CHEM3151: COMPUTATIONAL CHEMICAL PHYSICS

• Core Chemistry 1 AND EITHER METRIC OR Core Mathematics A OR Single Mathematics A OR [Calculus 1 AND Linear Algebra 1]

• Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411) AND Molecules and their Interactions (CHEM3137).

• This module may not be taken in any combination with Computational Chemistry (CHEM2061). This module may not be taken in the same year of study as Biological Chemistry (CHEM2051) OR Advanced Computational Chemistry (CHEM3071).

• To develop an understanding of the main areas of computational chemistry during level 3 of a Natural Sciences degree
• To provide practical experience in using computational methods to study molecules.
• To develop an understanding of important concepts in theoretical chemistry.

• Force fields and simulation.
• Potential energy surfaces and molecular mechanics.
• Energy minimisation.
• Molecular dynamics calculations.
• Definition of the wave function.
• The uncertainty principle.
• Approximate methods: basis set expansions and the secular equations.
• Electronic structure theory: Hartree-Fock equations.
• Semi-Empirical methods.
• Correlated methods.
• Practical computing.
• Literature appreciation.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Explain the basic concepts of molecular force fields.
• Explain the basic concepts of quantum mechanics and be able to apply these concepts to simple chemical problems.
• Explain the basic ideas of ab initio electronic structure theory.
• Understand the strengths and limitations of each technique studied.
• Describe and critically analyse the topic of their literature perspective at an advanced level

Subject-specific Skills:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of a range of important computational chemistry packages and be able to apply this knowledge to tackle real chemical problems.
• Produce a short scholarly and critical review of a very narrow area of relevant literature

Key Skills:

• Group working and written communication, encouraged and developed through workshops and practical computing.
• Problem-solving developed through workshops.
• Application of number, acquired through the calculations required in all components of this module.
• Enhanced skills in chemical information retrieval, scientific writing, editing and proofreading and discussion of scientific results.

• Lectures are used to convey concepts and are examined by written papers. This is the best method to assess the knowledge of the students.
• Private study should be used by students to develop their subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation, through reading textbooks and literature.
• Workshops are groups of students where problems are considered and common difficulties shared. This ensures that students have understood the work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.
• Student performance will be summatively assessed through examinations. Examinations test students' ability to work under pressure under timed conditions, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning and develop key time management skills. The examination will provide the means for students to demonstrate the acquisition of subject knowledge and the development of their problem-solving skills.
• Computer classes give students the opportunity to learn to use off the shelf computer packages and those specific to chemists. They are continuously assessed so that the student can learn from one session to the next.
• The literature appreciation (up to 1000 words) is a critical appreciation of a group of related scientific articles in the area of computational chemistry and will be supported by meetings with a supervisor.

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