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Transport Phenomena and Surface Phenomena

Code: 105040
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Chemistry OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
José Antonio Ayllon Esteve
Email :
joseantonio.ayllon@uab.cat

Teaching staff

José Antonio Ayllon Esteve
Neus Vila Cusco

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

It is advisable to have completed "Fonaments de Química", "Química Quàntica" and "Termodinàmica i Cinètica"

Objectives

The student continues to advance in their training in Physical Chemistry with the aim of completing his/her training in this subject. After taking the microscopic approach in Quantum Chemistry and the macroscopic approach in Thermodynamics and Kinetics (with brief microscopic notes), in this subject - as its title indicates - Transport Phenomena and Surface Phenomena will be studied. The Kinetic Theory of Gases will serve as a basis for the study of transport phenomena in the gas phase. Next, the study of electrolyte solutions allows us to address transport phenomena in the liquid phase. Regarding surface phenomena, we will focus on those that take place at the liquid-gas, solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces. Knowledge in Thermodynamics and Kinetics will be used to address them, with special emphasis on the study of adsorption, both in gas-solid and solution-solid interfaces, and Heterogeneous Catalysis. Electrochemistry, which can also be visualized as a surface phenomenon, will be studied from a thermodynamic and kinetic point of view. The course will end with the introduction of colloids and macromolecules from the point of view of Physical Chemistry.

Learning outcomes

  1. Communicate orally and in writing in one's own language.
  2. Manage the organisation and planning of tasks.
  3. Resolve problems and make decisions.
  4. Obtain information, including by digital means.
  5. Manage, analyse and synthesise information.
  6. Use IT to treat and present information.
  7. Have numerical calculation skills.
  8. Operate with a certain degree of autonomy and integrate quickly in the work setting.
  9. Reason in a critical manner
  10. Be ethically committed.
  11. Learn autonomously.
  12. Adapt to new situations.
  13. Propose creative ideas and solutions.
  14. Show initiative and an enterprising spirit.
  15. Show motivation for quality.
  16. Show sensitivity for environmental issues.
  17. Relate macroscopic properties and the properties of individual atoms and molecules.
  18. Define surface chemistry.
  19. Identify the phenomena of transport.
  20. Describe the components of electrochemistry.
  21. Define colloids and macromolecules.
  22. Resolve quantitative problems in surface chemistry, chemical kinetics and electrochemistry.
  23. Resolve qualitative problems related to transport phenomena, colloids and macromolecules.
  24. Recognise and analyse problems related with surface chemistry (adherence and detergence).
  25. Recognise, analyse and resolve electrochemical problems (batteries).
  26. Classify and analyse the properties of colloids and macromolecules.
  27. Interpret data referring to surface tension (surfactants), wetting (angles of contact) and detergence.
  28. Interpret intensity/potential graphs (I/E) and their relation with the operation of batteries.
  29. Analyse surface adsorption processes and adapt them to different isothermals.
  30. Identify the English names of fundamental physical and chemical variables.
  31. Use the English names for the different states of matter and their changes.

Contents

Topic 1. Gases.


Real Gases: general characteristics and deviations from ideality. Compressibility factor. Virial and van der Waals equations of state. Fugacity and equilibrium constants for real gases.



Topic 2. Kinetic theory of gases.


Molecular interpretation of the pressure of a gas. Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution of velocities. Most probable velocity, mean velocity, and root mean square velocity. Collision frequency and mean free path. Collisions with walls. Effusion.



Topic 3. Introduction to transport. General aspects and transport in the gas phase.


Transport phenomena: flows and gradients. Gas phase transport: diffusion, thermal conductivity and viscosity.



Topic 4. Electrolyte solutions.


Ion-solvent interactions. Enthalpy and entropy of solvation. Chemical potential of electrolytes. Average ionic activity coefficients. Ion-ion interactions: Debye-Hückel model. Ionic association.



Topic 5. Transport in solution.


Diffusion of dissolved species. Mean square displacement.


Conductivity and molar conductivity. Classification of electrolytes. Ionic mobility. Transport number. Diffusion and conductivity.



Topic 6. Interfaces. General features. Fluid/fluid interfaces.


Definition of interface. Curved interfaces: surface tension. Experimental measurement of surface tension. Contact angle. Wettability. Vapor pressure on curved surfaces: Kelvin equation. Gibbs isotherm.


Topic 7. Adsorption.


Physical adsorption and chemical adsorption. Adsorption isotherms. Adsorption enthalpy. Langmuir isotherm. BET isotherm. Characterization of porous materials. Charged interfaces. Double layer models.



Topic 8. Catalysis.


General mechanism of catalysis. Homogeneous catalysis. Acid-base catalysis.


General mechanism of heterogeneous catalysis. Characteristics of solid catalysts. Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanisms.



Topic 9. Electrochemical equilibrium.


Electrochemical potential. Nernst equation. Notation of galvanic cells. Normal electrode potentials. Types of galvanic cells. Obtaining thermodynamic data from measuring the EMF of a galvanic cell.



Topic 10. Electrochemical kinetics.


Overpotential. Exchange current density. Kinetics of charge transfer. Approximations of the Butler-Volmer equation. Polarizable and non-polarizable electrodes. Effect of mass transport.



Topic 11. Colligative properties.


Decrease in freezing point and increase in boiling point. Osmotic pressure.



Topic 12. Colloids and macromolecules.


Colloids: classification, structure and stability. Applications. Techniques for characterizing macromolecules and colloids in solution.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Problems 12 0.48 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31
Study. Problem solving. Readings and Information Obtaining 87 3.48 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Theory Lectures 37 1.48 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29

Knowledge will be transfered through the use of theoretical classes and problems. Theoretical classes (lectures with a blackboard and / or with the help of audiovisual media) in which the basic concepts will be introduced to understand the fundamental and applied aspects of this subject.

Problem-solving classes (classroom exercises) that will require active student participation.


The lecturers will dedicate approximately 15 minutes of a class to allow the students to complete the "Teaching Activity and Subject or Module Assessment" survey.



Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Evidences 20% 5 0.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Partial Exam 2 40% 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Partial Exam 1 40% 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31
Final Exam 80% 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31


Continuous assessment


Exams: Two partial exams (P1 and P2) will be held throughout the course. All exams will be graded on a scale from 0 to 10.

Follow-up work: A series of follow-up tests will be carried out throughout the course. The set of tests corresponding to each partial component, S1 and S2, will be graded on a scale from 0 to10. The number and type of follow-up tests will be adapted to the characteristics of each group. The follow-up test will not be repeated due to the student's absence if this is not documented with evidence (official medical certificate,etc.)


Assessment criteria: To pass the subject through continuous assessment, students must obtain a final grade (NFC) greater than or equal to 4.9 and a grade greater than or equal to 3.5 in each of the partial exams. Follow-up tests (S) will account for 20% of the final grade, while the partial exams (P) account for 80%

NFC = (0.1 S1 + 0.4 P1) + (0.1 S2 + 0.4 P2) = 0.1 (S1 + S2) + 0.4 (P1 + P2)


Students who do not pass the subject trough continuous assessment and students who wish to improve their grade

Students who do not pass the subject through continuous assessment, in accordance with the continuous assessment scheme described above, or who wish to improve their grade, may take the two resit exams for partials examens P1 and P2.

To take part in the resit assessment, students must have previously participated in the two written tests and completed at least 75% of the classroom work

When the student takes a resit assessment, the grade Pi will be that of the resit assessment if this is higher than the one obtained in the corresponding exam during the course. If the grade obtained in the resit exam is lower than the one obtained during the course, the grade Pi will be the average of the resit exam exam grade and the grade grade obtained in the corresponding exam during the course. The S follow-up marks are not recoverable.

To pass the subject through the resit assessment, the student must meet the same requirements as those established for passing the subject through continuous assessment..

If a student has been assessed on only 25% or less of the assessment activities, the final grade will be Not assessable

Single assessment

Exams: The single assessment will consist of a final exam covering the entire syllabus of the subject. This exam will be held on the same day as the second partial exam, P2, for students following continuous assessment. The exam will be graded on a scale from 0 to 10.

Grades:The student's grade will be the grade obtained in this exam. To pass the subject through single assessment, students must obtain a grade greater than or equal to 4.9.

Students who do not pass the subject through single assessment.

If the final grade does not reach 4.9, students will have another opportunity to pass the subject by taking the resit exam. The student's grade will be the grade obtained in this exam.

To pass the subject through the resit assessment, students must meet the same requirements as those established for passing the subject through single assessment.


In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed in any assessable activity. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.


The performance of any irregularity in an assessment act (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the teaching guide), which may lead to a significant variation in the grade, means that this act will be graded with a 0. In the event that the teaching guide provides that to pass the subject it is an essential requirement to have obtained a minimum grade in this assessment act or that several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject is 0. Apart from this, a disciplinary process may be initiated against the student who incurs any of these irregularities.




Bibliography

Most relevant bibliography


Química Física, Atkins, Peter; De Paula, Julio.8ª ed. 2008. Ed. Médica Panamericana.

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/avjcib/alma991009090709706709

Accessible online through UAB library


Principios de Físicoquímica. Levine, Ira N. 6ª ed. 2014. Ed. McGraw-Hill.

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/avjcib/alma991005053439706709

Química Física, Engel, T., Reid, P., Ed. 2006, Pearson

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/1eqfv2p/alma991009163779706709


Interfacial Science: an introduction (2on ed.), G.T. Barnes, G.T.; Gentle, I.R. 2010 Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-657118-5

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/1eqfv2p/alma991003060169706709


Fundamentos de teoría electroquímica. Fernández Domene, R. M.; Rosello Marquez, G.; Batista Grau, P.; Sánchez Tovar, R.; García Antón, J. UPV 2020.

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/1fbc57r/alma991010515451806709

Accessible online through UAB library


Additional Bibliography

Problemas de físico química. Levine, Ira N. McGraw-Hill, 2005.

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/avjcib/alma991004898919706709

Accesible online


Physics and Chemistry of Interfaces. Butt,H.-J. K.; Kappl Graf, M., , 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. ISBN 3-527-40413-9.

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/avjcib/alma991010342940306709

Accessible online through UAB library

Fundamentals of chemical reaction engineering. Chapter 5 Davis, Mark E. and Davis, Robert J. -

Heterogeneous Catalysis-. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, New York. (2003).

https://authors.library.caltech.edu/records/arr0q-97509

Accessible online free


Reacciones electroquimicas. Principios y aplicaciones. Galllardo, Iluminada. McGraw-Hill, 2024.

Software

No special software is required

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Spanish first semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Spanish first semester afternoon