Advanced Spectroscopy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students enrolling in this subject must choose two of the following 12-lecture modules:

Advanced Structural Elucidation
This module explores the fundamentals of structure determination as applied to organic and biological molecules, focussing on methods such as NMR and mass spectrometry. The combination of background theory and range of examples will enhance students’ ability to acquire and analyse experimental data.

Chemical Applications of Synchrotron Radiation
This module will discuss the principles, instrumentation and applications of synchrotron radiation, particularly in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples will be drawn from chemical and biochemical systems, and applications to advanced materials and processes.

Electronic Structure and Spectra
This module will explore the application of symmetry to the interpretation of various spectroscopic techniques (absorption, emission, vibronic structure, CD, MCD), in order to determine the structure of, for example, metal complexes.

The objectives of this subject are to provide students with an increased knowledge and understanding of advanced chemical principles, with emphasis on:

• background spectroscopic theory
• the use of instrumentation
• analysis of experimental spectroscopic data

Such knowledge will facilitate insights into the structure and properties of matter and the nature of chemical transformations.

Each module will be assessed by either;

• a 1.5 hour exam after completion of the module, or
• a 1.5 hour exam after completion of the module (80%) and an assignment (2000 words, 20%) due mid-semester, or
• a 1.5 hour exam after completion of the module (80%) and a 15 minute oral presentation mid-semester (20%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject, students will gain skills in:

• advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• an ability to evaluate the professional literature
• an understanding of the changing knowledge base
• a capacity to apply concepts developed in one area to a different context
• the ability to use conceptual models to rationalize experimental observations.