Module CHEM3012: CORE CHEMISTRY 3

Department: Chemistry

CHEM3012: CORE CHEMISTRY 3

Prerequisites

• Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop the fundamentals presented in Core Chemistry 2 through in-depth discussion of selected areas of chemistry.

Content

• Introduction to organometallic chemistry.
• Inorganic reaction mechanisms.
• Catalysis.
• Organic chemistry-3.
• Statistical thermodynamics.
• Transition state theory and its applications.
• Soft Matter.
• Dissertation.
• Applied spectroscopy.

Learning Outcomes

• Have an appreciation of the chemistry of low oxidation state transition metal compounds and the ability to predict structure and reactions from the electron distributions;
• describe, rationalise and predict reaction pathways at inorganic centres;
• use the isolobal analogy to relate different areas of chemistry;
• discuss the significance, industrial or otherwise, of catalysis at a variety of metal centres;
• employ advanced methods of organic synthesis alongside more basic methodologies learnt in earlier years to solve problems in organic chemistry;
• describe synthetically useful free radical reactions;
• describe methods for introducing stereoselectivity into a variety of organic reactions;
• describe the ideas of statistical thermodynamics and develop equations which allow the calculation of heat capacities, standard entropies and equilibrium constants;
• describe the principles of transition state theory and to develop equations for rate constants and activation parameters;
• explain how colloids can be stabilised in solution;
• explain the relation between molecular structures and phase diagrams for molecules that form ordered phases in the liquid state;
• predict phase transition conditions based on Landau theory.

• Interpret simple 2D NMR spectra and use this evidence in the elucidation of molecular structure using a combination of techniques;

• Provided by information retrieval, scientific writing, oral presentation and discussion of scientific results.

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.
• The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to evaluate a small part of the scientific literature and to present their findings.
• 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.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

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