Matter

Instruction is in the form of lectures, calculation exercises, and mandatory seminars and laboratory sessions. A further mandatory activity is carried out in conjunction with industry or public agency, for example, a study visit, an authentic seminar project or a guest lecture. Course content: - the background to quantum mechanics: photons, matter waves and wave-particle-duality, - basic quantum mechanics: wave function, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the Schrödinger equation and its solution for different potentials, - application of the Schrödinger equation to the hydrogen atom and particle in box (one dimension) and characterisation of solutions and quantum equations, - quantum mechanical tunneling through potential barriers, - structure of atomic nucleus, - different atom models: for example, Bohr's atom model, Dalton's atom model, Rutherford's atom model, - the connection between materials electronic structure and properties (e.g. chemical reactivity and interaction with electromagnetic radiation, - the structure of the periodic system, classification of elements and their properties and occurrence of the most important element groups, - chemical bonding: ionic bonding and covalent bonding, connection between electronic structure and molecular geometry as described with the Lewis-, VSEPR- and valence-bonding models, molecular orbital theory: the LCAO method, - the dipole moment in molecules, - intermolecular forces: hydrogen bond, van der Waal's forces and properties in the solid state, gases and fluids, - mass balance and stoichiometry in simple chemical reactions, - laboratory safety, - apply theories treated to practical lab experiments.