Chemistry 410
History of
Physical Chemistry
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CHEM 410 has a limited enrollment. If you wish to take this course, you are advised to register early.
Course Information
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Course Description
CHEM 410
HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY
3 hours
A survey of the development of chemistry.
This course focuses on the historical
development of physical chemistry as a discipline, particularly in the
PREREQUISITE: General Chemistry.
Course VenueØ Tuesdays and Thursdays Ø 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Ø 218 Gore Hall |
InstructorØ Professor Cecil Dybowski Ø
035 Brown Laboratory
Ø
(302) 831-2726
Ø
dybowski@udel.edu
Ø Office
Hours: Any time, if available
|
Texts
o
K. J. Laidler, The World of Physical Chemistry,
o
J. W. Servos, Physical Chemistry from Ostwald
to Pauling,
Other Interesting Books
Diana Kormos Barkan, Walther Nernst
and the Transition to Modern Physical Science,
Cathy Cobb, Magick,
Mayhem, and Mavericks: The Spirited
History of Physical Chemistry, Prometheus Books,
Patrick Coffey, Cathedrals of Science,
Andrew Ede, The Rise and Decline of Colloid Science in North America, 1900 – 1935, Ashgate Publishers, Burlington, Vermont, 2007.
Richard P. Feynman, The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, Perseus Publishing,
Istvan Hargittai, TheRoad to
Aaron J. Ihde,
The Development of Modern Chemistry,
Stephen Inwood,
The Forgotten Genius: The Biography of
Robert Hooke 1635 – 1703, MacAdam/Cage
Press,
Laylin K. James, Nobel Laureates
in Chemistry 1901 –1992, American Chemical Society,
Lisa Jardine,
The Curious Life of Robert Hooke, The
Man Who Measured
David Lindley, Degrees Kelvin: A
Tale of Genius, Invention, and Tragedy, Joseph Henry Press,
Tom Schachtman, Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold,
Mariner Books,
John T. Stock, Ostwald’s
American Students,Plaidswede Publishing,
Exams and Papers
Exams
There will be two examinations, as indicated on the assignment table. The examinations will have multiple-choice
and essay questions covering the reading and class discussions. There is no final examination in this
course.
Papers
Because this is a second-writing course, students are expected to develop
original papers on historical aspects of physical chemistry. Each paper has a
length limit, imposed to prevent sensory overload of the instructor. Aside from
the word limit, elements such as content, style, neatness and attention to
writing details determine the grade. All papers must be double-spaced, typed
(no handwritten papers allowed) on white paper, and neat. Papers are due at the beginning of class,
as indicated in the schedule. Late papers (with an unexcused absence) will not
be accepted and grades of zero will be assigned for them. The paper should be sent to the instruction
as a WORD document by attaching it to an electronic message before the time it is due; see the instructorif you cannot send the paper in this manner. Plagiarism in all its forms is punishable by
assignment of a grade of zero; that includes – but is not limited to
– undocumented use of appreciable work of others as if it is your own.
o Writing sample
Please write two paragraphs (no more than one double-spaced page) describing (1) yourself; (2) your interest in chemistry; and (3) your interest in history.
o Paper 1
Paper 1 is an essay about a controversial topic derived from readings. It should be no more than 500 words and demonstrate a particular point of view on the topic. It is graded only on style, neatness, and on attention to details of writing, not on content.
o Paper 2
Paper 2 is the major paper in this course. It should range from 2000 to 3000 words in length. Each student is randomly assigned a topic (perhaps the name of some person in the history of physical chemistry), on which he/she must write an original paper based on the person's life or on some incident in physical chemistry with which he/she is involved. It must be original in content. It must use careful writing style, adhering to the rules of grammar and organization. The paper is given a provisional grade and returned to the student; a student may return a rewritten version of the paper for additional credit, or accept the provisional grade as the final grade (by not returning a revised version).
o Paper 3
This paper is a short (no more than two pages) exposition of a topic in the history of physical chemistry. It must be clear, concise, and complete. The topic is chosen by the student and must be original. It will be graded on both style, content, and originality.
BECAUSE STUDENTS HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS, THERE ARE NO INCOMPLETES IN THIS CLASS.
Class Attendance and Participation
Attendance is mandatory and is checked each class period. Absences are excused only for illness or university-approved activities (sports or band, for example). Exams, homework or quizzes missed because of an unexcused absence are given grades of zero. Not only is attendance mandatory, but participation in the discussion is a determinant of your grade. (See below.) Assignments are due on specific days, and will not be accepted later than that, except for excused absences.
Grading
|
Grade Weights o Writing sample, 5% o Paper 1, 5% o Paper 2, 20% o Paper 3, 10% o Each exam, 25% o Class attendance and participation, 10% |
Grade Cutoffs (in percentages of total points) o A greater than 90% o B greater than 80% o C greater than 70% o D greater than 60% o F below 60% |
Assignments
|
Week |
Dates |
Topic(s) |
|
Writing |
|
1 |
9/1 and 9/3 |
Writing, communication in science |
|
|
|
2 |
9/8 and 9/10 |
Physical chemistry, the meaning of research, philosophies of science |
Laidler 1 |
Writing sample due 9/8 |
|
3 |
9/15 and 9/17 |
Physical science before the 1880’s; journals and communication in science |
Laidler 1, 2 |
Writing sample revision due 9/17 |
|
4 |
9/22 and 9/24 |
Early physics and physical chemistry |
Laidler 2, 3 |
Paper 1 due 9/22 |
|
5 |
9/29 |
Early physical science |
Laidler 3 |
Paper 2 assignment NO CLASS 10/1 |
|
6 |
10/6 and 10/8 |
Thermodynamics |
Laidler 4 |
|
|
7 |
10/13 and 10/15 |
Kinetic theory |
Laidler 5 |
Paper 1 revision due 10/13 |
|
8 |
10/20 and 10/22 |
Bunsen, Kirchoff and spectroscopy; |
Laidler 5, 6 |
Paper 2 outline due 10/20 |
|
9 |
10/27 and 10/29 |
Electrochemistry; the Ionists |
Laidler 7, Servos 1 |
EXAM 1, Oct 29 |
|
10 |
11/3 and 11/5 |
Chemical kinetics |
Laidler 8 |
|
|
11 |
11/10 and 11/12 |
Americans in Ostwald’s laboratory, beginnings of
physical chemistry in |
Servos 2,3 |
Topic of paper 3 and outline due 11/10 |
|
12 |
11/17 and 11/19 |
NO CLASSES; The origins of quantum chemistry |
Laidler 10 |
WORK ON PAPER 2 and read about quantum chemistry |
|
13 Thanksgiving |
11/24 |
Bancroft aand qualitative physical chemistry, Willis Whitney and the beginning of industrial basic research |
Servos 4, 5 |
Paper 2 due 11/24 |
|
14 |
12/1
and 12/3
|
Conflicts involving physical chemistry:
Noyes and Bancroft; Noyes and Walker; Pauling and the rise of Caltech and
Berkeley
|
Servos 6,7 |
Paper 3 due 12/1 |
|
15 |
12/8 |
Potentially: World War II and the development of present-day US-government-supported science; Nixon and the war on cancer |
|
EXAM 2, 12/8 |
Copyright, Cecil Dybowski, 1998-2008.
Last Updated: August 7, 2009.
This page maintained by Cecil Dybowski.
URL of this document:
http://www.udel.edu/pchem/C410/c410.htm