CHEM 4475 Physical Chemistry I
This course deals with the foundations and applications of thermodynamics and reaction kinetics. Topics include: (1) classical thermodynamics, including the Laws of Thermodynamics, Helmholtz and Gibbs energies, chemical potential, and thermodynamic descriptions of phase equilibria and chemical equilibrium; (2) kinetic theory of gases; (3) chemical reaction rate laws and mechanisms.
Course overview
- Department
- Chemistry
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall
Catalog details
Requirements fulfilled
- Environmental Geoscience B.S.: (C) Electives: approved non-EESC courses (up to 6 credits of the 18 elective credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Geological Sciences B.S.: (C) Electives: approved non-EESC courses (up to 6 credits of the 19 elective credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Mathematics B.S.: Natural science, computer science, or economics corequisites (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Chemistry B.S.: Two semesters of physical chemistry lecture (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.75 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.90 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Alexis Grimaud | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 18 of 21 |
| Fall 2025 | Yu Shen Hsu | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | — | 17 of 21 |
| Fall 2024 | Alexis Grimaud | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 19 of 23 |
| Fall 2023 | Alexis Grimaud | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 of 19 |
| Fall 2022 | Boqiang Chen | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 20 of 23 |
| Fall 2021 | Udayan Mohanty | 2.4 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 18 of 21 |
Data freshness
Instructors
Sections
- Section 01
- Section 02