Molecular Statistical Mechanics
M W F 10:00-11:00 HD160

Lecturers:
Matt Jacobson:
David Spellmeyer:
Jed Pitera:
Bo Huang:

TA:
Monica Tremont:
Geoffrey Rollins:

 

Date

Content

Lecturer

Location

23-Sep

10:00-11:00

Extremum principles predict equilibria

MJ

GH S261

26-Sep

10:00-11:00

Extremum principles predict equilibria

MJ

HD 160

28-Sep

10:00-11:00

Entropy & the Boltzmann distribution law

DS

HD 160

29-Sep

14:00-16:30

Math tools: probability, series, approximations (optional)

MT & GR

GH N536

30-Sep

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Q&A
Entropy & the Boltzmann distribution law

MT
DS

HD 160

5-Oct

10:00-11:00

Thermodynamic driving forces
HW due: Extremum principles, Entropy

BH

HD 160

7-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA homework session
Thermodynamic driving forces

MT
BH

GH N114
HD 160

10-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Q&A
Free energies

GR
BH

HD 160

12-Oct

10:00-11:00

Free energies
HW due: Thermodynamic driving forces

BH

HD 160

14-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA homework session
Boltzmann distribution law

GR
BH

HD 160

17-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Q&A
Boltzmann distribution law

MT
BH

HD 160

19-Oct

10:00-11:00

Temperature, heat capacity
HW due: Boltzmann distribution

BH

HD 160

21-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Homework session
Chemical equilibria

MT
DS

HD 160

24-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Q&A
Chemical equilibria

GR
DS

HD 160

26-Oct

10:00-11:00

Chemical kinetics and transition states
HW due: Temperature, chemical equilibria

JP

HD 160

28-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Homework session
Chemical kinetics and transition states

GR
JP

HD 160

31-Oct

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Q&A
Chemical kinetics and transition states

MT
JP

HD 160

2-Nov

10:00-11:00

Adsorption, binding & catalysis
HW due: Chemical kinetics

JP

GH S261

4-Nov

9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00

TA Homework session
Adsorption, binding & catalysis

MT
JP

HD 160

9-Nov

 

HW due: Adsorption, catalysis

 

 

 

Textbook: Molecular Driving Forces - Statistical Thermodynamics in Chemistry and Biology by Ken Dill and Sarina Bromberg

Grade: 50% homework, 50% final exam.
Homework is assigned during class and due the following Wednesday before the lecture.

Homework session: Monday & Friday 9:00-10:00a, room HD160 with the exception of Oct 7 (GH N114)

Aim: What are the stable states of biomolecules? How do molecules interact? What forces drive molecules to bond and associate, to adsorb, to permeate through membranes, to undergo chemical reactions, to undergo conformational changes? These questions are addressed by statistical thermodynamics, a collection of principles and models that when combined with thermodynamics, aim to explain molecular forces and flows.