CHIM0231-1 : Chemical reaction dynamics : experimental approaches

Study Programmes 2015-2016

CHIM0231-1

Chemical reaction dynamics : experimental approaches

Duration :

15h Th

Number of credits :

Master in chemistry (120 ECTS)		2
Master in chemistry (120 ECTS)		2
Master in chemistry (120 ECTS)		2
Master in chemistry (120 ECTS)		2

Lecturer :

Bernard Leyh

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

This course discusses modern experimental methods used to study the mechanisms of chemical reactions at the molecular level: molecular beams, lasers, mass spectrometry.
The following aspects are discussed in some detail:

Reminders and additional information on basic concepts (cross section, rate constant, transition state theory ...)
State-to-state reactions. Reactant preparation and product detection
Examples of recent state-to-state investigations
Unimolecular reactions: theoretical framework (RRKM-QET; variational transition state theory) confronted to experimental data
Soft ionization techniques in mass spectrometry: underlying mechanisms
Principles of ion mobility spectroscopy

Throughout the course, many examples from the recent literature show that concerted experimental and theoretical approaches may provide us with a detailed picture of a reaction mechanism.

Learning outcomes of the course :

At the end of the course, the student should be able to discuss critically the advantages and drawbacks of the different methods presented and to suggest an experimental strategy to find clues about a given reaction mechanism.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Physical chemistry courses of the second, third, and fourth year chemistry curriculum (thermodynamics, kinetics, molecular physical chemistry)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

The schedule is organized with the students.

Recommended or required readings :

Copies of the slides used for the course are available.
The students are provided with a list of reference books.

Assessment methods and criteria :

Oral examination based on a seminar or on the discussion of a research article.

Work placement(s) :

Organizational remarks :

Contacts :

Bernard Leyh
Department of Chemistry, Building B6c (Office R77 and lab S72), B-4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman)
Phone: +32/(0)4/366.34.25 - E-mail : Bernard.Leyh@ulg.ac.be

Items online :

Powerpoint slides CHIM 0231-1
Powerpoint slides