Unit ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PROCESSES

Course
Chemical sciences
Study-unit Code
A002017
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Nadia Balucani
Teachers
  • Nadia Balucani
Hours
  • 47 ore - Nadia Balucani
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2021/22
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline chimiche inorganiche e chimico-fisiche
Academic discipline
CHIM/03
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
English
Contents
In this course we will study atomic and molecular collisions and their outcomes in terms of macroscopic properties of chemical systems. Part of the course will be dedicated to the study of processes involving nuclei, with elements of radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry.
Reference texts
Mark Brouard, Title: Reaction Dynamics (Oxford Chemistry Primers)
Peter McPherson, Title: Principles of Nuclear Chemistry (Essential Textbooks in Chemistry)

Lecture notes will be available on Unistudium
Educational objectives
The main objective of this course is to provide students with general basic knowledge about different aspects, problems and applications of atomic and molecular collisions, including nuclear processes.
In particular:
- the students will be able to explain and discuss the basic theoretical approaches for the description of molecular collisions and reaction dynamics as well as microscopic kinetics
- the students will be able to describe the most common experimental techniques and their limitations to study atomic and molecular collisions
- the students will be able to describe the structure of nuclei and to explain their stability and understand the origin of chemical elements;
- the students will become familiar with the principles of radioactive decay and their kinetics
- the students will understand the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter, the principles of nuclear reactions and their possible use to produce energy.
Prerequisites
- Physics at the level of First Level degrees in Chemistry (indispensable)
- Knowledge of chemical kinetics at the level of First Level degrees in Chemistry (indispensable)
- Basic knowledge of the structure of atoms and molecules, including atomic and molecular orbitals.
Teaching methods
Face-to-face + laboratory session
Learning verification modality
Oral exam consisting of a discussion lasting about 30-40 minutes, aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge and understanding achieved by the student on the contents listed in the program. The oral exam will also asess the communication skills and expression capacity of the student.
Extended program
• The structure of the nucleus
• Radioactive decay
• Kinetics of radioactive decay
• Nuclear Reactions
• Molecular collisions and elementary reactions
• Potential energy surfaces
• The differential cross section for molecular collisions
• State-specific cross sections
• Microcanonical rate coefficients and thermal rate coefficients
• Vacuum techniques
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