THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

Draft Edition - Due to be published Thursday 9th April 2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Chemical Physics

Undergraduate Course: Chemistry for Chemical Physics 2 (CHPH08002)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryThis is a 2nd year level 8 course for students intending to complete a BSc Honours or MChemPhys degree in Chemical Physics. This course will build upon the principles introduced in Chemistry 1A and Chemistry 1B and provide further training in the essential laboratory skills for practical chemistry. This course also acts as the introductory university chemistry course for direct entry students into the Chemical Physics programmes.

The course consists of lectures, tutorials, workshops and laboratory classes in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.
Course description The lecture course covers the following topics: Carbonyl Chemistry; Introduction to Physical Organic Chemistry; Transition Metal Organometallic Chemistry 1; Quantum Theory; Reaction Kinetics; Spectroscopy; Chemical Thermodynamics; Separation Techniques and Mass Spectrometry; Heterocyclic Chemistry; Main Group Chemistry; Transition Metal Organometallic Chemistry 2.

The laboratory course consists of 90 hours of practical work in organic, physical and inorganic chemistry
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Mathematics for Physics 1 (PHYS08035) AND Mathematics for Physics 2 (PHYS08036)
Students MUST have passed: Chemistry 1A (CHEM08016) OR Biological Chemistry 1A (CHEM08022) OR Chemistry for Chemical Engineers 1A (CHEM08028) AND Chemistry 1B (CHEM08017) OR Biological Chemistry 1B (CHEM08023) OR Chemistry for Chemical Engineers 1B (CHEM08029)
Co-requisites Students MUST also take: Physics of Fields and Matter (PHYS08046) AND Dynamics and Vector Calculus (PHYS08043) AND Linear Algebra and Several Variable Calculus (PHYS08042) AND Modern Physics (PHYS08045)
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Chemistry and Processes 2 (CHEE08007) OR Chemistry and Processes 2 (CHEE08017) OR Chemistry 2 (CHEM08019)
Other requirements Students can also be granted direct entry into second year of a Chemical Physics Degree programme with exemption from the first year of study as per published entry requirements.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesThis course is not available to visiting students.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Embark successfully upon advanced level courses in the following areas: synthetic and physical organic chemistry; main group and transition metal synthetic chemistry; structure, symmetry and bonding; atomic and molecular spectroscopic characterisation and physical properties of chemical species.
  2. Work independently in a chemistry laboratory and perform experimental tasks efficiently and safely whilst keeping an accurate record of the work performed.
  3. Plan and perform synthetic procedures, spectroscopic characterisations, analytical methods and physical measurements in a wide range of chemical scenarios, whilst critically evaluating the experimental data to determine its scientific relevance.
  4. Use word and data processing software packages to produce professional quality scientific reports.
  5. Appreciate that chemistry should be evolving towards a green sustainable future.
Reading List
Required Reading:
Inorganic Chemistry 7th Edition, Weller, Overton, Rourke, and Armstrong, ISBN 978-0-19-876812-8
Atkins' Physical Chemistry 11th Edition, Atkins, De Paula and Keeler, ISBN 978-0-19-876986-6
Organic Chemistry, Clayden, Greeves, Warren, ISBN 978-0198503460
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Time management (laboratory)
Independent planning (laboratory)
Good Laboratory Practise (GLP) (laboratory)
Appreciation of the role of chemistry in industry (career seminars)
Appreciation of possible academic research careers
Study Abroad Chemical Physics students have the option of studying abroad or have a year in industry in year 5 of the MChemPhys programme. There is NO study abroad option in the BSc programme.
Additional Class Delivery Information You will have 3 hours of lectures per week as well as a 1.5 hour tutorial. The tutorial will be held on Friday pm. All teaching is based at Kings Buildings.

In addition, you will have up-to six hours per week of laboratory classes starting in week 2 of the first semester. The laboratory sessions will be held at the School of Chemistry, Christina Miller Buildings, Kings Buildings and can be a combination of any of the following 3-hour slots: Monday am (9-12) OR Monday pm (2-5) OR Tuesday am (9-12) OR Tuesday pm (2-5) OR Wednesday am (9-12) OR Wednesday pm (2-5) OR Thursday pm (2-5) OR Friday am (9-12). For these classes you will be required to prepare by reading the laboratory manual beforehand as well as answer a number of online pre-lab questions.
KeywordsCP2; Chemistry for Chemical Physics 2,C for CP2
Contacts
Course organiserProf Anita Jones
Tel: (0131 6)50 6449
Email: A.C.Jones@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Morag Munro
Tel: (0131 6) 51 7258
Email: Morag.Munro@ed.ac.uk
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