CH40039: Computational chemistry
 Academic Year: | 2019/0 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Chemistry |
| Credits: | 3 [equivalent to 6 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 60 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary:
| EX-TH 100%* |
| Assessment Detail: |
*Assessment updated due to Covid-19 disruptions |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: |
In taking this module you cannot take CH30039
Before taking this module you must take CH20023 OR ( take CH30187 AND take CH20148 ) OR ( take CH30239 AND take CH20148 ) |
| Description:
| Aims: The unit will provide a deeper understanding of computational approaches for the analysis of the electronic structures of inorganic complexes and molecules, building on CH20238/CH30239 (An Introduction to Computational Chemistry). Students will study the scope and limitations of standard computational approaches such as density functional theory and force field methods, and learn to identify in which cases higher levels of theory are required. The unit will focus on the relationship between experimental spectroscopic methods, computational spectroscopy and electronic structure analysis, and use examples from the recent literature to showcase how their combination has solved critical problems in inorganic chemistry. Learning Outcomes: After studying this unit, students should be able to: * Describe the concepts of spin states, electron density, spin density, excited states and magnetic properties in the context of closed-shell and open-shell inorganic complexes. * Understand the concepts of spin state energetics, magnetic coupling in multinuclear complexes, specific spectroscopic methods and their prediction (e.g. UV-vis, X-ray absorption/emission, NMR, EPR, Mößbauer). * Describe the difference of single- vs. multi-reference methods and static vs. dynamic approaches in computational chemistry, and outline their operational working in typical algorithms. * Describe the usefulness and limitations of selected computational methods in a variety of chemical situations in terms of cost vs. accuracy. * Appreciate the significance of empirical corrections for relativistic and environmental effects and discuss choices of basis set in context. * Critically analyse the use of computational methods in recent research papers. Skills: Problem solving (T, F, A), Independent working (F). Content: * Spin states of open-shell inorganic molecules and the implications for spectroscopic/magnetic properties and reactivity * Scope and limitations of specific contemporary single- and multi-reference methods * Static vs. dynamic description of molecular complexes * Relativistic corrections * Environmental effects. |
| Programme availability: |
CH40039 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Chemistry
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Notes:
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