Chemistry Education Materials

Constructed Response Answers in a Multiple-Choice Universe

Carl W. David — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:32:09 PDT

A scheme is introduced which allows computer readable multiple choice forms used in traditional examinations to be employed for constructed response items.

Hierarchical Subject Inter-relations in Physical Chemistry

Carl W. David — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:32:08 PDT

Students mystified by the progression of topics in Physical Chemistry may gain insight into their path through the material if acquainted with the diagrams presented and discussed herein.

Lee O Case's "Elements of the Phase Rule", Chapter 3

Carl W. David — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:30:20 PDT

This is the last (third) chapter of the phase rule text, again altered by the author, addressing 3 and 4 compnent systems.

Lee O Case's "Elements of the Phase Rule", Chapter 2

Carl W. David — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:01:06 PDT

The second chapter of the Case text on the phase rule, this time dealing with two component systems, added to by the author, is presented here.

Lee O. Case's "Elements of the Phase Rule", Chapter 1, One component systems

Carl W. David — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:01:04 PDT

One component systems are treated from the point of view of the Gibbs' phase rule.

The Runge0Lenz Vector (continued)

Carl W. David — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:47:53 PDT

We continue our discussion of the Runge-Lenz vector in a quantum mechanical context. The traditional form of the Runge-Lenz vector is obtained, and the commutation relations between the Runge-Lenz vector, the Hamiltonian, and the Angular Momentum are obtained using Maple.

Lee O Case's "Elements of the Phase Rule", Introduction and Explanation

Carl W. David — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:47:52 PDT

This out of print 1939 manuscript, updated, is added to the literature with slight additions

MO visualization of Pi Orbitals

Carl W. David — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:45:16 PDT

In the spirit of trying to convert people to understanding atomic orbitals centered elsewhere than the origin, we continue the discussion of visualizing molecular orbitals, so called LCAO-MO, using various plotting tricks in Maple.

More Than You Ever Cared to Know About Solution Thermodynamics

Carl W. David — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:45:15 PDT

These readings are a compendium of earlier works put together and corrected for errors. The subject is solution thermodynamics, based on the one dimensional binary solution as "extended" to three dimensions.

A Review of Helium Hamiltonians

Carl W. David — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:59:15 PDT

Helium Hamiltonian transformations are discussed in extreme detail.

Continued Fraction Solutions to Hermite's, Legendre's and Laguerre's Differential Equation

Carl W. David — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:44:36 PDT

The continued fraction method for solving differential equations is illustrated using three famous differential equations used in quantum chemistry.

L'Hopital's Rule in Chemistry: Irreversible Morphing into Reversible Isothermal Expansions

Carl W. David — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:30:49 PDT

L'Hopital's Rule is discussed in the cvase of an irreversible isothermal expansion.

Triatomic Molecular Orbitals

Carl W. David — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:23:57 PDT

If elementary Quantum Chemistry stops at diatomic molecules, some students may be left with false impressions concerning how one builds polyatomic molecule's LCAO-MOs. This reading discusses building such molecular orbitals from atomic orbitals centered at different spatial coordinates.

Carnot Cycles: Traditional and Stefan Boltzmann, and the First Planck Argument

Carl W. David — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:14:25 PDT

The Stefan Boltzmann equation is obtained using a non-traditional Carnot Engine. In addition, the original Planck argument for radiation density is given.

The Harmonic Oscillator's Frobenius Solution

Carl W. David — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:58:11 PDT

The Frobenius solution to the differential equations associated with the harmonic oscillator (QM) is carried out in detail.

The Hartree-Fock Method Applied to Helium's Electrons

Carl W. David — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:59:03 PST

The difficulties of applying the Hartree-Fock method to many body problems is illustrated by treating Helium's electrons up to the point where tractability vanishes. Second, the problem of applying Hartree-Fock methods to the helium atom's electrons, when they are constrained to remain on a sphere, is revisited. The 6-dimensional total energy operator is reduced to a 2-dimensional one, and the application of that 2-dimensional operator in the Hartree-Fock mode is discussed.

Multiple-Choice Testing in Science and Technology Courses

Carl W. David — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:00:16 PST

Wide spread and continuing use of multiple-choice testing in technical subjects is leading to a mindset amongst students which is antithetical with actual use of intellect.

Rationale for Studying Physical Chemistry

Carl W. David — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:19:23 PST

The various rationales for studying physical chemistry, and specifically the theoretical component thereof are presented in what is hoped in a coherent package.

1s_A 1s_B Overlap Integrals, Analytic and Maple Approches

Carl W. David — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:05:58 PST

The calculation of overlap between adjacent orbitals (not on the same center) requires a slight facility with calculus which is quite instructive. That calculation is presented here.

Frobenius Solution for Legendre's Equation, Rodrigue's Formula and Normalization

Carl W. David — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:09:14 PST

The Frobenius solution to Legendre/s equation is developed in detail as is Rodrigue's formula, which is employed to normalize Legendre polynomials.