2017-2018 / CHIM0231-1

Chemical reaction dynamics : experimental approaches

Duration

15h Th

Number of credits

 Master in chemistry (120 ECTS)2 crédits  

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

Learning unit 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 learning unit

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