Practical work in physical chemistry [SCHIB311]

Learning outcomes

Various spectroscopies and characterisation techniques are covered, both at the fundamental level and in the applications that arise from their use. Most of these techniques will subsequently be used routinely in other practical work and throughout the student's career as a chemist. Students are required to master techniques for characterising the molecular properties of matter and to present this mastery in the form of joint and individual work.

At the end of the Teaching Unit, the students will be able to:

1. Contextualise, process and interpret with scientific rigour the experimental results obtained during the Block 3 Physical Chemistry practical labs, using numerical tools and bibliographical sources;

2. Formatting Block 3 physical chemistry lab reports, using digital tools;

3. Adopt appropriate behaviour during Block 3 physical chemistry lab work and follow general and/or individual instructions;

4. Prepare a detailed experimental work in Block 3 Physical Chemistry using bibliographic sources and laboratory instructions;

5. Work independently, in relation to experimental and written work, within the framework of physical chemistry laboratory work Block 3.

Objectives

Various spectroscopies and characterisation techniques are covered, both at the fundamental level and in the applications that arise from their use. Most of these techniques will subsequently be used routinely in other practical work and throughout the student's career as a chemist. Students are required to master techniques for characterising the molecular properties of matter and to present this mastery in the form of joint and individual work.

At the end of the Teaching Unit, the students will be able to:

1. Contextualise, process and interpret with scientific rigour the experimental results obtained during the Block 3 Physical Chemistry practical labs, using numerical tools and bibliographical sources;

2. Formatting Block 3 physical chemistry lab reports, using digital tools;

3. Adopt appropriate behaviour during Block 3 physical chemistry lab work and follow general and/or individual instructions;

4. Prepare a detailed experimental work in Block 3 Physical Chemistry using bibliographic sources and laboratory instructions;

5. Work independently, in relation to experimental and written work, within the framework of physical chemistry laboratory work Block 3.

Content

Infrared spectroscopy is used to identify and characterise certain molecular vibrational modes, to carry out assays, to determine reaction parameters such as equilibrium constants or to follow the kinetics of a reaction. UV-Visible spectroscopy is used to characterise the structural and electronic properties of organic molecules, to carry out quantitative analyses, to illustrate principles of Quantum Chemistry, to study in detail 1^st and 2^nd order reaction kinetics. X-ray diffraction is the technique of choice for determining the three-dimensional structure of molecules in the crystalline state. Chromatography techniques allow for extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis. Dipolmetry is used to determine the dielectric constant of molecules in solution and of ideal and non-ideal mixtures. The lab illustrates the approach required to characterise the dipole moment of molecules. Viscometry is used to determine one of the fundamental properties of fluids: their viscosity, and is applied to the characterisation of ideal and non-ideal mixtures. Calorimetry is used to determine the heat of combustion of solids and organic liquids, and other thermodynamic quantities derived from them.

Table of contents

Experiments are carried out during nine days, one day per technique. The last day is reserved for the individual integration work.

Infrared spectroscopy is used to identify and characterise certain molecular vibrational modes, to carry out assays, to determine reaction parameters such as equilibrium constants or to follow the kinetics of a reaction. UV-Visible spectroscopy is used to characterise the structural and electronic properties of organic molecules, to carry out quantitative analyses, to illustrate principles of Quantum Chemistry, to study in detail 1^st and 2^nd order reaction kinetics. X-ray diffraction is the technique of choice for determining the three-dimensional structure of molecules in the crystalline state. Chromatography techniques allow for extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis. Dipolmetry is used to determine the dielectric constant of molecules in solution and of ideal and non-ideal mixtures. The lab illustrates the approach required to characterise the dipole moment of molecules. Viscometry is used to determine one of the fundamental properties of fluids: their viscosity, and is applied to the characterisation of ideal and non-ideal mixtures. Calorimetry is used to determine the heat of combustion of solids and organic liquids, and other thermodynamic quantities derived from them.