Physical Chemistry Practice Exam
Physical Chemistry Practice Exam
The Physical Chemistry Practice Exam evaluates your ability to apply principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum mechanics, and spectroscopy to chemical systems. This certification measures your understanding of energy changes, reaction rates, molecular structure, statistical behaviour, and electrochemical processes. Passing demonstrates you can solve quantitative problems and interpret experimental data in physical chemistry.
Who should take the Exam?
- Undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry or chemical engineering
- Researchers needing a refresher in physical chemistry fundamentals
- Educators preparing teaching materials or assessments
- Laboratory scientists analysing thermodynamic and kinetic data
- Anyone seeking to strengthen their quantitative chemistry skills
Skills Required
- Proficiency in algebra, calculus, and basic differential equations
- Familiarity with chemical thermodynamics and kinetics concepts
- Ability to use quantum chemistry equations and spectroscopic data
- Comfort interpreting graphs and performing unit conversions
Knowledge Gained
- Applying the laws of thermodynamics to calculate energy and entropy changes
- Deriving and using rate laws to predict reaction behaviour
- Solving the Schrödinger equation for simple systems and understanding molecular orbitals
- Interpreting UV‑Vis, IR, NMR, and Raman spectra for structural insights
- Using statistical mechanics to relate microscopic states to macroscopic properties
- Calculating cell potentials and designing electrochemical cells
- Understanding adsorption, surface phenomena, and photochemical reactions
Course Outline
Domain 1 – Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry
- Units, dimensions, and measurement uncertainty
- States of matter and phase behaviour
- Physical constants and reference standards
Domain 2 – Thermodynamics
- First and second laws; internal energy and enthalpy
- Gibbs and Helmholtz free energies
- Phase equilibria and Clapeyron equations
Domain 3 – Chemical Kinetics
- Rate laws and reaction order determination
- Integrated rate equations and half‑life concepts
- Mechanistic pathways and catalytic effects
Domain 4 – Quantum Chemistry
- Schrödinger equation for particle‑in‑a‑box and harmonic oscillator
- Atomic and molecular orbitals
- Quantum numbers and electronic configurations
Domain 5 – Spectroscopy
- Principles of UV‑Vis and Beer–Lambert law
- IR vibrational modes and group frequencies
- NMR chemical shifts and coupling patterns
Domain 6 – Statistical Mechanics
- Boltzmann distribution and partition functions
- Translational, rotational, and vibrational contributions
- Relationship to thermodynamic quantities
Domain 7 – Electrochemistry
- Nernst equation and cell potential calculations
- Electrolytic vs. galvanic cells
- Conductivity and concentration cells
Domain 8 – Surface and Photochemistry
- Adsorption isotherms and Langmuir model
- Photophysical vs. photochemical processes
- Quantum yields and actinometry
