Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry 410
Physical Chemistry
Last update for Chem 410A, Spring 2023
Chem 410A Review materials
The coverage of material changes from year to year, so these exams are offered without any guarantees that they are relevant to the corresponding exam this term. Although using these exams as part of your preparation should be fine, please do not assume that studying from these exams is sufficient preparation for the exams this semester.
| term | Exam 1 | Exam 2 | Exam 3 | Exam 4 | Exam 5 | Exam 6 | Final Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2008 | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | |
| Spring 2008 | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | |
| Spring 2011 | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions |
| Spring 2016 | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions | Exam and solutions |
Chem 410A textbook corrections:
OR = Objectives Review
| CHAPTER | PAGE | LOCATION | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 35 | probs A.15 and A.16 | insert minus sign to get “F=-mg.” |
| A | 10 | Fig. A.2 | delete extra “x” along Y axis |
| 1 | 54 | Eq. 1.16 | replace exponent “-12” by “-18” |
| 1 | 57 | Fig. 1.13 | “n=3” and “n=4” should be reversed |
| 2 | 92 | Line 1 | delete subscript “1” in c1 |
| 3 | 118 | below Eq. 3.25 | “beginning with i-0” should be “beginning with i-=0” |
| 3 | 119 | Eq. 3.31 | In the math beginning “0= ”: replace “+c1 ” with “-c1 ” in lines 6 and 7 ; add minus sign to left side of equation in line 8 (to get -(ai-1)/ai); delete “[1]” at end of line 6 |
| 3 | 128 | Eq. 3.34 | add minus sign to “i/sqrt(2)” front of third line, left side |
| 3 | 135 | Fig. 3.13 | the graphs are out of order — you would need to switch 1 and 3, and 2 and 5 (counting from the top) |
| 3 | 152 | Prob 3.41 | add minus sign to front of expression for psib : “=-i(...” |
| 4 | 171 | figure in Ex 4.2 | Change labels in figure to read “Ψ02” and “Ψ12 | ”
| 4 | 174 | Para 2 line 1 | replace “Eq. 4.24” by “Eq. 4.25” |
| 4 | 186 | 2nd equation | delete extra α in α β(1) |
| 4 | 201 | Prob 4.64 | “sin n π/a” should be “sin n π x/a” |
| 4 | 203 | Prob 4.86 | last 2P (for state 0 -1/2) should be 2S |
| 5 | 209 | Fig 5.2b | change cap RA to l.c. rA |
| 5 | 219 | Eq. 5.22 | enclose “[1sA(1) 1sA(2)]2 +... [1sB(1) 1sB(2)]2 ” all in {} |
| 5 | 229 | last para | replace “3s” by “2s” |
| 5 | 238 | Line 2 below samp calc | Replace “2.82” by “2.65” |
| 5 | 254 | probs 5.16, 5.17 | delete “2p” |
| 6 | 262 | Fig 6.2e | change σ4 to σh |
| 6 | 276 | Fig 6.11 | switch “x” and “z” on coordinate axes |
| 6 | 291 | D2 character table | Replace “1” for B1 under C2(x) by “-1” |
| 7 | 321 | Para 1 | Replace “7.3” by “7.4” |
| 7 | 348 | Prob 7.35 figure | change top “1e'” on right to “1e''” and delete unterminated upward dashed line from 4σg |
| 7 | 349 | prob 7.51 | chromacene should be “diphenyl chromuim” |
| 7 | 352 | prob 7.76 figure | replace superscr 2 in “B2Σ+” by 3 |
| 8 | 359 | Eq. 8.11 | Delete “+” after “(1/3!) | ”
| 8 | 361 | Table 8.1 | In line for v=2, “1.414” should be “0.707” |
| 8 | 382 | Fig. 8.10 | replace Π by Γ in (040) state |
| 8 | 383 | last annotation | replace second subscr “i” by “f” |
| 10 | 447 | Fig. 10.13 | replace subscr “B+” by “B-” in upper graph |
| 10 | 451 | Eq. 10.36 | del “dz” outside square brackets on left side of equation |
| 10 | 468 | Prob 10.16 figure | replace “αB” by “αA” |
| 11 | 477 | Ex 11.1 last line | replace superscr 3 in “4πR3” by “2” |
| 11 | 487 | Para 1 last line | replace “=-U0” by “=-3NU0/(2r0)” |
| 11 | 496 | UvdW(I) eqn | Several energies are incorrect; the final Delta Utot is -6.2 kJ/mol. |
| 11 | 497 | Line 3 | replace “N-H—H” by “O-H—N” |
| 11 | 500 | prob 11.23 | change kθ to 50.0 kJ/mol/rad2 from 0.50 kJ/mol/rad2 |
| 13 | 532 | Fig. 13.5 | For “Tetragonal” in second row of figures, change label “C” to “I.” |
| 13 | 541 | Line 5 | change “D3h” to “D6h” |
| QM OR sol | 562 | OR soln 10.1 | μA and μB should be squared (avg dip-dip and dip-induced dip) |
| QM OR sol | 562 | OR soln 10.1d | Replace α by μ in (d) |
Research Opportunities
Chem 497/498 at SDSU
All Chem and Biochem majors at SDSU (except those obtaining the BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences) are required to take at least one unit of Chem 498. Chemical Physics majors must take at least 3 units of research, but can choose among Chem 497, Chem 498, Phys 498A, and Phys 498B. The year you take Chem 410 is a good year to start, because if you find you like research, you'll want a chance to spend more than just one semester on it. If you don't know how to get started, feel free to ask me about it during office hours or by email. I'm familiar with all of the research programs in our department to some degree, and can help you get started on finding a group.
NSF REU Programs in Chemistry
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs at universities all over the country. These can be excellent opportuninties to investigate a research field that you're interested in, expecially those that we don't cover here at SDSU. Applications are normally due in Jan-Feb, although some programs may have later windows or may be willing to consider late applicants if their slots are not all taken. A list of the programs in chemistry and links to their websites can be found at the NSF chemistry REU web site.