• Offered by Research School of Chemistry
  • ANU College ANU Joint Colleges of Science
  • Course subject Chemistry
  • Areas of interest Chemistry
  • Academic career UGRD
  • Course convener
    • Dr Yun Liu
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Co-taught Course
  • Offered in Second Semester 2014
    See Future Offerings

This course is divided into two parts, the first is designed to strengthen some foundations in physical chemistry including thermodynamics and kinetics with relevant examples drawn from environmental, chemical and biological systems. The significance of these concepts in understanding soft matter materials will be emphasised in the course.  The second part of the course is designed to develop an understanding of the structure and functionality of materials. Topics to be covered include solid state, sol-gel and thin film synthesis, crystal chemistry, crystallography, ceramic processing and the relation between structure and function. The properties of some technologically important functional materials will be highlighted as part of this course. 

Honours pathway option (HPO):

Entry to this option is subject to the approval of the course convener.  Students who take this option will undertake 6-8 lectures at a more advanced level in place of 6-8 hours of tutorials/lab.  It is expected that all students in the PhB (Hons) or direct entry Honours degree programs enrolled in this course will complete the HPO.

Proposed Assessment Honours Pathway Option: The standard course will count 90% towards the final grade and the HPO 10%.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Understand the basic elements of chemical thermodynamics and be able to apply the principles to common physico-chemical systems such as electrochemistry and free energy. 
  2. Understand the transport properties of simple fluids and liquid solutions.
  3. Be able to apply simple kinetic models to common systems such as catalysis, polymerization and chain reactions.
  4. Describe elementary intermolecular forces and how they affect the properties of materials.
  5. Describe basic crystallographic and crystal chemical concepts such as unit cells, Bravais lattices, fractional co-ordinates, Miller indices, close packing, phase diagrams etc. as well as how to describe simple inorganic crystal structure types
  6. Describe concepts such as real and reciprocal space and how structure factor calculations and diffraction techniques can be used to determine atomic arrangements in crystals
  7. Explain how to synthesize crystalline materials via solid state reaction as well as the reaction dynamics of sol-gel and hydrothermal reaction processes and how to use such procedures to synthesize functional nanomaterials and thin films
  8. Explain the physical properties of a range of functional materials including conductors, semi-conductors, insulators; dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, electro-optic materials etc
  9. Work to a professional level of skills in a chemical laboratory demonstrating effective laboratory safety and etiquette, especially in the areas of handling of chemicals and usage of lab-based glassware and equipment.

Indicative Assessment

Assessment will be based on:

  • Mid-semester exam (37.5%; LO 1-3)
  • Assignments/lab reports (25%; LO 1-9)
  • Final exam (37.5%; LO 4-8)

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

65 hours of lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes and a further 65 hours of independent learning.

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have completed CHEM1101 and CHEM1201. You can not take this course if you have completed CHEM2206.

Prescribed Texts

Physical Chemistry by Atkins and de Paula

Assumed Knowledge

CHEM1101 & CHEM12011 or the equivalent of first year university chemistry

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
2
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee Description
1994-2003 $1650
2014 $2946
2013 $2946
2012 $2946
2011 $2946
2010 $2916
2009 $2916
2008 $2916
2007 $2520
2006 $2520
2005 $2298
2004 $1926
International fee paying students
Year Fee
1994-2003 $3390
2014 $3762
2013 $3756
2012 $3756
2011 $3756
2010 $3750
2009 $3618
2008 $3618
2007 $3618
2006 $3618
2005 $3450
2004 $3450
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Second Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
8147 21 Jul 2014 01 Aug 2014 31 Aug 2014 30 Oct 2014 In Person N/A

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