CHM3911 Advanced physical chemistry
Faculty of Science
CHM3911 Advanced physical chemistry is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2021 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2021
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 4 other tasks
This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Overview
Physical chemistry provides insight into the fundamental reason that chemical systems and materials behave the way they do. This unit gives you an advanced understanding of the properties and characteristics of solids, liquids and gases from a fundamental level - utilising computation of individual atoms and bonds - right through to applied systems such as colloids and surfactants, relevant to minerals, food and formulation. The unit follows a natural progression from atomic and molecular properties at a single atom or bond level through key thermodynamics to the properties of chemical systems, such as viscosity, phase behaviour and the interactions between solids and liquids. The final section deals with surfaces and colloids - key to understanding important chemical systems in Australian science and industry, due to their ubiquity in minerals processing, food and dairy industries, energy and oil, pharmaceuticals, water and waste processing.
Offerings in 2021
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Individual wet laboratory and computational chemistry exercisesOtherThreshold hurdle30%
- Mid-semester test on colloidal and surface chemistryIn class test10%
- Wiki assignmentAssignment10%
- Computational chemistry (Topics 3 and 4) assignmentAssignment10%
- Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes)Exam40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Comprehend the basic concepts of computational chemistry and become proficient in the "hands-on" use of specific computational chemistry software.
- 2
Develop assessment skills of reliability and accuracy of computational chemistry methods for a chemical problem at hand.
- 3
Become proficient in the applications of the four laws of thermodynamics.
- 4
Learn about the connections between kinetics and thermodynamics of chemical reactions.
- 5
Understand how chemical rate analysis is performed, and analyse the kinetics of advanced chemical processes.
- 6
Apply key concepts related to the fundamental physical chemistry of solids, liquids and gases.
- 7
Develop an understanding of phase diagrams and phase behaviour, and how this is related to the interactions between atoms/molecules.
- 8
Rationalise the key processes that occur at - and differences between - interfaces between solids, liquids and gases.
- 9
Understand the wetting of solid surfaces, how this controls colloidal systems, and how kinetics of adsorption can be analysed.
- 10
Explore colloidal systems involving solid particles, liquid droplets and gas bubbles.
- 11
Rationalise the molecular basis for surfactant behaviour and the uses of surfactant-based systems including liquid crystals.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures24 hours
- Laboratories36 hours
- Workshops12 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Two 1-hour lectures
- One 1-hour workshop and
- 3 hours of laboratory activity per week
Problem-based learning will be explored in the workshop and laboratory exercises through theoretical concepts and will enable the development of relevant observation and descriptive skills, as well as communication skills.
Active learning will occur in workshops and lab sessions.
Learning resources
Required resources
Laboratory safety glasses
Lab coat
Closed toe footwear
Notebook for taking lab notes
Where it fits
CHM3911 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2021 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Rico Tabor
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Philip Wai Hong Chan
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for CHM3911?
CHM3911 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is CHM3911 offered?
In 2021, CHM3911 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
Does CHM3911 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include CHM3911?
CHM3911 is part of Chemistry.