Physical Chemistry II

Prof. Wexler was able to help me better understand content form quantum (last semester) that I often felt completely lost on. Connecting stat mech to quantum systems we previously talked about previously was revolutionary and connected so many dots in my head. Its clear he cares about teaching and making sure students understand the content.

4/1/2026

Thank goodness I made it. The exams were unnecessarily hard, and nothing like the material in lecture or on the problem sets. He talks down to students, except for his favs. His lectures improved when there was another prof in class, then got crappy again after. I do not see I learned anything this semester.

5/8/2024

The gap between what is covered in class/in homework vs the exams is enormous. Assigns little to no homework problems and they are far too easy. Exams are only hard because you don't know what to expect and Dr. Wexler does little to prepare you. Also very confusing to understand.

4/15/2024

Horrible professor. Lectures are him rambling for 50 minutes with questions that cannot be answered using lecture content. Truly have no idea why he is allowed to be a professor with no knowledge of how to actually teach.

2/10/2024

Textbook is a must have for the class - Wexler is a new teacher and lectures do not fully cover the content and are often drawn out and confusing. Homework is easy if you have the textbook, but good luck on exams.

7/29/2023

Wexler is new, and it shows a bit. He really cares and is very nice. The course is hard, and he gave tons of derivations. So, it is extremely math/physics heavy. I don't know if it is possible, but I wished he would have provided some insights into the equations and material? I am not sure how this course helped me as a STEM major.

5/25/2023

Dr. Wexler is an outstanding physical chemist. I especially appreciate his teaching in statistical mechanics, which is extremely thought-provoking in connecting quantum mechanics to thermodynamics. This class, together with Chem401, is mind-blowing for me throughout my sophomore year, and pchem will be part of my life from now on.

5/11/2023

He is clearly enthusiastic about the subjects he teaches, but somehow is able to turn the simplest concepts into incredibly confusing ideas. My recommendation, first find a good textbook (For Chem 402 Atkins is a good choice), read the relevant section(s) before every lecture, go to lecture, watch the box videos and then do the practice problems.

4/28/2021

Fournier is fantastic and enthusiastic. P chem 1 is unbelievably difficult and the homework sets are insane. However, he is always happy to meet with you and discuss even the simplest concepts as many times as you need so that you can understand them. Go to office hours! Hardest class I've ever taken with one of the best professors I've had.

9/15/2020

seems enthusiastic but just unable to teach. Makes even simple concepts seem twisted.

5/6/2020

Most discouraging class I've had in my WashU career. I can study for a week straight and still fail his exams and quizzes. It's hard to know what is important from lectures and notes and if you don't have much experience in thermo you will be overwhelmed. Get ready to study, ask questions, and cry.

3/8/2019

He cares more about teaching than any other professor you'll have. Part of what comes with him caring about you understanding the material is that it's a lot of work, and not easy. But he's very clear about his expectations and gives great written notes. He cares a lot about your personal goals and how this relates to his class. Highly recommend

11/20/2018

It's very clear that Dr. Barnes cares a lot about his students and about teaching. Material can fly by in class by going to office hours really helps. Sometimes has strict grading on exams

6/4/2018

Professor Barnes puts a lot of effort and care into his students. He is extremely approachable and tries to ensure students understand the material. I like his enthusiasm and examples of real world applications which made the class more interesting. The course is challenging but doable if one puts in the work. Honestly one of my favorite classes!

10/15/2017

Professor Barnes is one of the most caring professors I've had at WashU - by the first day of class, he had learned every student's name, and he would talk to students before class about summer plans and career goals. He tries incredibly hard to be a good lecturer; however, his lectures are sometimes scattered. His exams are long but fairly easy.

6/9/2017

One of my favorite lecturers. Provides his own class notes which are helpful and easy to follow. Takes time to guide through math and make his reasoning clear. The workload is definitely manageable. Most importantly, he is very personable and goes out of his way to get to know each student. Great at giving advice and listening to his students.

5/18/2017

Professor Barnes is a great professor, but the course is really difficult. He is really enthusiastic, understands the material well, and genuinely cares about teachings students. The homework is arduous, and the tests are tough. However, he does a really good job teaching the material.

4/29/2017

Barnes is ok. The material is a bit dry, but he tries to make it sound interesting. His enthusiasm seems forced, however. He can be a bit short with students when they do not get the material. I understand he lectures from the same notes his advisor uses at MIT. I think I would rather take it from him.

11/3/2016

Really cares about students and offers lots of resources and advice for those going on to grad school for physical chemistry. Also gives practical applications of course material, making the material more interesting. Doesn't always follow notes though, and math mistakes/typos take up time. Exams are straightforward but long.

5/1/2016

Definitely cares for his students and wants them to succeed. Top notch quality of instruction. Exams are extremely long, but doable with studying and preparation.

4/29/2016