Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)

Module CHEM2097: PROPERTIES OF MOLECULES

Department: Chemistry

CHEM2097: PROPERTIES OF MOLECULES

Type Open Level 2 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2015/16 Module Cap Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Core Chemistry 1A (CHEM1078) AND EITHER Core Chemistry 1B (CHEM1098) OR [Calculus and Probability 1 (MATH1061) AND Linear Algebra I (MATH1071)] OR Single Mathematics A (MATH1561) OR Maths for Engineers & Scientists (MATH1551).

Corequisites

  • Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012) AND Practical Chemistry 2 - Physical (CHEM2127).

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To advance students' understanding of magnetic resonance, and to introduce students to surface chemistry and polymers.

Content

  • Surface chemistry: solid surfaces, surface relaxation and reconstruction, steps and defects.
  • Adsorption of gases on solids.
  • Mechanisms and kinetics of heterogeneous catalysis.
  • An introduction to polymers. Initiation, propagation and termination. Chain like nature of polymer molecules.
  • Fundamentals of NMR, origins of chemical shifts, applications of magnetic resonance.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Explain adsorption of gases to solid surfaces and apply adsorption isotherms to chemical problems; explain and interpret reaction rates of gases in the presence of solid catalysts.
  • Carry out thermodynamic calculations involving fluid surfaces.
  • Explain how NMR spectra are obtained and understand how the basic principles of NMR relate to the various features of NMR spectra.
  • Use simple models to calculate the size of polymers and be able to calculate molecular weight averages.
  • Explain and predict the effects of chemical structure on the glass transition temperature.
  • Calculate the extent of cross linking in rubbers from mechanical properties.
Subject-specific Skills:
Key Skills:
  • Written communication, advanced through the use of essay type questions in lecture-support worksheets
  • Problem-solving, developed through workshop worksheets.

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.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 21 1 per week 1 Hour 21
Workshops 3 1 per term 1.5 hours 4.5 ■
Preparation and Reading 62.5
On-line quizzes 12 6 per term 1 Hour 12 ■
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination Two hours 100% Two hour written examination

Formative Assessment:

Set work in preparation for workshops. On-line quizzes.

■ 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