Chemical Thermodynamics I: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

This online course is the first in a series of two thermodynamics courses from the MIT Department of Chemistry. Together, they cover chemical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, phase equilibria, and kinetics.

In this course, you will explore the foundational principles of thermodynamics for chemical systems and how these principles connect to the properties of the molecules that comprise them. You will explore the laws of thermodynamics and how they combine to establish the relationships between entropy, energy, work, and heat flow. You will then leverage these relationships to understand the nature of equilibrium and the forces that drive spontaneous transformations. You will then be introduced to the field of statistical mechanics, which formalizes the molecular scale origins of thermodynamic principles. Finally, you will leverage your understanding of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to explore fundamental applications, including heat engines, calorimetry, and equilibrium in multi-component systems.