On completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Understand the origins of quantum mechanics in terms of energy quantization and wave-particle duality
• Describe the dynamics of microscopic systems in terms of the Schrödinger equation and the Born interpretation of the wavefunction
• Use key principles of quantum mechanics to determine the information in a wavefunction and to describe the nature and ramifications of the uncertainty principle
• Apply quantum mechanics to the description of translational motion, confinement (particle-in-a-box), tunneling, rotational motion (particle-on-a-ring and particle-on-a-sphere) and vibrational motion (harmonic oscillator)
• Describe the property of particle spin
• Understand the structure and spectra of hydrogenic atoms in terms of quantum mechanics
• Describe the permitted energies of hydrogenic atoms and the shapes of atomic orbitals
• Understand the structure of many-electron atoms in terms of quantum mechanics
• Describe the orbital approximation and the Pauli principle
• Understand the effects of penetration, shielding, and the Aufbau principle on the atomic subshell energies and electron configurations of many-electron atoms
• Rationalize Periodic trends in atomic sizes and ionization energies
• Describe the spectroscopic transitions and selection rules of hydrogenic atoms and many-electron atoms
• Understand the character of the molecular potential energy curve
• Describe the electronic structure of homonuclear diatomic molecules in terms of σ bonds and π bonds using the valence bond theory
• Describe the electronic structure of polyatomic molecules in terms of promotion and hybridization using the valence bond theory
• Describe the electronic structure of diatomic molecules in terms of the linear combination of atomic orbitals using the molecular orbital theory
• Understand the emergence of (non-) bonding orbitals, anti-bonding orbitals, σ orbitals, and π orbitals in the context of the molecular orbital theory
• Understand the relationship between the electronic structure of molecules and the electronic spectra of molecules

See comments above.

Students registering for this module should have completed CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry OR achieved a minimum grade of C in Leaving Certificate Honours Chemistry or equivalent AND have completed CHEM20080 Basis of Physical Chemistry.

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

There will be four assignments based on problem solving with a particular emphasis on numerical skills development Tutor will provide in-person tutorials to describe aim of each question, relevance to lecture material, approach to solution, and worked solution Assignment questions will bridge between the in-class lecture material, the learning outcomes, and the end-of-trimester exam