Provides background information designed to aid a physical chemistry student in using the virial equation of state in deriving expressions for other thermodynamic properties, such as writing the Joule and Joule-Thomson coefficients in terms of virial expansions. (CS)

Provides an alternative derivation of the Boltzmann distribution based on the minimization of the Helmholtz free energy. (CS)

Provides information concerning the Boltzmann distribution mentioning partition functions, spectroscopy, basic mathematics, and its relation to temperature distribution. (CS)

Describes how Gibbs valley graphs can clarify the relation between the Gibbs function and chemical equilibrium. Gives examples from gas phase equilibria. (CS)

Discusses the role of semiclassical theory in chemical physics both as a computational method and conceptual framework for interpreting quantum mechanical experiments and calculations. Topics covered include energy wells and eigenvalues, scattering, statistical mechanics and electronically nonadiabiatic processes. (JM)

This document is the second of a three-volume teacher resource book for use with the Energy 80 energy education program. The program is designed to enhance students' understanding of energy, either through supplements to traditional courses, such as mathematics, science, social studies, or homemaking, or by developing a mini-course or…