electiveHQ

This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the use of quantum mechanics in measuring and describing the nature of molecules. We will investigate the rotational, vibrational and electronic spectroscopy of molecules examining how changes in the energy, structure and motion of molecules affect their spectroscopic properties. Conversely, careful analysis of molecular spectra will be shown to be an important way by which one may obtain critical information about the nature of molecules such as their electronic structure, the strengths, lengths and angles of their bonds, and their dipole moments. We will also develop an understanding of the mathematical formulation of molecular quantum mechanics. This part will consider the origin of the strengths, numbers, and three-dimensional arrangement of chemical bonds between atoms. The electronic structure of molecules will be specifically analyzed in terms of two quantum mechanical theories, namely, valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory.