To give you sufficient background and familiarity with the basic concepts of quantum mechanics as it is applied in Chemistry. Main focuses on chemical bonding and structure and basic understanding of spectroscopic features of atoms and molecules.

No formal prerequisite. Introductory knowledge on classical and quantum mechanics, calculus, linear algebra, differential equation, and most of all, your heart on quantum mechanics

N. Zettili, "Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications", 2nd ed., (Wiley, 2009).
T. Engel, "Quantum Chemistry & Spectroscopy", 2nd ed., (Prentice Hall, 2006).
P. W. Atkins, "Physical Chemistry", 7th ed., (Oxford University Press, 2006).
R. L. Liboff, "Introductory Quantum Mechanics", 4th ed., (Addison and Wesley, 2002).
송희성, "양자역학", 2판 (교학연구사, 2009).

Part I: Quantum Mechanics Foundations & Atomic Systems

Week 1 (Sep 07, Sep 09)

Mon: Course Orientation, Python Setup (NumPy/Matplotlib demo), & Introduction to Ch 1

Wed: [Ch 1] The Dawn of Quantum Theory (Blackbody Radiation, Photoelectric Effect, Rydberg Formula, De Broglie Waves, Bohr Model)

Week 2 (Sep 14, Sep 16)

Mon: [Ch 2] Classical Wave Equation (1D Wave Equation, PDE Separation of Variables, Boundary Conditions, Normal Modes)

Wed: [Ch 3] Introduction to the Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation & 1D Particle in a Box

Week 3 (Sep 21, Sep 23)

Mon: [Quiz 1 - 25 min] / [Ch 3] Particle in a Box (3D, Degeneracy) & Wavefunction Normalization

Wed: [Ch 4] Postulates of Quantum Mechanics & Quantum Mechanical Operators

Week 4 (Sep 28, Sep 30)

Mon: [Ch 4] Commutators & Derivation of the Uncertainty Principle

Wed: [Ch 5] Harmonic Oscillator & Hermite Polynomials (Python visualization demo)

Week 5 (Oct 05, Oct 07)

Mon: National Holiday (No Class)

Wed: [Quiz 2 - 25 min] / [Ch 5] Rigid Rotor & Spherical Harmonics

Week 6 (Oct 12, Oct 14)

Mon: [Ch 6] Hydrogen Atom: Radial Solutions

Wed: [Ch 6] Hydrogen Atom: Angular Solutions & Orbital Shapes

Week 7 (Oct 19, Oct 21)

Mon: [Quiz 3 - 25 min] / [Ch 7] Approximation Methods: Variational Method

Wed: [Ch 7] Perturbation Theory Basics / Midterm Review

Week 8 (Oct 26 – Oct 30): Midterm Examination Week

Part II: Molecular Structure, Group Theory, and Spectroscopy

(Note: Wednesday classes from Week 9 onwards allocate the final 20 minutes to 2–3 student Blackboard Talks.)

Week 9 (Nov 02, Nov 04)

Mon: [Ch 8] Multielectron Atoms, Spin, & Pauli Exclusion Principle

Wed: [Ch 8] Slater Determinants & Hund's Rules [Student Talks 1, 2]

Week 10 (Nov 09, Nov 11)

Mon: [Quiz 4 - 25 min] / [Ch 9] Chemical Bonding in Diatomics & Born-Oppenheimer Approximation

Wed: [Ch 9] LCAO-MO Theory & H
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Molecular Ion [Student Talks 3, 4]

Week 11 (Nov 16, Nov 18)

Mon: [Ch 9] Homonuclear & Heteronuclear Diatomic MO Diagrams

Wed: [Ch 12] Symmetry Operations & Point Groups [Student Talks 5, 6]

Week 12 (Nov 23, Nov 25)

Mon: [Quiz 5 - 25 min] / [Ch 12] Representation Theory & Character Tables

Wed: [Ch 12] Applications of Group Theory to Molecular Vibrations [Student Talks 7, 8]

Week 13 (Nov 30, Dec 02)

Mon: [Ch 13] Introduction to Spectroscopy & Transition Dipole Moment

Wed: [Ch 13] Rotational (Microwave) Spectroscopy & Selection Rules [Student Talks 9, 10]

Week 14 (Dec 07, Dec 09)

Mon: [Quiz 6 - 25 min] / [Ch 13] Vibrational-Rotational Spectroscopy (P, Q, R Branches)

Wed: [Ch 13] Raman Spectroscopy & Polarizability [Student Talks 11, 12]

Week 15 (Dec 14, Dec 16)

Mon: [Ch 13] Electronic Spectroscopy & Franck-Condon Principle

Wed: Course Wrap-up & Final Q&A [Student Talks 13, 14]

Week 16 (Dec 21 – Dec 24): Final Examination Week

Course Overview & Teaching Methodology

This course is built on traditional theoretical rigor, active problem-solving, and modern computational visualization:

Blackboard Talk & Python Demos: Lectures are delivered on the blackboard to build a deep, step-by-step understanding of mathematical derivations and physical intuition. Wednesday classes complement these lectures with interactive Python demonstrations to visualize quantum mechanical phenomena.

Homework & Bi-Weekly Quizzes: Ungraded weekly homework problems from McQuarrie’s textbook serve as your primary study guide. Understanding these problems is key, as bi-weekly 25-minute quizzes are directly adapted from homework assignments.

Student-Led Presentations: Starting after the midterm, students take the chalk during the second half of Wednesday classes to lead concise, 10-minute blackboard presentations on specific derivations and physical mechanisms.

The syllabus for this lecture including detailed lecture plan and specifics on evaluation will be given in the first class meeting. Please contact the instructor in advance by email if you have any concerns before selecting this course.