* describe the difference between a surface and an interface, list the conditions for a clean surface and calculate the amount of molecules/atoms on the surface for a given vacuum condition.
* write surface thermodynamic functions, define surface tension in terms of thermodynamic functions and relate the surface curvature to surface tension.
* describe different types of surface atom interactions, distinguish between physisorption and chemisorption and list the conditions for physisorption.
* describe the differences between dissociative, nondissociative and competitive chemisorptions and define sticking coefficient in terms of chemisorbed species.
* describe different surface reaction mechanisms which involve more than one species.
* define adsorption isotherms, describe and compare Langmuir and BET isotherms.
* write down the rate equation for first order and second order desorption mechanisms and compare the two cases.
* describe the effects of surface forces on bond formation and bond breaking between the surface atoms and adsorbates.
* describe the band structure and electronic states for surfaces and explain adsorption induced charge transfer.
* explain probes used for surface characterization techniques, list several of these techniques and describe the differences between bulk characterization vs surface characterization techniques.
* compare heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis reactions on the surface, effects of surface active sites on the catalytic action and write the reaction kinetics for a simple catalytic reaction on the surface.