Northern Illinois University - Department of Chemistry  Spring 2006

CHEM 500B,      Topics in Analytical Chemistry     

Topics in Electrochemistry

Class schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18:00-19:15, FR 237

Dr. Petr Vanýsek, Instructor, FW 418, office hours by appointment

e-mail: pvanysek@niu.edu

SYLLABUS FOR THE COURSE

The textbook:

J. O’M. Bockris and A. K. N. Reddy: Modern Electrochemistry (Electrodics in Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, and Environmental Chemistry), Vol. 2B, Kluwer Academic 2000.

The topics:

          1.          Outline of fundamental aspects of electrochemistry (this will be taken mostly from the Bard and Faulkner book and CHEM425 material, for the sake of review.)

          2.          The double-layer in electrochemistry (mostly class notes, rather than our textbook)

         3.             Electrochemistry in materials science (Chapter 12): Stability of materials: potential-pH diagrams, the 'electrochemical series,' the electrochemical basis of corrosion, discussion of various types of corrosion.

          4.          Conversion and storage of electrochemical energy (Chapter 13)

                    Fuel cells. Classical battery systems: primary and secondary; evaluation of performance; modern high-energy battery systems. Air-depolarized batteries.

          4.          Impedance measurements, theory and practice.

          5.          Bioelectrochemistry (Chapter 14, selected topics)

          6.          Environmentally oriented electrochemistry (Chapter 15)

Calendar – (the date shown is the Tuesday of the week)

          Jan. 17, 2006           Thursday, Jan. 19 – NO CLASS

          Jan. 24, 2006

          Jan. 31, 2006           1/31 – 15-minute quiz

          Feb. 7, 2006

          Feb. 14, 2006           Tuesday and Thursday this week – NO CLASS

          Feb. 21, 2006           2/23 – 15-minute quiz

          Feb. 28, 2006

          March 7, 2006           3/7 – midterm exam

          March 14, 2006           SPING BREAK

          March 21, 2006

          March 28, 2006           2/28 – 15-minute quiz

          April 4, 2006

          April 11, 2006

          April 18, 2006           4/18 – 15-minute quiz

          April 25, 2006

          May 2, 2006                     tentative final  - Thursday May 4

Grading:

                    Quizzes (4)             (30 points each)   30 % (7.5 % each)

                    Mid-term examination     (120 points)          30 %

                    Final examination             (160 points)          40 %

          100-85 %  -  A                  85 - 75 %  -   B

          75 -65 %  -   C                   65 - 55 %  -   D,     less than 55%  -  F

          The general rules of the University, as well as the rules of civil conduct apply.