Module overview
Physical Chemistry is concerned with the application of physics to the study of chemical systems. Through physical chemistry one can understand and predict the behaviour of chemical systems, thereby allowing these systems to be optimised. This module will provide an introduction to kinetics (how fast chemical reactions happen) and to the fundamental concepts and reasoning of quantum mechanics.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Be able to describe the quantum mechanics of atoms, including the energy level structure, the orbitals and their quantum numbers.
- Solve simple problems of multi-step chemical reaction kinetics
- Describe how rate laws are obtained from experimental data and how they emerge from the interaction of elementary reaction steps
- Be able to use the Schrödinger equation and derive the energy levels and stationary quantum states for simple quantum-mechanical problems.
- Explain concepts including chemical reaction rates, their dependency on concentration and temperature and basic enzyme kinetics
- Be able to describe the different ways that light interactions with molecular systems, including absorption, emission, and scattering processes.
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Meet the learning outcomes of a co-requisite practical module.
Syllabus
Rates of chemical reaction; Determination of rate laws; Isolation & initial rate methods; Integrated rate laws; Temperature dependence of reaction rates;Elementary & consecutive reactions; Approach to equilibrium; The steady state concept; Rate law of complex mechanisms;The rate determining step; Unimolecular reactions; Enzyme kinetics; Probability and probability amplitudes;Position and momentum
wavefunctions; Energy; Particle in a box; Confined states; 3D box; Degeneracy
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, small group tutorials and laboratory sessions.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Practical | 30 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 10 |
| Wider reading or practice | 35 |
| Online Course | 12 |
| Revision | 20 |
| Assessment tasks | 20 |
| Tutorial | 5 |
| Problem Classes | 9 |
| Lecture | 9 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula, and James Keeler. Atkins' Physical Chemistry.
Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula. Elements of Physical Chemistry.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Final exam, tutorials and laboratory marks. The latter are accumulated under the co-requisite lab module.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Final Assessment | 60% |
| Assessed Tutorials | 10% |
| Laboratory practicals | 30% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External