Physical Chemistry for Biochemists

Description

This module will provide biochemistry students with a grounding in the physical chemistry required for higher levels of study, as well as requiring students to demonstrate how these concepts relate to the work of biochemists. The module will introduce various basic concepts in physical chemistry, such as 1st Law; state functions and exact differentials, Internal energy, reversible and irreversible work of expansion of ideal gases; heat capacities; enthalpy, enthalpy changes of specific physical and chemical processes, and Hess's law; entropy and entropy changes accompanying specific processes, 2nd and 3rd law; spontaneous change, Helmotz energy, Gibbs free energy and equilibrium constants. An introduction to the kinetics of chemical reactions, including: differential rate equations, elementary and composite reactions, integrated rate equations, experimental methods, effect of temperature, kinetics of multi-step reactions, catalysed processes, and the nature of bonding in molecules and inorganic complexes. The module will include the production of a portfolio investigating the applications of physical chemistry. 5 entries, totaling 3000 words, of which 1200 are assessed.