CHEM 3739 - Physical Chemistry 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 40763,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Brian D. Leskiw
Professional Qualifications:
Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University
B.S., Chemistry, Niagara University
Professor
Email: bdleskiw@ysu.edu
Office: Ward Beecher Hall 5046
Office Phone: (330) 941 – 1562
Additional Contact Methods:
Blackboard message board.
Preferred Contact Method: Email preferred.
How to Refer to me:
Dr. Leskiw or Prof. Leskiw
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Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Atkins’ Physical Chemistry (Volume 1) 12th ed | P. Atkinson |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8/24 | Focus (Chapters) 1 | Introduction, Temperature | |
| Wed | 8/26 | Focus 1 | Pressure, Gas Laws, Real Gases | |
| Mon | 8/31 | Focus 1 | Equations of State | |
| Wed | 9/2 | Focus 2 | 1st Law, Work, Heat, Enthalpy, Cv, | Quiz 1 |
| Mon | 9/7 | No Class | ||
| Wed | 9/9 | Focus 2 | Cp, Adiabatic Changes, Thermochemistry | |
| Mon | 9/14 | Focus 3 | 2nd Law, Entropy, Phase Transition | |
| Wed | 9/16 | Focus 3 | Boltzmann, Carnot, 3rd Law, Maxwell Relations | Quiz 2 |
| Mon | 9/21 | Focus 4 | Components, Phase Diagrams | |
| Wed | 9/23 | Exam 1: Focus (Chapters) 1, 2, 3 | ||
| Mon | 9/28 | Focus 4 | Chemical Potential | |
| Wed | 9/30 | Focus 5 | Mixtures, Partial Molar Volume | |
| Mon | 10/5 | Focus 5 | Pressure, Colligative Properties | |
| Wed | 10/7 | Focus 5 | Lever Rule, Binary Systems, Miscible Liquids | Quiz 3 |
| Mon | 10/12 | Focus 5 | Activities, Chemical Equilibrium | |
| Wed | 10/14 | Focus 6 | Electrochemistry | Quiz 4 |
| Mon | 10/19 | Focus 6 | Half Reactions, Nernst Equation | |
| Wed | 10/21 | Exam 2: Focus (Chapters) 4, 5, 6 | ||
| Mon | 10/26 | Focus 16 | Kinetic Model of Gases, Mean Free Path | |
| Wed | 10/28 | Focus 16 | Diffusion, Viscosity | |
| Mon | 11/2 | Focus 17 | Kinetics, Rate Law | |
| Wed | 11/4 | Focus 17 | Reaction Order, Integrated Rate Law | |
| Mon | 11/9 | Focus 17 | Consecutive/Parallel Reactions | Quiz 5 |
| Wed | 11/11 | No Class | ||
| Mon | 11/16 | Focus 17 | Steady-State Approx. | |
| Wed | 11/18 | Exam 3: Focus (Chapters) 6, 16, 17 | ||
| Mon | 11/23 | Focus 18 | Reaction Theory, Transition State Theory | |
| Wed | 11/25 | No Class | ||
| Mon | 11/30 | Focus 18 | Activated Complex, Pot. Energy Surfaces | Quiz 6 |
| Wed | 12/2 | Quantum, Particle in a Box | ||
| Mon | 12/7 | Final Exam: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.