Fall 2026 - CHEM 364 D100
Quantum Chemistry (3)
Class Number: 4569
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: Tue, Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Gary Leach
gleach@sfu.ca
778-782-8065
Office: SCC9071
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Prerequisites:
CHEM 260 or PHYS 285, MATH 232, and MATH 251, all with a minimum grade of C-. Recommended: MATH 260 or MATH 310.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Fundamentals of quantum mechanics and its principal results and techniques as applied to atoms and molecules: atomic structure, molecular bonding, rotations and vibrations of molecules, symmetry of atomic and molecular orbitals. Students with credit for CHEM 464 may not take this course for further credit. PHYS 385 will be accepted in lieu of CHEM 364.
COURSE DETAILS:
Please note, this course outline was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change.
Mode of Instruction:
3 lecture hours/week; 1 tutorial hour/week
Lecture: In-Person, Burnaby Campus
Tutorial: In-Person, Burnaby Campus
General course content:
- Historical background
- Foundations of quantum mechanics
- Particle in a box and harmonic oscillator
- Angular momentum and the hydrogen atom
- Variational principle
- Perturbation theory
- Helium and spin angular momentum
- Addition of angular momentum
- Born-Oppenheimer approximation
- Hydrogen molecule cation
- Hydrogen molecule
- Computational techniques
Grading
- Assignments 20%
- Midterm Exams (2) 40%
- Final Exam 40%
Materials
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Ira N. Levine. Quantum Chemistry. 6th Edition.
- Peter W. Atkins & Ronald S. Friedman. Molecular Quantum Mechanics. 4th Edition.
- C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu & F. Laloe. Quantum Mechanics.
- Donald A. McQuarrie. Quantum Chemistry.
- Robert Eisberg & Robert Resnick. Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles.
- Thomas Engel. Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy. 4th edition.
- Mark A. Ratner & George C. Schatz. Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
A grade of C- or better is required for all prerequisite courses.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.