- UCAS course code
- F152
- UCAS institution code
- M20
MChem Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry / Course details
Year of entry: 2024
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Course unit details:
Core Physical Chemistry
Unit code | CHEM20212 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Offered by | Department of Chemistry |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Solutions and Electrochemistry (Professor Robert Dryfe, 8 lectures)
• Definition and interrelation of mole fraction, molality, molarity.
• Chemical potential: ideal and non-ideal liquid mixtures.
• Electrolyte solutions and their non-ideality: the Debye-Huckel Law.
• Electrode potentials.
• Electrochemical cells and applications.
Computational Chemistry I (Electronic Structure Theory - Dr Nicholas Chilton, 8 lectures)
• Introduction to computational chemistry: overview and challenges.
• Solutions of hydrogenic atoms: radial and angular wave functions.
• Many-electron atoms and electronic states.
• Molecular orbital theory: LCAO and the Hückel method.
• Principles of quantum chemistry and the electronic structure of some simple molecules.
Computational Chemistry II (Methods and Application - Dr Neil Burton, 8 lectures)
• Molecular coordinates, the potential energy surface and stationary points.
• Introduction to geometry optimization and conformational analysis.
• Molecular mechanics and force-fields.
• Quantum chemistry methods: application and approximations (including DFT).
• Molecular simulation: classical molecular dynamics and ensemble properties.
Aims
After attending all lectures and completing the workshop/tutorial work, you will be able to:
- Progress your understanding of the core concepts of physical and theoretical chemistry, especially solutions and electrochemistry, electronic structure and computational chemistry
- To foster related skills in practical physical chemistry.
Teaching and learning methods
- Standard 3 blocks of 8 x 1 hour lectures (including 3 x 1 hour workshop/examples class) with supplementary information, including additional notes will be available.
- Tutorials/workshops/examples classes.
- Online computer tests will be available in blackboard.
- Feedback Questions on the lectures, together with worked answers, will be discussed in tutorials/workshops/examples classes.
Knowledge and understanding
Students should be able to:
- Understand the basic thermodynamic principles of solutions and practical applications to electrochemistry.
- Understand basic quantum mechanical principles to understand the electronic structures and properties of multi-electron atoms and molecules.
- Understand the fundamental principles of common computational methods of quantum chemistry and molecular simulation.
Intellectual skills
Students should be able to:
- Use the concepts of physical and theoretical chemistry to explain the properties of solutions and apply these to electrochemical systems.
- Use the concepts discussed in the course to apply computational chemistry methods to study chemical structure, properties and reactions.
Practical skills
Students should be able to:
- apply the relevant theoretical skills in practical physical chemistry
- apply basic computational chemistry software to study the properties of molecules.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Problem solving, numeracy and mathematical and ICT.
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Written exam | 100% |
Feedback methods
- formative assessment/feedback in Blackboard
- exam questions/multiple choice during lecture
- feedback from tutors marking and commenting on submitted work
Recommended reading
- P. Atkins and J de Paula, Atkins' Physical Chemistry (9th Ed), Oxford, 2009
- A. Hinchliffe, Molecular Modelling for Beginners, Wiley, 2003.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 2 |
Lectures | 24 |
Tutorials | 3 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 71 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Robert Dryfe | Unit coordinator |
Neil Burton | Unit coordinator |
Nicholas Chilton | Unit coordinator |