UCL Chemistry

The aims of CHEM1004 are to lay the foundations in the 3 main branches of chemistry for all of the subsequent courses in the Department. The course material is linked to, but extends considerably, A-level chemistry and related courses.

A laboratory course is included to reinforce key skills.

Topics will include:

• Atomic structure and bonding
• Atomic spectroscopy
• Fundamentals of Organic Mechanisms and Stereochemistry
• Interfaces between the sciences.

The aim of this course is to introduce students to gases through the kinetic theory of gases, and to the description and interpretation of chemical systems using quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics.

Topics:

• Kinetic theory of gases.
• Quantum mechanics
• Statistical thermodynamics and thermodynamics

To provide a general understanding of organic chemistry and a knowledge of basic organic reactions. To study the structure, conformation and stereochemistry of organic compounds, their reactions and mechanisms, and thereby to gain an understanding of both the fundamental principles of organic chemistry and a knowledge of the most important functional groups.

Topics:

• Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
• Alkyl Halides
• Alkenes
• Alkynes
• Functional Group Chemistry
• Alcohols
• Ethers and Epoxides
• Aldehydes and Ketones
• Review of the Synthesis of Simple Organic Compounds
• Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives

The aim of this course is to introduce students key aspects of inorganic chemistry, including solid state structures, the chemistry of phosphorus and hydrogen and transition metal chemistry. The laboratory course provides training and experience in practical aspects of inorganic chemistry, including synthesis, qualitative, IR spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction.

Topics:

• Transition Metals
• Main Groups Chemistry
• Solid State Chemistry
• Hydrogen

The maths department offers two half unit courses for those with mathematics A-level. The first is compulsory for chemistry students and we strong advise students to take both available.

Both focus on calculus methods which will be key in physical chemistry courses.

The chemistry department teaches a full unit of mathematics focussing on those areas of A-level Maths and Further Maths courses that are of direct relevance to chemistry.

Topics

• Quantitative Chemistry
• Fundamentals of Algebra
  
• Calculus of functions with one variable
• Statistics and data analysis
• Complex number and matrices
  
• Advanced calculus
  

This course aims to give 1st-year students in physics and astronomy an elementary introduction and overview of modern ideas in physics and astronomy. It introduces the ideas of quantum mechanics and spectroscopy, and provides a broad view of the origin and evolution of the Universe.

The aims of this course are to develop further quantum mechanics and thermodynamics and to extend the material of CHEM1301 to spectroscopy, kinetics, and electrochemistry.

A laboratory course support the lecture material developing advanced analysis methods.

Topics

• Quantum Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Kinetics, photochemistry and atmospheric chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Solutions and Electrolyte solutions

Principles of Organic Chemistry (1 unit, core)

The course provides an essential understanding of organic chemistry.

Topics:

• structure elucidation by spectroscopic means;
• electronic structure and reactivity of carbonyl compounds;
• synthesis and reactivity of simple molecules;
• basic retrosynthetic analysis;
• the use of phosphorous, sulfur, boron and silicon reagents in organic synthesis;
• essential chemistry of heteroaromatic compounds.

Principles of Inorganic Chemistry (1 unit, core)

To expand upon the concepts and supporting factual material introduced in first year inorganic chemistry (courses CHEM1004 and CHEM1101) and to explore the varied aspects of main group and transition metal chemistry.

Topics:

• Principles and Applications of Group Theory
• Pre- and post-transition metal chemistry
• Structure, electronics and bonding in the d-block transition metals
• Chemistry of the p-block elements

The aim of this course is to teach students the fundamentals of modern chemical dynamics and modern experimental methods in chemical physics.

Topics:

• Photochemistry and photophysics
• Reaction dynamics
• Lasers and laser techniques
  

This course covers the basics of classical mechanics, starting from Newton's laws and moving through the motion of single bodies in one dimension to more complicated problems involving higher dimensions, the motion of rigid bodies, and the flow of fluids.  Throughout the emphasis is on

• Learning how to apply mathematics to physical problems;
• Developing problem-solving skills;
• Appreciating the role of symmetry in physics.

Further pure mathematics.

Further units are taken to take the total number of units taken to 4.0. Students can continue with themes developed in the first year or take others at an appropriate level.

The course will show:

• how the measurement of molecular quantities via spectroscopy can provide the necessary data for the calculation of macroscopic quantities via statistical mechanics
• how statistical mechanics can be used to determine important quantities such as equilibrium constants the importance of stability in thermodynamics
• how a detailed description of the structure and reactivity of surfaces can be developed.

Topics:

• Spectroscopy and Kinetics
• Advanced thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
• Principles of Surface Science
• Electron transfer in solutions and at electrodes

Depending on your 2nd year option.

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

To introduce and discuss four important and diverse areas of inorganic chemistry. To lay the theoretical and practical foundations for advanced courses in some of these areas taken later. To encourage students to investigate these topics by reading beyond the lecture material.

Topics:

• Lanthanides and Actinides
• Advanced Inorganic Materials Chemistry Processes and Applications
• Organometallic Chemistry
• Chemistry of Complex Solids

Advanced Organic Chemistry

The aim of this course is to provide a thorough knowledge and understanding of reactions which are the basis of organic synthesis. Emphasis will be placed not only on the mechanistic and stereoelectronic features of such reactions but also on the way in which they are utilised in target synthesis.  Topics:

• Aromatic Heterocyclic Chemistry
• Stereoelectronic Control and Natural Product Synthesis
• Stereoelectronic Control and Natural Product Synthesis

Two courses developing theoretical and experimental methods in physical chemistry

Numerical And Analytical Methods

To develop an understanding of numerical and analytical techniques in chemistry data analysis. Topics include:

• Computer programming
• Data Analysis
• Regression Analysis
• Bayesian Statistics and Maximum Entropy
• Monte Carlo methods

Concepts in Computational and Experimental Chemistry

• To present the theoretical framework on which much modern molecular computational chemistry is based. Two key areas will be discussed; (a) molecular shape and intermolecular forces, with emphasis on the aggregation of molecules and their conformations (b) molecular electronic and geometric structure determined by quantum mechanical methods.

• To introduce the physical chemistry of the main classes of soft condensed matter: polymer solutions, colloidal dispersions, self-assembling amphiphile systems.
• To develop an understanding of solids by extending the ideas of molecules to include translational symmetry. Particular attention will be paid on the development of bands and the effects of doping on the electronic structure.

Advanced practical skills are developed through a series of experimental modules.

MSci students (1 unit) do 3 laboratory or computing modules and a further module which involves group work and an oral presentation on a special topic.

BSc students (0.5 unit) do 2 laboratory or computing modules and a further module which involves group work and an oral presentation on a special topic.

Modules include:

Core for MSci Students, option for BSc students

Aims

The student will write a review of a current research area in chemistry of up to 10,000 words or 40 pages, containing at least 50 substantive references to primary scientific literature.

Objectives

The student will learn to find all the latest research literature on a topic, using various bibliographic techniques. The student will develop a firm understanding of a specific topic, and critically evaluate research progress in the area. The student will learn to write a coherent and full review, that is scientifically correct and communicates their understanding.

Students take a further half unit in any of the above disciplines.

Many of these options are offered during the third and fourth year.

Current Chemistry units offered:

A further unit from a range offered by the physics department.

The course involves two terms' research under the direct supervision of one or, in some cases, two members of the academic staff.

Note that students on the MSci degree programme Chemistry with a European Language will carry out their Research Project during their fourth year which will be spent at a European University and the arrangements specific to these students are given separately.

Experimental work starts in the second week of the first term and be completed three weeks from the end of the second term. The total time available is therefore 1 week for reading and preparation, 19 weeks for experimental work and 3 weeks to produce a final report. An average of about 22 hours a week should be devoted to the project, including reading, writing and discussions, giving a total load of about 500 hours. 

Assessment is through the supervisor's observation, a project report, an oral examination and a presentation.

A final option outside of chemistry may be taken or an additional course in chemistry.

See Year 1 options for subject areas outside chemistry.

Students take a further half unit in any of the above disciplines.

Many of these options are offered during the third and fourth year.

Current Chemistry units offered:

Two courses developing theoretical and experimental methods in physical chemistry

Numerical And Analytical Methods

To develop an understanding of numerical and analytical techniques in chemistry data analysis. Topics include:

• Computer programming
• Data Analysis
• Regression Analysis
• Bayesian Statistics and Maximum Entropy
• Monte Carlo methods

Topics in Quantum Mechanics

By the end of this course, the students will be able to solve many different problems involving atoms, molecules and their spectroscopy using techniques of quantum mechanics.

• To learn analytical methods commonly used in quantum mechanics and spectroscopy.
• To understand and use the techniques of perturbation theory, operators and angular momentum and time-dependent quantum mechanics.