Chemistry

This course provides a series of specialized modules in the areas of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry

Full course description

This course focuses on the basis of organic chemistry. In the first part of the course, important fundamental topics, such as atomic theory, bonding theory, hybridization, molecular orbital theory and resonance will be discussed. A special topic will be stereochemistry, which is an essential topic in organic chemistry and the life sciences, since stereochemistry often determines the activity of biological compounds or medicines. Subsequently, the course continues with an introduction into reactivity of organic molecules. Focus, will be on a selection of fundamental organic reactions, which form the basis for a wide array of other organic reactions. To this end, a logical review will be provided of the reactivity of the most important functional groups, as applied in organic synthesis. 

Course objectives

• To give the ability to recognize and name common organic compounds. 
• To know the basic physical and chemical properties of common organic compounds. 
• To understand stereochemistry and its impact on the properties and applications of organic molecules. 
• To enable you to understand the most important organic reactions and be able to apply these reactions to obtain well defined organic compounds. 

Prerequisites

SCI1004 Introduction to Chemistry. Students with substantial high school experience in Chemistry (For an indication of the relevant topics, see SCI-C, p. vi-viii) can contact the coordinator to request a waiver.

This course provides an understanding of the quantum chemical description of many-electron systems like atoms and molecules. Topics include general angular momentum theory; time-independent perturbation theory and variation theory; Born-Oppenheimer approximation and molecular potential energy surfaces; general operator properties and the antisymmetrizer of the permutation group; many-electron theory; Hartree-Fock-Roothaan theory for self-consistent treatment of molecular electronic states; methods for describing electron correlation; and molecular interaction with external electric fields by means of perturbation theory.

This course studies descriptive chemistry, primarily the transition metals: bonding and structure, reaction mechanisms, and equilibrium. It also covers simple models for electronic spectra and magnetic properties of coordination compounds. Exercises include important characterization techniques in inorganic chemistry, as well as reading and analyzing contemporary research papers in inorganic chemistry. The course involves lectures, laboratory exercises and reports, and theoretical exercises. 

This laboratory course in general chemistry is taken in conjunction with the General Chemistry lecture course (CHEM 10). Students perform 16 laboratory experiments. Text: Experiments in General Chemistry. Published by NTU. Assessment: final exam.

The course teaches key concepts prevalent in organic chemistry and the resulting properties of organic molecules. These are presented based on standard U.S. text books and are complemented by specific examples of compounds present in important drug molecules and natural products. Introductory topics include molecular structure, chemical bonding, and orbital interactions. The resulting properties of molecules are then introduced on key compound classes such as alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes that later are complemented by aromatic rings and functional groups such as alcohols, carbonyls, and amines. Furthermore, the crucial properties that explain the reactivity of organic molecules and enable a detailed understanding through distinct reaction mechanisms are highlighted throughout the course. Finally, these concepts are applied towards the planned synthesis of target molecules in combination with suitable structure determination methods.