COURSE COMPACT

School: Pure and Applied Sciences

Department: Science Laboratory Technology
Programme: National Diploma
Course Code: STC 122
Course Title: Physical Chemistry
Duration (Hours/Week): Lecture = 2; Tutorial = 0; Practical = 3
Units: 3
Course Lecturer: A. A. Oderinde, B. A. Odeyemi, T. I. Jesusina
Session: 2019/2020
Semester: Second
Location: AUD 3, BE 2

A. GOAL
The aim of this course is to provide the student with a general knowledge of chemical
kinetics, electrochemistry and colligative properties of solutions as they affect human
lives

B. GENERAL OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, students are expected to:
i. Understand the relationship between energy distribution within a reacting
system and the factors which affect rate of reaction
ii. Understand basic concepts in electrochemistry.
iii. Understand the effect of solutes on the properties of solvents.
iv. Understand colligative properties of solutions
C. Method of Lecture Delivery/Teaching Aids
Lecture Delivery
i. e-Learning
ii. Lecture notes
iii. Assignments
iv. Practicals

Teaching Aids
i. PowerPoint slides
ii. Video clips

D. Course Outlines
Modules and Details of Topics

Module 1: Chemical kinetics

Week 1:
Define reaction rate, Average, Instantaneous, and Initial Rate
Explain the effect of the following factors on the rate of reaction:
temperature
concentration (or pressure of gas)
catalysis
Express rate in terms of reactant and product concentrations
Explain order of reaction viz:
first order reactions;
second order reactions
Explain why the order of reaction is commonly a whole number such as 0,1 or
2.
 Week 2:
Explain the rate law and its components
Give the rate law for zero, first and second order reactions
Be able to use the zero, first and second order rate equations
Interpret rate data to obtain order with respect to one of the reactants.
Interpret rate data to obtain rate constants for reactions
Interpret rate data to obtain half-life for first order reactions.
Explain integrated rate law

Week 3:
Discuss reaction mechanisms and molecularity
Discuss the rate determining step of a reaction mechanism
Correlate reaction mechanisms with the rate law
Explain energy of activation
Describe transition states and the molecular nature of the activated state
Explain the characteristics of a catalyst
Explain the theories of heterogeneous catalyst and that of continuous
formation and decomposition of unstable intermediate compounds.

Module 2: Electrochemisty

Week 4:
Explain Faraday’s laws of electrolysis.
Explain Arrhenius theory of electrolytic dissociation.
Distinguish between electrolytic and metallic conduction.
Explain specific and molar conductivity.
Describe the measurement of specific conductance and equivalent
conductance.
Explain conductance.
Distinguish between electrolysis and electrophoresis
 Week 5:
Describe electrodes and electrosystem with special reference to standard
hydrogen electrode.
Discuss two and three electrode systems
Define electrode potential as the driving force with which metals lose electrons
from solution containing their ions.
Explain redox potential and Nernst Equation:

Week 6:
Discuss galvanic systems - theory and applications
Discuss modes of mass transport - diffusion, migration, convection
Discuss the electrical double layer and its limitations
Discuss half-cell reactions
Discuss redox reactions
Explain the difference between chemical and electrochemical reversibility

Module 3: Solutions Chemistry

Weeks 7:
Define colligative properties.
List colligative properties namely:
lowering of vapour pressure
elevation of boiling point
depression of freezing point
osmotic pressure
Define vapour pressure of liquids.
Explain the relative lowering of vapour pressure of the solvent by the present
of a non-volatile solute.
State Raoult’s law with the appropriate equation.
Express Raoult’s law with the appropriate equation.
Relate the relative lowering of vapour pressure of dilute solution to the
molecular concentration of the solute.

Week 8:
Determine from Raoult’s law the molecular weight of solute given the
pressures of the solvent and solution.
Define an ideal solution as one that obeys Raoult’s law over the whole range of
concentration.
Explain the interrelationship of the colligative properties of a solution.
Define boiling point of a liquid as the temperature at which its vapour pressure
equals the atmospheric pressure.
Draw the diagram of vapour pressure against temperature for pure solvent
and solution.

Week 9:
Define the ebulliioscopic constant, Kb, as the boiling point elevation produced
if one gram molecule of any solute were dissolved in 1,000 grams of solvent.
Write an equation relating Kb to boiling point elevation ΔTb and the molarity
of solution.
Calculate relative molecular mass of solute using the formula above
Explain the problems involved in the measurement of boiling point elevation,
viz super heating, dependence of boiling point on pressure.
Describe the Landsberg’s, Cottrell’s and Beckmann’s methods of measuring
elevation of boiling point.

Week 10:
Explain depression of freezing point.
Define the cryoscopic constant, Kf, as the freezing point depression produced if
one gram molecule of any solute dissolved in 1,000 grams of solvent.
 Write an equation relating Kf to freezing point depression ΔTf and the molarity
of solution
Calculate relative molecular mass of solute using the formula above.
Explain the problems involved in the measurement of freezing point
depression especially that of super-cooling.
Describe the Rasts and Beckmann’s methods of measuring depression of
freezing point

Week 11:
Define osmosis and osmotic pressure
State and explain the Laws of Osmosis
Derive the formula v = RT where = Osmotic pressure, V = Volume of Solution
containing one gram of solute, R = Universal gas constant T = absolute
temperature.
Calculate molecular mass using the equation above.
Describe methods for the measurement of Osmotic pressure.
List natural examples of Osmosis.

Week 12:
Describe the relationship between osmotic pressure and vapour pressure.
Explain phase, phase rule and various degrees of freedom)
Explain phase equilibria exemplified by 1 and 2 component system.
Week 13:
Revision
Test
E. Practicals
3 hours supervised practical classes per week for twelve weeks.
F. Structure of the programme/Method of Grading
i. Continuous assessment 30 Marks
a. Practical Report 10%
b. Assignments/Class discussion contributions 10%
c. End of the semester Test 10%
ii. Examination 70%
Total 100%
G. Ground Rules & Regulations
i. To sit for the examination, 75% attendance is required
ii. Assignments must be submitted as at when due

H. Contemporary Issues/Relevance
Every chemical reaction proceeds at a different rate. Some require a very long
time to consume the reactants and are described as slow. Knowing how fast a
reaction occurs, or being able to control the speed of the reaction is very important
in the real world. How fast can medicine act in the body? How long after you
take that aspirin does your headache go away? How long does it take for cement
to harden? The ability to manipulate reaction speeds to some extent can increase
product yield, increase or decrease the speed of the reaction as needed for a
particular manufacturing process, etc. Electrochemistry helps in the protection
of metal, addition of aesthetics, production of desired compounds etc. With
solutions chemistry, determination of molecular weights of proteins etc are
possible, anti-freeze solutions are prepared for temperate regions, etc.
I. Some Recommended Reading/Texts
i. Masterton, W. L., Hurley, C. N., & Neth, E. J. (2009). Chemistry:
Principles and reactions, 7th Ed. Brooks/Cole, Belmont, USA.
ii. Ebbing, D. D, & Gammon, S. D. (2009). General Chemistry, 9th Ed.
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, USA.