VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Department of Chemistry

Physical Chemistry I:  Chemistry 3411-01 (CRN 25073)   Fall 2010

Instructor: Dr O G Ludwig, 214E Mendel, phone: 610/519-4USE,

email: oliver.ludwig@villanova.edu    http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/oliver.ludwig

Text: Silberty, Alberty, & Bawendi,  Physical Chemistry, 4th Ed, Wiley, 2005. ISBN 0-471-21504-X

Classes: Lectures Mon, Wed, Fri, 10:30 - 11:20, TBA

     Recitation: Thursday.  8:30, TBA; (Recitations will be mostly problem solving, but an occasional lecture may be substituted.)

Syllabus: We should cover Part One: Thermodynamics, in this first semester.

Office Hours: I am on campus Monday through Friday by 8:30 AM, and can be available any time I am not in class. My schedule is posted on the door of my office (and on my web page). You can make an appointment when you see me in class (we meet four times a week) or via email.

Recitations: We shall meet in smaller groups on Thursdays. Here I will outline how to attack any requested homework problems which you should have already looked over in preparation for the class. Then small groups will work on new problems. These meetings are an integral part of the course.

Homework: Several problems at the end of each chapter will be recommended via email after most classes and may be collected at the next class. You should avail yourself of this opportunity to look into my thinking as to what is important. Convince yourself that you can do each recommended problem; better yet, convince a partner that you know how to do each one. Email me for hints if you get stuck!

    Be ye doers, not just hearers of the word. James 1,22.

Examinations: There will be a 15 minute quiz almost every week, usually on recently-covered material. All will be problem-solving, never essay or multiple guess. The lowest one (at the least) will be skipped. The text and your notes may be used during the quiz. Note that, since the quizzes are open book, it would not make sense for me to ask you to repeat class or homework problems. I will expect that you will use the principles illustrated in class and homeworks and apply them to new situations. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." (W.B. Yeats)

Grading Policy: The final exam (Scheduled by the Registrar) will be worth as many quizzes as there are problems on it. There is no particular cut-off for particular letter grades, nor is there a quota. Your rank in class will be posted - anonymously - outside my office after each quiz so that you may see where you stand.

NOTE: The first words out of my mouth each class are "What questions have you?" Be prepared to take advantage of this opportunity.                                                                  OGL  June, 2010