Physical Chemistry Handouts: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy

Physical chemistry centers on the development of mathematical models to understand and predict chemical properties and reactivity. At its core, physical chemistry is composed of fundamental ideas and theories that explain general behavior qualitatively, as well as the ability to describe specific chemical systems in an accurate, quantitative manner.These quantum mechanics and spectroscopy handouts are a subset of the corresponding lecture notes. They are chosen to relieve students of the burdensome and error-prone copying of mathematically detailed derivations. This allows students to focus on the larger concepts presented by an instructor in lecture without compromising rigorous development of the material.The pedagogical philosophy behind these handouts is to present ideas through pictures, words, and equations. Intuitive understanding is developed with diagrams, examples, and explanations. Mathematical definitions and derivations are provided with details that make the material as broadly accessible as possible. Read more