This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module CHEM3411: CHEMICAL PHYSICS 3

Department: Chemistry

CHEM3411: CHEMICAL PHYSICS 3

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	20	Available in 2010/2011	None.	Durham

Tied To

FGC0: Natural Sciences

Pre-requisites

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

Corequisites

Molecules and their Interactions (CHEM3041) AND Computational Chemistry (CHEM2061).

Excluded Combinations

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012), Materials Chemistry (CHEM3051) AND Chemistry and Society (CHEM3061).

Aims

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

Content

Introduction to organometallic chemistry.
Statistical thermodynamics.
Transition-state theory and its applications.
Soft matter.
Dissertation.
Applied spectroscopy.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

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;
use the isolobal analogy to relate different areas of chemistry;
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 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.

Subject-specific Skills

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

Key Skills

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 asses the knowledge of the students.
The dissertation provides students with the oppertunity to evaluate a small part of the scientific literature and to present their findings.
Workshops are larger groups of students where probems are considered and common difficulties shared. This ensures that students have understood thw work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	38	2 per week	1 Hour	38
Tutorials	2	1 per Term	1 Hour	2	Yes
Workshops	6	2 or 3 per Term	1.5 Hours	9	Yes
Seminars	3	1 in Term 1, 3 in Term 2	2 or 3 Hours	9	Yes
Preparation and Reading				142
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	70%	examination	Three hours	100%
Dissertation	30%	dissertation	2,500 - 3,500 words	100%

Formative Assessment

Set work for workshops.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.