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Module

CHY2201 : Physical Chemistry

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Eimer Tuite
  • Lecturer: Dr Thomas Penfold, Dr Toni Carruthers
  • Practical Supervisor: Dr Cristina Navarro Reguero
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

To give students an appreciation of intermediate thermodynamics concepts
To introduce intermediate principles of time- dependent chemistry and molecular motion
To explain the significance and application of quantum concepts as a major tool in modern chemistry. To develop experimental techniques through practical work.

Outline Of Syllabus

Applied Quantum Chemistry
Dr T Penfold

1 Quantized energy levels – translation, rotation, vibration etc
2 Electromagnetic radiation - interaction with molecules
3 Harmonic model for molecular vibrational motion
4 Vibrational – rotational spectra of diatomic molecules
5 Anharmonic model for vibrational motion
6 Particle-in-a-box model
7 Multi-dimensional particle-in-a-box models
8 Electronic absorption spectra of conjugated molecules
9 Tunneling
10 Decay of electronically excited states – fluorescence, phosphorescence
11 Revision seminar

Energetics and interfacial phenomena
Professor U Stimming

1 Review of CHY120 energetics
2 Statistical concepts
3 Chemical potential and thermodynamics of solutions
4 Standard states, activities and electrode potentials
5 Interfaces I – adsorption and isotherms
6 Interfaces II – electrical double layer
7 Colloids
8 Polymers
9 Calculations
10 Revision seminar I
11 Revision seminar II

Molecules in motion
Dr EM Tuite

1 Review of Stage 1 kinetics
2 Kinetic theory of gases
3 Molecular collisions in gases
4 Molecular mobility in gases
5 Ion conductivity
6 Mobility of ions
7 Diffusion in solution
8 The Diffusion and Arrhenius Equations
9 Diffusion-controlled reactions
10 Activated Complex Theory
11 Review of Stage 2 kinetics

Laboratory Course
Course organiser: Dr C Navarro-Reguero

Students undertake a selection from the following experiments:
1 Kinetics of hydrolysis
2 Stopped flow kinetics
3 Infrared Spectroscopy
4 Critical Micelle Concentration
5 Fluorescence spectroscopy
6 Absorption Spectroscopy
7 Adsorption of iodine on carbon
8 Walden's Rule

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable