MChem Chemistry

To provide a comprehensive introduction to concepts in algebra and calculus for year 1 Chemistry students.

1. Carry out arithmetic using complex numbers and hence solve polynomial and power equations.
2. Differentiate functions and hence locate and classify stationary points for a function of a single variable
3. Use equations in implicit or parametric form including straight lines or conic sections to extract relevant information
4. Recall and apply appropriate rules to integrate functions use these to measure areas associated with curves or combinations of curves.
5. Model chemical processes using differential equation systems and solve these systems using a variety of techniques.
6. Identify the appropriate partial fractions form and find the values of any coefficients for a rational function of a single variable
7. Calculate sums, differences and products involving vectors and use these to solve geometrical problems.

The course covers basic concepts in algebra, geometry, and calculus, a breakdown of the content is below.

Geometry and Functions

•    Equations of straight lines and circles

•    Types of function (explicit, implicit, parametric)

•    Partial fractions

Differentiation

•    Finding the minima and maxima of functions

•    Differentiating compound functions (product, chain, and quotient rules)

•    Tools for more specialised cases (implicit and logarithmic differentiation)

Integration

•    Finding the area between curves

•    Improper integrals

•    Techniques for integration (substitution, integration by parts, integration by partial fractions)

•    Finding the volume under a surface (double integrals)

Vectors

•    Addition/subtraction of vectors

•    Product operations (scalar and vector products)

•    Vector equation of a straight line and a plane

•    Triple product rules

Complex numbers

•    Forms of complex number (standard, polar, exponential)

•    Arithmetic with complex numbers

•    Roots of complex numbers

•    Polynomial equations with complex numbers

•    Curves described by complex functions

First-order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs)

•    Properties of ODEs

•    Graphical solutions to ODEs

•    Methods for solving homogeneous ODEs (separation and substitution)

•    Methods for linear first-order ODEs (integrating factor) and second-order ODEs with constant coefficients (auxiliary equation).  

Differentiation

Functions and Geometry

Integration

Partial fractions

Vectors 

Differentiation

Functions and Geometry

Integration 

Complex numbers

Differentiation

Functions and Geometry

Integration

ODEs

Partial fractions

Vectors 

Mathematical Formula Tables. (2004). University of Manchester. Document URL: https://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/…

Cockett, Martin. (2012). Maths for chemists. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN: 9781621981510

Steiner, Erich. (2008). The chemistry maths book. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780199205356

Croft, Tony, 1957- author. (2015). Mathematics for engineers. Pearson Education Limited. ISBN: 1292077751 

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  

Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates

Tuition fees for home students will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year. In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are subject to the Government fee cap, which the Government has announced will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year.

Government policy is to increase the fee cap on an annual basis to reflect inflation (i.e. increasing costs), and the tuition fee home students pay in subsequent academic years will reflect any increases in the Government fee cap (which we will communicate to you as soon as we can in advance of the relevant academic year).

Tuition fees for international students will be £39,700 for the 2027/28 academic year. For subsequent academic years, the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fee by up to 7% each year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our education and wider student experience.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

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