Physical Chemistry

Abstract

Thermodynamic foundations of phase equilibria, intermolecular interactions, and molecular self-assembly; kinetics of chemical reactions and transport processes

Objective

This course teaches physical-chemical foundations of important processes in living cells and organisms as well as of working techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology. Students learn: 1. Evaluation of chemical equilibria based on chemical potential 2. Interpretation of phase diagrams 3. Which interactions between molecules are important in living cells 4. Why molecules self-organize into aggregates 5. Which physical-chemical basics determine behavior of biomembranes 6. What determines the rate of chemical reactions, in particular also of enzymatically catalyzed reactions 7. What determines the transport rate of matter and heat

Content

chemical potential, prediction of the direction of processes, phase equilibria, phase rule, phase diagrams of pure substances, colligative properties, osmosis, dialysis, surface tension, intermolecular interactions, hydrophobic effect, hydrophilic effect and denaturation, amphiphiles, basics of self-association, micelles, packing parameter, double layers, vesicles, membranes, elementary reactions, parallel reactions, consecutive reactions, Eyring theory, enzyme kinetics, diffusion, heat conduction, active transport

Resources