Ch 361: Physical Chemistry I
Texts for Fall 2023:
(1) Quantum Chemistry (2nd edition only) by D.A. McQuarrie. See http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Chemistry-Donald-A-McQuarrie/dp/1891389505 and http://www.uscibooks.com/mcqqc2.htm .
(2) Quantum States of Atoms and Molecules (online, free) by Hanson et al. See https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Book%3A_Quantum_States_of_Atoms_and_Molecules_(Zielinksi_et_al)
Required for all chemical engineering majors, this is a course in quantum mechanics and atomic and molecular spectroscopy, taken during the junior year. A brief introduction to statistical mechanics is also included. It is sometimes chosen as an elective by students in other engineering majors who have a strong interest in quantum mechanics (especially EE and BSE majors). It presumes that students have completed all of the courses in linear alegbra, vector calculus and differential equations required for all engineering majors at Cooper Union. Students are typically taking courses in probability and instrumental analysis laboratory at the same time as Ch 361.
In this course, a sequence of quantum chemistry projects gives students a firm grounding in the methods, language, logistics, and algorithmic approaches involved in the use of quantum mechanics to predict molecular structures, spectra, and thermodynamic properties, and trains them to analyze the results critically.