Module CHEM4491: Emerging Developments in Chemistry

Department: Chemistry

CHEM4491: Emerging Developments in Chemistry

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To build on material taught at level 3 and provide students with an advanced overview of more specialised areas at the interface of physical chemistry and chemical physics.

Content

• This module builds on material taught at level 3 and provides an advanced overview of specialised, cutting-edge areas of chemistry. It comprises a collection of 4 themed research focused courses spanning topics at the forefront of chemical research. The topics are: Molecular Reaction Dynamics; Macromolecular Physical Chemistry; Medicinal Chemistry: from Hit to Pill; and Advanced Molecular Spectroscopy.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how molecular, physicochemical and material properties influence drug developability, formulation and product performance.
• Apply crystal chemistry, thermodynamic and kinetic principles to explain nucleation, polymorph selection, crystallisation, crystal growth and amorphous stability.
• Explain how energy flows between degrees of freedom of a molecule.
• Understand the role of spectroscopy and simulation in determining structure, excited state properties and dynamics.
• Explain how differential cross sections are related to rate constants and how they can be measured.
• Understand how polymer dimensions and chemistry govern their structure and dynamics and organisation.
• Explain how these features can be exploited in practical applications for polymer materials.

• Distinguish and critically evaluate crystalline and amorphous drug forms using evidence from appropriate solid-state characterisation techniques.
• Integrate experimental and development evidence to design solid-form studies, solve development problems and justify an appropriate form, formulation, process and control strategy.
• Deduce the qualitative outcome of a reaction from the key features of the potential energy surface and vice versa.
• Calculate and explain how reaction exothermicity is proportioned amongst the internal states of reaction products.

• Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

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

• Facts and new concepts are introduced in the lecture courses.
• Lectures are used to convey concepts, demonstrate what is required to be learned and to illustrate the application of theory to practical examples. When appropriate, lectures will be supported by written on-line material, or by information and relevant links on Blackboard Learn Ultra.
• Students' knowledge and understanding is tested by examination.
• Workshops are where groups of students consider problems and explore common shared difficulties. Problem exercises provide students the chance to develop their theoretical understanding and problem-solving skills. This ensures that students have understood the work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.
• Private study should be used by students to develop their subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation, through reading textbooks and literature. Students will be able to obtain further help in their studies by approaching their lecturers, either after lectures or at other mutually convenient times.
• Student performance will be assessed through examinations. Examinations test students' ability to work under pressure under timed conditions, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning and develop key time management skills. The examination will provide the means for students to demonstrate the acquisition of subject knowledge and the development of their problem-solving skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Workshop problems.