HUNTERTUTORING

Theoretical / proof-based

Advanced physical chemistry · Graduate · Chemistry

Topics

Classical thermodynamics

  • Postulates of thermodynamics and entropy as a state function
  • Legendre transforms and thermodynamic potentials
  • Maxwell relations and Jacobian methods
  • Stability criteria and phase transitions: Clausius–Clapeyron
  • Chemical potential in multicomponent systems
  • Gibbs–Duhem equation and activity coefficients
  • Non-ideal solutions: Margules, van Laar, Wilson equations
  • Electrochemical thermodynamics and the Nernst equation derivation
  • Surface thermodynamics: Gibbs adsorption isotherm
  • Irreversible thermodynamics and entropy production (intro)

Statistical mechanics

  • Ensembles: microcanonical, canonical, grand canonical
  • Partition functions and connection to thermodynamic quantities
  • Ideal gas, ideal crystal, and Einstein model
  • Debye model for heat capacity of solids
  • Classical and quantum statistics: Maxwell–Boltzmann, Bose–Einstein, Fermi–Dirac
  • Fermi energy and electronic contribution to heat capacity
  • Configurational entropy and mixing in solutions
  • Fluctuation-dissipation theorem (introduction)
  • Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics foundations
  • Critical phenomena and Ising model (overview)

Chemical kinetics and dynamics

  • Potential energy surfaces and reaction dynamics
  • Transition state theory: derivation and limitations
  • RRKM theory for unimolecular reactions
  • Marcus theory for electron transfer reactions
  • Kramers theory for reactions in solution
  • Femtochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy
  • Molecular beam scattering and crossed-beam experiments
  • State-to-state dynamics and steric effects
  • Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel theory extensions
  • Master equations and stochastic kinetics

Advanced spectroscopy theory

  • Time-dependent perturbation theory and Fermi's golden rule
  • Selection rules from symmetry and transition dipoles
  • Raman and resonance Raman theory
  • Multiphoton absorption and nonlinear spectroscopy
  • Coherent two-dimensional spectroscopy (overview)
  • NMR: density matrix formalism and relaxation
  • EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy theory
  • X-ray spectroscopy: XAS, XES (introduction)
  • Photoelectron spectroscopy and Koopmans' theorem
  • Computational spectroscopy: time-dependent DFT

Pricing

Graduate-level rates are set on consultation. See the pricing page for K–12 and undergraduate rates.