Ge 212 Thermodynamics of Geological Systems

Spring 2011

Syllabus

 

Professor:  Paul Asimow (253 Arms; asimow@gps; x4133)

 

Teaching Assistant:  Aaron Wolf (awolf@gps; x6960)

 

Collaboration Policy: See the Ge101 policy sheet.

 

Lecture Times:  MWF 10:00 – 10:55 AM in 267 Arms.

 

Required Text:

Thermodynamics of Natural Systems, by G. M. Anderson, Cambridge University Press 2007 (hereafter TNS). This is a new book, free of the errors that plagued the previous edition, and available as new rather than icky reprinted copies. Cambridge Press has a website of associated free material at http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521847729&ss=res.

 

Class Website: http://www.asimow.com/Ge212.html may be used in various ways as the class develops.

 

Subject to Revision: e.g., there are 8 problem sets listed below but most likely they will get merged into fewer, bigger sets. Just so you know.

 

Syllabus:

WEEK 1: March 28, March 30, April 1

   Concepts, Mathematical Background, Definitions

   Problem Set 1

   Reading: TNS Chapters 1-2

 

WEEK 2: April 4, 6, 8

   The Laws of Thermodynamics

   Problem Set 2

   Reading: TNS Chapters 3-4

 

WEEK 3: April 11, 13, 15 (ÔAdd dayÕ is Friday 4/15)

   Detour into statistical mechanics; standard state properties

   Problem Set 3

   Reading: TNS Chapter 5

 

WEEK 4: April 18, 20, 22

   One-component systems

   Problem Set 4

   Reading: TNS Chapter 6

 

WEEK 5: April 25, 27, 29

   Ideal and non-ideal solutions

   Midterm week bonus: no new problem set

   Reading: TNS Chapter 7-8

WEEK 6: May 2, 4, 6

   Law of mass action and open systems

   Problem Set 5

   Reading: TNS Chapters 9-10

 

WEEK 7: May 9, 11, 13

   Solids, gases, and stoichiometric liquids

   Problem Set 6

   Reading: TNS Chapters 11, 13(!), 14

 

WEEK 8: May 16, 18, 20 (ÔDrop dayÕ is Wednesday 5/18)

   Aqueous solutions and speciated liquids

   Problem Set 7

   Reading: TNS Chapters 15-16

 

WEEK 9: May 23, 25, 27

   Redox equilibria; irreversible thermodynamics

   Problem Set 8

   Reading: TNS Chapters 12,18

 

WEEK 10: June 1, 3 (Monday 2/25 is Memorial Day; Seniors are nominally exempt from last week of classes)

   Phase equilibria and ternary systems

   Reading: TNS Chapter 17

 

Exam available Wednesday June 1, due by 5:00 PM Sunday June 5.

(Senior and Grad student grades must be reported at 9 AM on June 6, so exams are due by 5 PM on Sunday June 5; the exam will not include material from WEEK 10)

 

Grading:

                  Problem Sets 75%

                  Final Exam 25%