University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Helium nanodroplets and liquid hot nagma: what students can learn about entropy from infrared spectroscopy and a model dipeptide

Brown, Alaina R.

Content Files
4235.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/107637

Description

Title
Helium nanodroplets and liquid hot nagma: what students can learn about entropy from infrared spectroscopy and a model dipeptide
Author(s)
Brown, Alaina R.
Issue Date
2020-06-24
Keyword(s)
Mini-symposium: Spectroscopy with Undergraduates
Date of Ingest
2020-06-26T03:04:46Z
Abstract
In undergraduate thermodynamics, entropy is one of the most misunderstood topics; in part, this is due to its abstract nature, but confusion also stems from using a definition based on “order” or lack thereof. Students can understand this definition easily, especially if it is related to the state of a messy room over the course of time. When asked about the entropy of a molecular system, however, students have difficulty translating their definition based on “order” to a new context. An activity was created and implemented in an undergraduate physical chemistry course to guide students through alternate definitions of entropy. The activity combines thermodynamic calculations, entropy, and current spectroscopic research\footnote{Leavitt, C. M.; Moore, K. B.; Raston, P. L.; Agarwal, J.; Moody, G. H.; Shirley, C. C.; Schaefer, H. F.; Douberly, G. E. Liquid Hot NAGMA Cooled to 0.4 K: Benchmark Thermochemistry of a Gas-Phase Peptide. J. Phys. Chem. A 2014, 118 (41), 9692–9700.} together with concepts covered in class to give students a complete picture of this topic. In this talk, the activity and its implementation will be discussed along with preliminary outcomes.
Publisher
International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy
Type of Resource
Text
Genre of Resource
Conference Paper / Presentation
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/107637
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Copyright 2020 is held by the Author(s)

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Abstracts & Presentations - 2020 International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy PRIMARY