evel: Level 1

Target Students:  C700 Biochemistry, C741 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. Not suitable for students taking any of F11SPC, F11ORG, F11SEB, F11FLW, F11IOP, or students on FGC0/GFC0 Natural Sciences, FF31/FFH1 Chemistry and Molecular Physics, C720/C721 Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry.  Available to JYA/Erasmus students.

Taught Semesters:

Prerequisites: Grade B in A2 level Chemistry or above.

Corequisites:  None.

Summary of Content:  Inorganic:
Atomic structure; Quantum numbers; Electronic configuration; Building the periodic table using theory; Periodicity; Chemical bonding; Lewis structures; Molecular shape and symmetry; Intermolecular interactions; Ligands and how they coordinate to metal centres; Bonding in transition metal complexes; Crystal field and molecular orbital theory; Geometries of complexes and isomerism; UV/vis spectroscopic and magnetic properties of octahedral, tetrahedral and square planar complexes; Reaction kinetics and thermodynamics; Trends in the properties of d-block element complexes.

Organic:
Bonding, Structure and reactivity of organic molecules; Shapes and electronic properties of organic molecules; Classification of reactions and reaction components; Reaction mechanisms, ‘Curly arrows’, Nucleophilic substitution, Elimination reactions; Core carbonyl chemistry: Reactions and mechanisms; Chemistry of carboxylic acid derivatives: reactions and mechanisms; Functional group interconversions including redox chemistry; Synthesis using functional group interconversions and carbonyl chemistry.

Formative feedback is given on the theory in this module at the associated workshops. Summative feedback is provided after the exam by the module staff.

Method and Frequency of Class:
Specific Activities are not listed
Further Activity Details:
2 lectures per week, 4 workshops per semester

Method of Assessment: 

Convenor: 
Dr K Galloway

Education Aims:  Inorganic:
To show how trends in chemical properties can be related to the structure of the Periodic Table and rationalise descriptive inorganic chemistry. To develop an appreciation of the relationship between the position of an element in the periodic table and the atomic properties, bonding characteristics and the consequences for the structural chemistry. To introduce and explain the fundamental principles underlying d-electron element (transition metal) chemistry, to give an insight into the application of crystal field and molecular orbital theories to the structure of, and bonding in, co-ordination complexes of the d-electron elements and to develop the ability to predict the chemistry of the d-electron elements from their position in the Periodic Table.

Organic:
To provide a fundamental understanding of the basics of organic chemistry, including nomenclature, molecular structure and bonding, stereochemistry and the chemical reactivity of common functional groups and reaction types through an understanding of their electronic properties. To give an introduction to fundamental synthetic transformations involving oxidation, reduction and carbon-carbon bond formation in organic synthesis. To show that these transformations are the same as those used in nature for the construction of biological molecules.