Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module CHEM3041: MOLECULES AND THEIR INTERACTIONS

Department: CHEMISTRY

CHEM3041: MOLECULES AND THEIR INTERACTIONS

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2006/07	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012) AND Properties of Molecules (CHEM2041).

Corequisites

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) OR, for students following the MSci in Chemistry and Mathematics or Chemistry and Physics (FGC0), Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411).

Excluded Combination of Modules

None

Aims

To advance the knowledge of colloids and interfaces, intermolecular interactions and electronic and vibrational spectroscopy.

Content

Intermolecular forces: electrostatic; induction; dispertion; repulsion.
Experimental methods.
Molecular excited states: electronic spectroscopy, fluorescence and phosphorescence.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Explain the nature and quantitative aspects of intermolecular forces and apply this knowledge;
describe the theory behind rotation-vibration spectroscopy of polyatomic molecules, its applications and the experimental techniques involved;
describe the principles behind electronic spectroscopy and the relaxation of excited states, and display a knowledge of the range of applications available within each technique.

Subject-specific Skills:

Perform and discuss advanced laboratory experiments.

Key Skills:

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 thought to be 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.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	21	1 per week	1 Hour	21
Practicals	20	4 per week in Term 1 or 2	3 Hours	60
Other (workshops)	3	1 per Term	1.5 Hours	4.5
Preparation and Reading				114.5
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 65%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written examination	Two hours	100%
Component: Laboratory Work		Component Weighting: 35%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
results of laboratory work		100%

Formative Assessment:

Set work for 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