Module Overview

Chemical equilibrium

Factors which affect equilibrium; sparingly soluble solids; solubility products and saturated solutions; acid-base theory; determination of Ka and pKa; buffers, Henderson-Hasselbalch equation; partition coefficient; application of equilibrium reactions to pharmaceutical systems.

Kinetics

Rate, order and rate constant of a reaction; differential and integrated rate equations; half life; methods to find the order and rate constant of a reaction, pseudo first order kinetics; sampling and continuous methods; factors that affect rates; Arrhenius equation and activation energies; introduction to multi-step reactions and reaction mechanisms, molecularity, elementary processes and rate-determining step; study appropriate practical problems.

Chemical Thermodynamics

Systems; surroundings; equilibrium states; state functions; internal energy,work and heat; first law of thermodynamics; enthalpy; thermochemistry; standard states; bond energies; Hess’s Law; heat capacity; reversibility and spontaneity; entropy and the second law of thermodynamics; absolute entropies and the third law; free energy; free energy and equilibrium constants.

Molecular Structure and Bonding

Lewis Structures; resonance; hybridisation; Valence-Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Model; Molecular Orbital theory of homonuclear Diatomic Molecules

Introduction to Transition metal complexes

Overview of transition metals; nomenclature; structure; crystal field theory - octahedral complexes; optical and magnetic properties; Applications to TM complexes to biological systems

Main group elements

General observations; oxidation states;

Lecture-based instruction - Traditional Lectures; Small group work, Digital Learning; Problem solving

Individual learning - Small group work, Digital Learning; Problem solving

Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown	%
Formal Examination	70
Other Assessment(s)	30