Aims

To provide an essential understanding of basic thermodynamic principles, chemical kinetics and spectroscopy and, in conjunction with the stage 1 physical chemistry laboratory class, an introduction to some experimental techniques which can be employed in physical chemistry

Outline Of Syllabus

Thermodynamics
Dr BR Horrocks

1 Properties of gases, perfect and imperfect gases
2 1st Law of thermodynamics, temperature, heat, work, internal energy, enthalpy and temperature effects
3-4 Applications of the 1st law, physical change, molecular change and chemical change
5-6 2nd Law of thermodynamics, entropy and phase change
7 3rd Law of thermodynamics
8 Gibbs’ free energy
9-10 Thermodynamics of pure substances
11 Thermodynamics of mixtures

Kinetics
Dr F Cucinotta

1 Empirical chemical kinetics: relationship with equilibrium
2 Rate laws: first-order, second-order, and pseudo first-order reactions
3 Experimental techniques
4 Determination of the rate law I: isolation method
5 Determination of the rate law II: integrated rate laws, half lives
6 Temperature dependence: Arrhenius law
7 Collision theory and activated complexes
8 Accounting for the rate laws: mechanisms and steady-state approximation
9 Example mechanisms: Lindemann mechanism
10 Revision seminar I
11 Revision seminar II

Spectroscopy
Dr N Walker

1 General introduction to spectroscopy
2-4 Electronic spectroscopy
5-7 Vibrational and rotational spectroscopy
8 Spectroscopy and Temperature
9-11 Magnetic resonance spectroscopies

Laboratory Course
Course organiser: Dr C Navarro-Reguero

1 Electrochemical cells: Delta-G of a reaction and Nernst equation
2 Measurement of pH and pKa by titration
3 Measurement of solubility using conductance
4 Kinetics using spectrophotometry
5 Infrared spectroscopy - interpretation
6 Ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy
7 Calorimetry: heats of reaction and dissolution
8 Reaction kinetics using conductance
9 Ideal gas law and absolute zero
10 Investigation of the kinetics of the BZ reaction
11 Infrared spectroscopy – physical basis
12 UV/VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy - physical basis

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge and understanding are acquired through lectures. The calculation classes will increase the ability of students to solve quantitative problems and carry out calculations in physical chemistry. Practicals are designed to reinforce the taught material and practice written, experimental, computer and problem solving skills. The drop in sessions allow discussion between module staff and students.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The examination and assessment are designed to test knowledge, numerical and problem solving skills.

The coursework provides continual practice in calculation.

Practical reports assess written, experimental, computer and problem solving skills.