THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Chemical Physics

Undergraduate Course: Chemical Physics 3S2 (CHPH09006)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA lecture course on advanced physical chemistry topics. When taken in combination with Chemical Physics 3S1 (CHPH09007), this course forms part of the prescribed third year curriculum for students on degrees in Chemical Physics. The course is comprised of lectures selected from Semester 2 of Chemistry 3A (CHEM09005). The primary aim of the Chemical Physics 3S1 and 3S2 courses is to provide chemical education and training to a level which will enable students to progress to Honours degree programmes in Chemical Physics. In addition, the broad coverage of physical chemistry will contribute to students' long-term prospects for employment and research in chemical sciences.
Course description Chemical Physics 3S2 consists of the following lecture courses under the theme of characterisation of molecules, matter, and reactions: molecular spectroscopy; phases and interfaces; reaction kinetics; statistical thermodynamics; X-ray crystallography.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Chemistry 2 (CHEM08019) AND Mathematics for Physics 1 (PHYS08035) AND Mathematics for Physics 2 (PHYS08036)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Chemistry 3A (CHEM09005)
Other requirements Direct entrants with Mathematics qualifications recognised as being equivalent to a pass in the Year 1 Mathematics for Physics courses are exempted from the formal passes in Year 1 Mathematics for Physics courses.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesIt is recommended that Visiting Students are enrolled on Chemistry 3A (VS2) (CHEM09010) in place of this course.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 27, Online Activities 2, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 2.5, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 134 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 100 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) One 2.5 h exam.
Feedback A primary source of feedback will be through Tutorials (small-group sessions, examples classes, and problem workshops) and online multiple-choice tests. Students are given the opportunity to sit and anonymously peer-mark a class examination at the end of Semester. The peer marking exercise gives students a deeper insight into exam marking, enabling them to improve their own examination technique.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)3:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)3:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand both the theoretical basis and use of experimental spectroscopic methods and other analytical techniques: rotational, vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, basic ESR spectroscopy, analytical electrochemistry and X-ray crystallography.
  2. Show proficiency in the quantitative analysis of kinetic data and know how to calculate thermodynamic properties using the Boltzmann distribution and partition function.
  3. Explain the bulk properties of substances in relation to the structure of their constituent molecules.
  4. Draw and interpret phase diagrams, and understand the thermodynamics of phase transitions in terms of the behaviour at the interfaces between phases.
Reading List
Atkins' Physical Chemistry 10th Edition, Atkins and De Paula, ISBN 978-0199543373.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. Independent planning and learning.
2. Numerical and qualitative problem-solving.
3. Appreciation of the role of chemistry in the modern world.
KeywordsCP3S2
Contacts
Course organiserProf Eleanor Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 4729
Email: eleanor.campbell@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Moira Wilson
Tel: (0131 6)50 4754
Email: Moira.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
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