The aim of this module is to introduce modern spectroscopic methods in chemistry. Students will understand

• why radiation wavelength is so crucial in determining the dynamical outcome
• the atomic and molecular energetic states responsible for the interaction
• the measurable quantities associated with a range of spectroscopic techniques.
• The experimental set-up for several modern spectroscopic probes.

By the end of this module end students should have an understanding of the fundamental principles behind nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, vibrational and rotational spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy and should be able to apply their knowledge to real spectroscopic problems.

Atoms and atomic structure

• Electrons
• The development of modern atomic theory
• The uncertainty principle
• The Schrödinger wave equation
• Probability density
• Quantum numbers
• Atomic orbitals
• The atomic spectrum of hydrogen

Introduction to spectroscopy

• Spectroscopic techniques
• Timescales
• Beer-Lambert law

Vibrational and rotational spectroscopies

• Vibrations of a diatomic molecule
• Selection rules
• Dipole moments
• Vibrational spectroscopy: diatomic and small polyatomics
• Use of IR spectroscopy as an analytical tool
• Rotating molecules and moments of inertia
• Rotational spectroscopy: rigid rotor diatomics 

NMR spectroscopy

• Nuclear spin states
• Recording an NMR spectrum
• Chemical shifts and resonance frequencies
• An introduction to analysing ¹³C and ¹HNMR spectra
• Homonuclear and Heteronuclear coupling between nuclei with I = 1/2

Electronic spectroscopy

• Absorption of UV–VIS radiation
• Electronic transitions in the vacuum–UV
• π–conjugation in organic molecules
• Compounds that absorb in the visible region

Mass spectroscopy

• Electron impact mass spectroscopy
• Isotope abundances
• Parent ions and fragmentations
• Case studies (elaborated in the tutorials/workshops).

• Atoms and atomic stucture

• Vibrational and Rotational Spectroscopy

• NMR Spectroscopy

• Electronic Spectroscopy

• Mass Spectrometry

Revision lecture

Lectures will consist of Powerpoint/overhead presentations to partially cover chapter 2 and chapters 10-13 of the standard year 1 chemistry text book ("Chemistry" CE Housecroft and EC Constable). Lectures will run at a rate of one or two per week over both semesters. The last lecture slot before Christmas will be used for a formative class test, and the final lecture slot will be used for revision purposes.

In addition to the theoretical background presented in the lectures, the workshops will present applied material. The module will consist of 18 teaching and assessment workshops. The workshops will reinforce the material given in the lecture with additional further examples of the relevant topic. Students will be given problems which have to be completed during the workshop and handed in for marking at the end.

Chemistry, C.E Housecroft and E.C. Constable, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2002.