CH4P4-Polymer & Biophysical Chemistry

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Prof Ian Hamley

Email: i.w.hamley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

To familiarise chemistry students with an exciting and strongly interdisciplinary research area at the borderlines of chemistry, physics and soft matter.

Aims:

To familiarise chemistry students with an exciting and strongly interdisciplinary research area at the borderlines of chemistry, physics and soft matter.

Assessable learning outcomes:

After studying this module students will be able to:

• Understand the physical chemical principles underlying polymer chain structure and dimensions, and their experimental measurement,


• Understand polymer mixing including the roles of enthalpy and entropy and comparison of this to the behaviour of block copolymers


• Carry out quantitative calculations to solve problems in polymer physical chemistry


• Understand the theory of ion solvation and be able to apply this knowledge to chemical processes.

Additional outcomes:

This course will enhance the understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of much of chemistry. It will stress interdisciplinary thinking and approaches.

Outline content:

Ion Solvation (8 lectures and 2 workshops).  Physical chemistry of ions in solution.  Ions in bulk solutions: classification of intermolecular ion-solvent interactions; solvent polarity; identification of the best solvent for a process/reaction.  Ions at surfaces and interfaces: geometric structure; electronic structure; applications. 

Polymer physical chemistry (5 lectures and 2 workshops). Polymer chain conformation, molar mass determination, ideal and non-ideal polymer solutions, polymer conformation in good, poor and theta solvents, Flory-Huggins theory for polymer solutions/blends, block copolymer phase diagrams and morphologies, crystalline and glassy polymer structures and chain conformations in these states.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Approximately one to two lectures per week plus four workshops on related material over the term. Two revision classes in the Summer term.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	13
Supervised time in studio/workshop	4		2
Guided independent study:	81
Total hours by term	98	0	2
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

1.5 hour examination

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Students will attend workshops. Verbal formative feedback will be given on their work.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
An overall mark of 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:
Reassessment will be held in August and will be by examination only worth 100%.
Final year students are not eligible to resit this module unless they have failed their degree programme overall.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 15 May 2019