Physical BioChemistry: BCHM 485

Spring 2024

Class meets TuTh at 9:30 am in PHYS2122
Professor: David Fushman
Office Hours: Thursdays, 5 - 6:30 pm (via zoom)
E-mail: fushman@umd.edu

Syllabus

Textbooks

Required:
Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry & Spectroscopy by Thomas Engel & Philip Reid, 4th edition
Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics by Thomas Engel & Philip Reid
(The Thermodynamics textbook that you might still have from the CHEM481 course.)
Recommended:
Atkin's Physical Chemistry by Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula, James Keeler, Vol.2 Quantum Chemistry, Spectroscopy, and Statistical Thermodynamics;
Physical Chemistry with Applications to the Life Sciences by David Eisenberg and Donald Crothers;
Principles of Physical Biochemistry by van Holde, Johnson & Ho;
Molecular Driving Forces by Dill & Bromberg;
Biophysical Chemistry by Cantor & Schimmel.
 
Assignments:
Reading and problems assignments are either from Quantum Chemistry & Spectroscopy [QCS] or from Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics [TSK]
Date Reading Problems Q&A
03/26 Ch.9: 9.3-9.4 Ch.9: Ex.Pr: 9.1-9.3; Qs: 9.5,9.6,9.10,9.15,9.18. Do the HW assignments from the previous lecture (before the spring break). Calculate and compare the energies of electrostatic interaction and gravitational interaction between electron and proton. What is the degeneracy of the state(s) of H atom with the principal Q.N. n? Here are Exam #1 problems. As your (non-graded) homework assignment, do these problems again, now without time pressure. 
03/14 Ch.9: 9.1-9.3 Ch.9: Qs: 9.4,9.6,9.7,9.8,9.16. Pr: 9.2. Show by direct substitution into the equation for the radial part of the wave function (Eq. 9.5in the textbook) that R(r) = A*exp(-r/a) is a solution to Shroedinger Equation for H-atom when l=0; determine the values of a and E. Calculate and compare the energies of electrostatic interaction and gravitational interaction between electron and proton. What is the degeneracy of the state(s) of H atom with the principal Q.N. n?    
03/12 Midterm Exam #1 Bring your calculator.    
03/07 Prepare for the upcoming midterm Exam #1. Ch.7: 7.6, 7.8. Ch.7: Qs: 7.2-4,7.12,7.13; Pr: 7.35-37. (for those who know determinants: 7.34). Example problems from the previous year Exam #1 are here. Tentative equations sheet for the upcoming Exam #1 is here. Review sesssion in preparation for the midterm exam #1 will be held on Monday at 6 pm via zoom. Bring your questions. Answers & solutions to graded HW #2 problems are here. Answers/solutions to Exam 1 problems from the previous year are here.  
03/05 Ch.7: 7.5, 7.7 Ch.7: Qs: 7.9, 7.11; Pr: 7.31,7.32(a),7.33,7.36, 7.37. Review session for the upcoming midterm exam 1 will be held via zoom on Monday Marh 11 at 6 pm. Bring your questions.  
02/29 Ch 7: 7.2, 7.4, Math Essential 7 & 8 Ch.7: Ex.Pr.: 7.4,7.5. Qs: 7.10,7.19. Pr: 7.25,7.27, 7.32(b). Your graded Homework #2 (due on March 6) is here. For those who are curious: here I show how to calculate the probability to find quantum mechanical H.O. outside the allowed range for a classical H.O.  
02/27 Ch 7: 7.1,7.3 Ch.7: Qs: 7.1,7.5,7.7; Ex.Pr: 7.2,7.3; Pr: 7.2,7.7,7.9,7.10,7.14.  
02/22 Ch.6: 6.1,6.3,6.4 Ch.6: Example Prs: 6.1, 6.3-6.5. Qs: 6.5,6.8,6.13,i6.14,6.18. Pr: 6.1,6.3,6.6,6.7,6.13,6.20. Prove the genearal relationships for the commutators which I gave you in class. Specifically, evaluate the commutator [A,BC]. Think of the Harry Potter and Platform 9 3/4 from last HW.  
02/20 Ch.5: 5.1-5.2, 5.5-5.6,(5.7) Ch.5: Qs: 5.6,5.8,5.13,5.14; Pr: 5.3. Two more problems: 1. Harry Potter and the Platform 9 3/4. Calculate the penetration length for Harry Potter using the model discussed in class to find out if the penetration through the wall phenomenon documented in this story is of Q.M. origin or is just magic. Repeat the same calculation but now for a proton, and for an electron. 2. Harry Potter and the Basilisk. Assume the Basilisk in the corridor is in the state described by the wavefunction of 1D PIB corresponding to n=4. Suggest a strategy that would allow H.P. to get trough the corridor without being bitten by the beast. Answers & solutions to graded Homework #1 problems are here. 
02/15 Ch.4: 4.3; Ch.5: 5.3 Ch.4: Pr: 4.19-21, 4.23, 4.24, 4.27; Ch.5: Pr: 5.1, 5.2.  
02/13 Ch.4: 4.2, 4.4 & Ch.2.1 Ch.4: Ex.Pr.4.1-4.4; Pr: 4.14,4.15,4.30,4.34, 4.35. Ch.2: Qs: 2.7,2.10. Your graded Homework #1 (due on Feb 19) is here. Some useful trigonometric identities and other formulae can be found here and on ELMS.  
02/08 Ch.4: 4.2. Ch.4: Qs: 4.2,4.9,4.11,4.12,4.14-15,4.18,20; Pr: 4.7,4.8,4.11,4.13, 4.16.  
02/06 Ch.4: 4.1. Ch.4: Qs: 4.3-4.5; Pr: 4.1-3.  
02/01 Ch.3: to the end + Ch.2: 2.5,2.6. Ch.3: Pr: 3.11,3.12,3.16,3.19; Qs: 3.5,3.6-8. A Schroedinger's cat problem: When opening the box, Schroedinger's cat was found alive in 64% experiments and dead in 36%. Based on these observations, reconstruct the wavefunction of the cat in the box.  
01/30 Ch.2: 2.4,[2.5,2.6 -- prep. for next lecture]; Ch.3: 3.1-3.3 (+3.4, partially covered). Ch.2: Ex.Pr. 2.14; Pr: 2.13,2.14,2.20; Ch.3: Qs: 3.1-3.4,3.9; Pr: 3.1,3.2,3.9,3.10  
01/25 QCS: Ch.1 & Ch.2: 2.2; ME 6 Ch.1: Do Example problem 1.3 from Ch.1: determine the radius of the lowest-energy orbit of electron in Bohr's planetary model of the hydrogen atom. Do Numeric Problem 1.15.
Using Wien's displacement law, λmax*T=1.44/5 cm*K, perform the following calculations: (1) estimate λmax for your body radiation, and (2) assuming that the maximum of Sun's radiation is in the yellow range, i.e. λmax ~ 580 nm, estimate the temperature of the Sun's surface.
It's not too late to prepare yourself for the course. The relevant information can be found below and also on ELMS. 
A copy of today's slides has been placed on ELMS under Files. 
before 01/25 Prepare yourself for the course. The relevant information can be found here.  Pepare yourself for the course. The relevant information can be found here.   
Exam # 1: Exam # 2: Final Exam:
Statistics Statistics Statistics
Solutions Solutions Solutions
     

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