Chemistry module - Physical Chemistry III

Physical Chemistry III

Spectroscopy is vital for our understanding of the structure and reactivity of molecules and assemblies of molecules in more complex systems. Here we discuss the principles and applications of NMR spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy of simple molecules and spectroscopy and imaging of larger molecules in complex environments. These techniques are widely used in healthcare (MRI), diagnostics (fluorescence microscopy) and in understanding our environment (vibrational spectroscopy).

The latter part of Year 3 focusses on understanding surface chemistry and its impact on the properties of a material. Such processes are critical components of catalysis and nanoscale device development, which have important applications in sustainability and health. You’ll learn about the tools we use to deduce the structure of a material or surface and introduce how molecules interact with a surface and react.