Unit name | The Mathematical Basis of Chemistry |
---|---|
Unit code | CHEM10500 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Professor. Smith |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
CHEM10100 |
School/department | School of Chemistry |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This is a first year optional course. Students entering a Chemistry degree programme without A-level Mathematics must take this course or Mathematics 1E. The course covers those basic principles of Mathematics that are necessary for a study of Chemistry and illustrates these using Chemical applications. Topics covered include basic equations and rearrangement, indices, logarithms, exponentials, trigonometry, quadratic and simultaneous equations and an introduction to series, complex numbers, vectors, matrices and calculus. The emphasis is on using mathematics in chemical situations rather than on formal proofs. Lectures will also draw together explicitly these mathematical skills wiht the material taught in the mainstream Chemistry lectures in Chemistry 1A. Applications include problems related to chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, chemical equilibria, combinational chemistry, cyrstallography, thermodynamics, pH and quantum ideas.
At the end of the unit students should possess key skills in algebra and calculus, and be able to apply these to a range of applications in Chemistry. They should have knowledge and understanding of how Mathematics is used in Chemistry.
Tutorials/problem classes (twice a week),with an additional weekly surgery as required.