Physical Chemistry B - laboratory 1200-2EN-PCH2BLER
This is a second part of Laboratory providing a practical demonstration of the topics covered by the lecture Physical Chemistry. The students determine: molar conductivities of weak and strong electrolytes, mean activity coefficient of electrolyte, thermodynamic functions of the reaction in the cell, standard potentials, parameters of Arrhenius equation, influence of the ionic strength on the chemical rate constant. The students investigate the kinetics of various chemical reaction and influence of catalyst on the reaction rate. They also study the kinetics of the electrode reactions.
Laboratory – 60 hrs.
Individual preparation to each experiment– 10 x 4 hrs. = 40 hrs.
Evaluation of the results and final report preparation - 10 x 4 hrs. = 40 hrs.
Total - ca.140 hrs.
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student is expected to:
• formulate, explain, and use a number of concepts from the chapter: electrochemistry, chemical kinetics and colloids, i.e. the activity of ions in electrolyte solutions, ion-ion interactions, Debye-Hückel equation, electrochemical potential, half-cell reactions, Nernst's equation and electrochemical reactions , Galvanic cells, electromotive force (EMF) of the cell, conductivity of electrolyte solutions, relaxation and electrophoretic effects, and molecularity and the order of a reaction, reaction rate constant, collision theory and transition state theory.
• know how the galvanic cell works
• write equations of electrode reactions and use the Nernst’s equation
• explain the phenomenon of the activation and diffusion overvoltage
• determine the molar conductivity of a strong and weak electrolyte
• calculate thermodynamic functions for the reaction occurring in an electrochemical cell
• write the kinetic equations for the reactions of various orders, draw and interpret the relevant graphs
• be familiar with the complex reaction types: reversible, parallel, sequential enzymatic, chain.
• know the types of colloids, methods of their preparation, optical and their electrical properties.
• have skills of using experimental methods required for determination of abovementioned parameters.
Assessment criteria
Level B
The students must pass an entrance test before being eligible for starting the experiment. The entrance test checks students' knowledge of: (i) the experiment fundamentals, (ii) the purpose of the experiment, (iii) methods of the measurements; and (iv) equipment to be used in the experiment. Evaluated results of the experiment must be reported to teaching assistant in a written form as a final report.
Once all the experiments in a specified thematic section have been completed, the students take midterm exam covering scientific topics of the section. All the experiments must be completed and all the final reports must be evaluated positively in order to be eligible to take the midterm exam.
To obtain the course credit the student must: (i) complete all the laboratories (12); (ii) all the final reports must be evaluated positively; (iii) the student must pass both midterm exams; and (iv) the total number of points earned for the tests , reports and the exam must be at least 26.
Points:
entrance test – 0,5-3 points
Final report - 0 –2 points
Midterm exam - 0 – 20 points (minimum 10 points required for passing)
The points earned for the experiments are averaged. Maximum number of the points to be earned for each experiment: 5
Total number of points earned in both midterm exams and average number of points for the experiments will determine the final grade.
Maximum number of points to be earned in the semester: 50
Conversion between points and grades:
points: 26,0 – 31,5 grade: 3
31,6 – 36,5 grade: 3+
36,6 – 41,5 grade: 4
41,6 – 46,5 grade: 4+
46,6 – 50 grade: 5
Practical placement
Does not concern.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: