B006894 - LABORATORY OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II

Italian

Calorimetry. Chemical Kinetics. Activation energy. Collision theory. Activated complex theory. Chemical Equilibrium. Transport phenomena in solution at the equilibrium and in the presence of potential or flow gradient: brownian diffusion, conductivity of electrolytes solutions. Cryoscopic Osmometry.

P. W. Atkins "Chimica Fisica" ed. Zanichelli; D. A. McQuarrie "Chimica Fisica" ed. Zanichelli.

The student will improve his basic knowledge of physico-chemical phenomena that are relevant for a Chemist (chemical equilibrium, kinetics, transport phenomena, phase transitions, etc.) through experiments aimes at verifying the theoretical models and for the assessment of some physico-chemical parameters. The student will also acquire the skills and the basic methodology that pertain the experimental work of a physical chemist.
The student will be able to carry out the analysis and interpretation of experimental data, to present the results in a rigorous, organized, rational way, and to prepare a scientific report.

Required courses (mandatory and/or recommended)

Mandatory courses: none

Recommended courses: Mathematics I, Physics I, General and Inorganic Chemistry, Laboratory and General and Inorganic Chemistry.

Total number of hours for Lectures: 32
Total number of hours for Laboratory-field practice : 24

6 Lab Tutorials

Preliminary test (before the laboratory training). Written reports on the performed laboratory activities. Final oral exam.

Calorimetry: zero principle of Thermodynamics, different types of thermometers. Recalls of Thermodynamics. Kinds of calorimeters (adiabatic, heat flux, differential). Phase transitions in polymeric materials. Glass transition temperature. Experiment: evaluation of the crystallinity degree of a polymer.
Chemical kinetics: kinetic equations. Reaction order and kinetic constant; methods: initial rate, graphical and Ostwald. Elementary reactions. The steady state. Reaction mechanisms. Activation energy: the Arrhenius equation. The collision theory. The activated complex theory. Experiment: determination of the order of a reaction.Diffusion. Statistic and thermodynamic description of the diffusive process. Diffusion coefficient and viscous drag. Diffusion and Fick's laws. Experiment: determination of the diffusion coefficient of a dye in aqueous solution.
Colligative properties of solutions. Osmotic pressure and its applications in Physical Chemistry and in Material Science. The molar mass of a macromolecule, experimental methods. Experiment: determination of the molar mass of a polymer through cryoscopic osmometry.
Chemical Equilibrium A-B. A simple example: the thermal denaturation of a protein. Change in the equilibrium constant with temperature. Enthalpy and entropy changes of reaction. Experiment: denaturation equilibrium of a protein through UV-vis spectrophotometry.
Conductivity of electrolytes solutions: Ohm law, the measurement of the eletrolyte conductivity. Molar and equivalent conductivity, relationship with the ionic transport, Debye-Hückel model. Experiment: determination of the equilivalent conductivity at infinite dilution in a solution of a strong electrolyte.