In the Fall of 2012 I will be teaching the undergraduate physical chemistry course on quantum mechanics/quantum chemistry. Quantum mechanics forms the basis for all of chemistry, and the course will emphasize both the fundamental underpinnings as well as real-world applications, including interpretation.

Since many of the topics covered in the this course are similar to those seen in earlier courses (such as Chem 260), I will employ modern pedagogical methods to build on that foundation rather than to repeat it. The course will be taught in a partially flipped format, where some material that would ordinarily be presented during in-class lectures will instead be watched outside of class by following along with lecture “pencasts.” With some of the more mechanical background covered in pencasts, we will be able to have more engaging and productive class time working on problems in small groups and discussing the finer points. Because of the on-your-own lectures and the in-class problems, there will be a reduced emphasis on at-home problem sets. This course will cover the same material as a traditional quantum chemistry course (and probably more), but the student-driven model has the potential to substantially increase understanding, engagement and interest in the material.

The course text will be Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, by McQuarrie and Simon, and the overall structure of the course will follow the outline in the text. I will supplement the text with additional readings, including foundational papers by Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Bohr and Pauling. We will also use examples from the current literature to get a sense for how these ideas are ubiquitous at the cutting edge of chemical science.