Module CHEM2041: PROPERTIES OF MOLECULES

Department: CHEMISTRY

CHEM2041: PROPERTIES OF MOLECULES

Prerequisites

• Core Chemistry 1A (CHEM1012) and either Core Chemistry 1B (CHEM1022) or approved Mathematics modules.

Corequisites

• Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To advance students' understanding of magnetic resonance and thermodynamics and to introduce students to surface chemistry and diffraction.

Content

• Surface chemistry: surface tension, adhesion, cohesion and wetting.
• Adsorption of gases on solids.
• Methods of surface charactorisation.
• Diffraction: crystal systems, lattice symmetry, space groups.
• Miller indices.
• Single crystal methods, powder diffraction and neutron diffraction.
• Magnetic resonance including electron-spin resonance, electron-spin and magnetic resonance imaging.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain adsorption of gases to solid surfaces and apply adsorption isotherms to chemical problems particularly surface area determination.
• Explain and interpret reaction rates of gases in the presence of solid catalysts.
• Use crystallographic concepts, such as symmetry elements and Miller indicies, to describe crystal structures and to apply diffraction theory to structural problems.
• Explain how NMR spectra are obtained and understand how the basic principles of NMR relate to the various features of NMR spectra.
• Describe the origin and applications of other forms of magnetic resonance, such as ESR and MR imaging.

• Perform complex experiments in physical chemistry.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures are used to convey concepts and are examined by written papers. This is the best method to assess the knowledge of the students.
• Workshops are larger groups of students where problems are considered and common difficulties shared. This ensures that students have understood the work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.
• Laboratory classes teach students techniques in various aspects of physical chemistry. They are continuously assessed so that the student can learn from one session to the next.
• The collection held in January is for students to assess their own learning and performance to improve their examination technique. It is an opportunity for them to assimilate the work completed in the first term. Papers are returned to students with model answers so that they can learn from the experience.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Collection (1 hour written exam in week 11). Set work (eg. preparation for tutorials, i.e. workshops).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University