Entry requirements

Chemical Principles I/Basic Chemistry, 10 credits, or Basic Principles of Chemistry, 15 credits, and participation in Single Variable Analysis, 10 credits. Linear Algebra and Geometry, 5 credits, as well as participation in Physics for Chemists, 5 credits, are recommended.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should 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.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

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.