Entry requirements

Chemical Principles I/Basic Chemistry 10 credits or Basic Priniciples of Chemistry 15 credits and completed attendance in the course Single-variable analysis. Linear algebra and geometry 5 credits as well as completed attenance in the course Physics for Chemists are recommended.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:

• explain using relevant principles different types of transport processes in solution and carry out calculations on corresponding properties.
• relate intermolecular forces to properties of liquids and surfactants in the bulk and at interfaces, as well as carry out simple calculations on them.
• apply concepts in reaction kinetics and catalysis to analyse, interpret and carry out calculations on reactions with one or more mechanistic stegs based on mechanistic and kinetics data.
• give an account of and apply fundamental principles and concepts in quantum mechanics and explain what relevance and significace these have within chemistry.
• describe and explain the physico-chemical priniciples underlying common spectroscopic methods, as well as discuss the potentials and limitations of these spectroscopic methods.
• determine different molecular parameters and identify characteristic groupds through interpreting and analysis the spectra of diatomic and simple polyatomic molecules
• carry out and document laboratory work in a correct manner as well as give written/oral accounts of laboratory results .
• give examples of the relevance of the course content for humankind and the environment.

Content

Transport processes: conductivity in electrolyte solutions, diffusion, viscosity, sedimentation and centrifugation

Surface chemistry and intermolecular forces: wetting, surface tension, surfactants, Laplace pressure, amphiphilic molecules, surface films, surface excess, self-assembly and self-associating systems, Born energy.

Kinetics: reaction rate, order of reaction, reaction mechanisms, steady-state approximation, activation energy, transition state, basic catalysis, experimental methods.

Quatum mechanics: Schrödinger equation, wavefunctions and the probability interpretation. Particle-in-a-box, particle-on-a-ring, harmonic oscillator. Angular momentum and spin. Hydrogen-like atom. Atomic orbitals. Molecular orbitals.

Spectroscopy: absorption and emission of radiation. Spectrophotometry and spectrometer operation. Absorption and emission spectra. Rotational, vibrational and rotational-vibrational spectroscopy. Normal modes. Electronic transitions and the Franck-Condon principle. Transition probability. Deexcitation pathways. Fluorscence and phosphorescence.

Instruction

Lectures, tutorials, laboratory exercises.

Assessment

Written test at the end of the course (7 credits). In order to receive a pass grade for the course, the laboratory course (3 credits) must also be passed. The final grade is a weighted sum of the results of the theory test and the laboratory exercises.

Other directives

Cannot be counted towards a degree together with Chemical Principles II, Quantum Mechanics, Chemical Bonding and Spectroscopy, 1KB301 Physical Chemistry, 1KB307 Physical Chemistry I or 1KB308 Physical Chemistry.