610-210 Light, Matter & Chemical Change A

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

One of chemistry 610-141, 610-161 or 610-051 AND one of 610-142, 610-162 or 610-052. 100-level mathematics and 100-level physics are recommended.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Upon completion of 610-210 students should have an appreciation for the rates and mechanisms of enzyme catalysed reactions and environmentally significant atmospheric processes; understand the concepts of entropy and free energy and their application to chemical and biological systems; understand the interactions between molecules and light and the use of light in the determination of molecular structure; have developed experimental skills in the operation of instrumentation for the acquisition of physical data, as well as observational and critical analysis skills for the interpretation and presentation of data.

The subject covers the topics: the dynamics of molecular processes, energy transformation and storage in chemical and biological systems, and the interaction between molecules and light, and its relationship to molecular structure. The practical course will consist of experiments involving physical and instrumental investigations of important chemical systems and phenomena.

Assessment

One 2-hour written examination at the end of semester. Assignments and tests may constitute up to 10% of the final assessment. Practical work will be assessed continously in the form of short reports. Practical work must be completed satisfactorily before credit can be granted for the subject.

Prescribed Texts

• Atkins P W, Physical Chemistry. 6th Ed, OUP 1998.