020 offering of CEM 991, which can be found by logging in to D2L at https://d2l.msu.edu/d2l/loginh/ using your MSU NetID credentials and selecting “FS26-CEM-991-001 - Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics I”, will be very useful too. Additional handouts may be provided by the instructor to the students by email or as hard copies.

 

Related books:

Several 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 https://lib.msu.edu/resources/reserves/?ref=ql and search for CEM 991 or the instructor’s name (last, first) for further information.

 

Homework assignments:

There will be eight homework assignments, which will be successively added to “FS26-CEM-991-001 - Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics I” on D2L during the semester as PDF files. They will contain information about the relevant due dates. Students who have enrolled in CEM 991 will be able to access them by logging in to D2L at https://d2l.msu.edu/d2l/loginh/ using their MSU NetID credentials. It is expected that students email their homework assignments to the instructor as PDF files by 8:00 pm Eastern Time on the respective due dates. Late homeworks will not be accepted. Homework assignment solutions will be made available as PDF files and posted after the successive due dates on D2L as well. All homework assignments can contribute up to 200 points (20 %) to the final grade (assuming 25 points per assignment).

 

Some useful items from lectures and other information:

The course website 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. The dates and format of midterm exams will be announced in due time.

 

Final exam:

The in-person final exam has been scheduled by the Office of the Registrar on Friday, December 18, 2026, from 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in Room 183 in the Chemistry Bldg. The final exam will contribute up to 300 points (30 %) to the final grade.

 

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 517-884-7273 or on the web at https://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 the instructor 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.