Learning Outcomes:
On completion of the course, students will:
Know the fundamental principles of supramolecular design;
Know the structural attributes of polymers, emulsions, suspensions, gels, and key factors responsible for their stability;
Understand the molecular origin of surface tension and its role in the structure and behavior of films and dispersions;
Understand the key principles and limitations of modern laboratory techniques for analysis of surface films, nano, and micro molecular assemblies;
Understand the energetics of self-assembly processes and the key intermolecular interactions involved, including electrostatic interactions, steric repulsion, and depletion flocculation;
Understand the molecular nature of surfactants, and the relationship between their structure and CMC, and the effect of temperature, pressure, pH, ionic strength on their self-assembly;
Be able to use Einstein’s diffusion equation and Fick’s laws of diffusion for calculations of the diffusion coefficient and a quantitative description of diffusion;
Understand the factors that affect the rates of chemical reactions;
Understand the expressions for the rate laws of complex reactions ;
Understand the nature of radical reactions, linear and branched-chain reactions, explosions, and mechanisms of reversible reactions;
Know the experimental methods for kinetic studies.