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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Chemistry

Undergraduate Course: Physical Techniques in Action Level 11 (CHEM11042)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA lecture course illustrating the application of advanced techniques to understanding chemical structure and dynamics. The course comprises individual lecture courses on: Molecular Detection (Chemical Sensing & Gas Phase Techniques), Neutron Scattering and Materials Characterisation, Structure Dynamics, Solid State NMR, and Photochemistry in Action. Either the Level 10 or Level 11 version of this course (as specified in the degree programme tables) is a compulsory requirement for Year 4/5 students on degrees in Chemical Physics and Chemistry with Materials Chemistry, but can be taken by Year 4/5 students on any Chemistry degree programme.
Course description The course consists of lecture courses that illustrate advanced techniques used in chemistry to measure and understand chemical structure and dynamics.

Lectures are illustrated with examples of the state-of-the-art with respect to experimental and theoretical physical chemistry. Topics include measurements in a range of environments including gas, liquid and solid phases, and with a range of target species, such as biological molecules and functional crystalline materials. Each series of 5 lectures is backed up with examples sessions where students explore a range of problems on which they will obtain feedback to develop their learning. At Level 11 more emphasis is placed on independent learning, and integrating different approaches towards solving of unseen problems.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: ( Chemistry 3A (CHEM09005) AND Chemistry 3B (CHEM09006) AND Chemistry 3P Practical and Transferable Skills (CHEM09007)) OR ( Chemical Physics 3S1 (CHPH09007) AND Chemical Physics 3S2 (CHPH09006) AND CP3 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHPH09005))
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Physical Techniques in Action Level 10 (CHEM10049)
Other requirements Must include a weighted average of Grade C or higher in all Chemistry 3 courses AND a weighted average of Grade D or higher in Chemistry 3A and Chemistry 3B, at the first attempt OR Must include a weighted average of Grade C or higher in all Chemical Physics 3 courses AND a weighted average of Grade D or higher in all Chemical Physics 3 courses with degree examinations, at the first attempt OR with the permission of Head of School.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Explain the physical principles behind contemporary techniques for determining specific structural and dynamical information in chemical systems.
  2. Interpret diverse structural and dynamical information from chemical systems using a range of contemporary experimental and computational methods.
  3. Identify appropriate methods for making specific measurements or to study specific chemical systems.
  4. Integrate techniques discussed during the course and extend these to novel problems.
  5. Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to problems at the forefront of physical chemistry.
Reading List
Chemical Sensors, R. W. Cattrall, OUP Primer series (1997).
Mass Spectrometry: Principles and Applications, 3rd edn, E. de Hoffman and V. Stroobant, Wiley (2007).
Fundamentals of Crystallography, C. Giacovazzo (Editor), OUP Oxford (2011, 3rd ed.); many other crystallography texts have chapters about neutron scattering and powder diffraction.
Introduction to the Theory of Thermal Neutron Scattering, G. L. Squires, Dover (1997).
Structure and Dynamics: an atomic view of materials, M. T. Dove, OUP Oxford (2003).
Solid State Physics, N. W. Ashcroft and N. Mermin, Thomson Press (2003).
Photochemistry, C.E. Wayne and R.P. Wayne, OUP Primer series (1996)
Atkins¿ Physical Chemistry, P. W. Atkins and J. de Paula, OUP Oxford (various editions).
Introduction to solid-state NMR spectroscopy, M. J. Duer, Wiley (2010).
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The following skills will be developed during the course:
1. Numerical data interpretation and analysis.
2. Unseen problem solving.
KeywordsPTIA
Contacts
Course organiserProf John Attfield
Tel: (0131 6)51 7229
Email: J.P.Attfield@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Craig Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 4710
Email: c.smith34@ed.ac.uk
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