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Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: UCSCICHE21
UCSCICHE21
Chemistry II
Course info
Course codeUCSCICHE21
EC7.5
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
  • relate modern concepts of chemical bonding (e.g. molecular orbital theory, crystal and ligand field theory) and of chemical reactivity, so that – on the basis of such concepts – students are able to (i) explain the structure and the physical and chemical properties of organic and inorganic compounds and (ii) apply these properties for the practical application of such materials,
  • demonstrate the appropriate logical, critical, and communicative skills necessary for working as a scientist or for relating to the scientific community,
  • evaluate current scientific literature combining theory and factual information from the library and the media in order to not only provide an informed opinion on socially relevant scientific problems (e.g. relating to the environment), but also to suggest well-balanced alternative solutions.
Content
Chemistry and chemical technology have an enormous impact on modern society; the fields of organic and inorganic chemistry form the basis of a range of applied disciplines such as materials science, device technology, and medicinal and agricultural chemistry. Within these disciplines, the development of new structural and functional materials has led to a revolution in information technology and communications (through integrated circuits, lasers, and optical fibers), new drugs have opened up exciting perspectives in the fight against illness, and advanced chemicals, such as liquid crystals and super-strong fibers, are used for a range of applications.

In this course, the structure and the physical and chemical properties of organic and inorganic materials, information that is essential for understanding the important role of chemistry in our society and environment, are explained on the basis of modern concepts of bonding. The interdisciplinary nature of modern chemistry is emphasized in topics which cover the interrelationship between organic and inorganic chemistry. Applications of practical relevance are important aspects of the course, and attention is paid to topics such as organometallic complexes and catalysis, solids, (opto)electronic devices, and biologically relevant  systems.

Format
The course is divided in two main components: 1) Inorganic Chemistry (7 weeks), 2) Organic Chemistry (7 weeks). The last week of the course is dedicated to the presentation of research projects by the students.
During this course the students can expect:
  • Lectures and tutorials: In each class, the lecturer presents and discusses a topic with the students and, if necessary, suggests additional study material. To illustrate and demonstrate the theoretical concepts, representative exercises will be solved in class. Following each session, the students are expected to study the relevant materials and solve the selected exercises indicated by the teachers.
  • Problem solving sessions: For each of the main areas, organic and inorganic, there are some sessions devoted to problem solving. The aim is to allow students to individually test their understanding of the theory by considering typical problems of both an applied and theoretical nature.
  • Presentation: Students select a project topic at the beginning of the course from a list provided by the teachers. A broad-ranging literature survey then follows with the results presented in the form of an oral presentation (10-15 minutes).
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Kies de Nederlandse taal