By the end of this module it is to be expected that the students will have acquired an understanding of the following concepts and principles and that they will be able to:

Part 1
• Understand the use of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation in the estimation of the molecular potential energy curve
• Understand the general features of molecular spectroscopy including experimental measurement techniques and the nature and impact of selection rules and transition moments
Part 2
• Understand pure rotation spectra of molecules
• Describe molecular moments of inertia, rotational energy levels and rotational transitions
Part 3
• Understand the vibrations of diatomic molecules
• Describe the types of molecular vibrations, and the nature and impact of selection rules and anharmonicity on vibrational spectra
• Describe the vibrations of polyatomic molecules in terms of normal modes
• Describe the infrared absorption spectra of polyatomic molecules
Part 4
• Describe the property of electron spin
• Describe the structure of many-electron atoms in terms of the orbital approximation
• Describe the Pauli principle and its implications for Hund’s rules, the nature of singlet and triplet states, and, as an illustrative example, for He atom spectroscopy
Part 5
• Understand the characteristics of electronic transitions
• Describe the electronic spectra of diatomic molecules
Part 6a
• 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
Part 6b
• 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 bonding orbitals, anti-bonding orbitals, σ orbitals, and π orbitals in the context of the molecular orbital theory
• Understand the role of polar bonds, electronegativity, and the variation principle in describing the electronic structure of selected heteronuclear diatomic molecules
• Describe the electronic structure of polyatomic systems in the Hückel approximation

See above for Parts 1 to 6.

CHEM20120 Physical Chemistry (Level 2) of Atoms and Molecules or equivalent

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

There will be four assignments based on problem solving with a particular emphasis on numerical skills development Lecturer 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