electiveHQ

This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the fundamentals and mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics and with a working knowledge of the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and molecules. The module has distinct parts, as follows: The first part presents the key principles and techniques of quantum theory along with applications of the theory to relevant model systems. This knowledge is then employed to make a comprehensive description of (i) the internal structures of hydrogen-like and many-electron atoms, (ii) how atoms interact with light, and (iii) why atomic properties exhibit periodic trends. The second part considers the origin of the strengths, numbers, and three-dimensional arrangement of chemical bonds between atoms. The electronic structure of molecules is analyzed in terms of two quantum mechanical theories, namely, valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory.