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Introduction

The Department offers M.Sc. (honours) programme at first degree level (dual degree with engineering programme). At higher degree level, the department offers M.Phil programme and course-work for Ph.D. qualifying examination. The list of courses at these levels is as stated in the next two sections.

  • First degree courses (M.Sc. honours programme)

    CHEM F110 : Chemistry Laboratory                                           

    This is the compulsory laboratory course in Chemistry for the first year students of the first degree of all disciplines. It consists of experiments exploring various branches in Chemistry including kinetics, thermodynamics, analytical chemistry, synthetic inorganic and inorganic chemistry, etc.

    CHEM F111 : General Chemistry

    This course is aimed at providing an integrated overview of chemistry by introducing to the topics: quantum theory; electronic structure of atoms and molecules; spectroscopy; chemical thermodynamics; chemical kinetics; stereochemistry; important classes of organic reactions such as nucleophilic aliphatic substitution, elimination, electrophilic addition, free radical addition; organic synthesis; chemistry of selected main group elements; coordination chemistry, etc.

    CHEM F211 : Physical Chemistry -I

    Review of classical thermodynamics and introduction to statistical mechanics with applications to chemical systems.

    CHEM F212 : Organic Chemistry -I

    Substitution, elimination and addition reactions of organic compounds, stereochemistry, regio-selectivity and stereo-selectivity.

    CHEM F213 : Physical Chemistry -II

    Elements of quantum theory; the Schrodinger equation; some exactly solvable models; angular momentum; hydrogen-like atoms; approximation methods; electronic structure of many-electron atoms; molecules-Valence Bond and molecular orbital theories; semi-empirical treatments-huckel theory; molecular spectroscopy.

    CHEM C212  : Colloid and Surface Chemistry

    Surface phenomena; intermolecular forces relevant to colloidal systems; forces in colloidal systems; experimental and theoretical studies of the structure, dynamics and phase transitions in micelles, membranes, monolayers, bilayers, vesicles and related systems; technical applications.

    CHEM C222 : Modern Analytical Chemistry

    Data handling and analysis; sample preparation; unit operations; volumetric and gravimetric analysis; oxidation-reduction and complexometric titrations; electroanalytical methods: potentiometry, ion selective electrodes, conductometry, polarography; separation techniques : chromatography, solvent extraction; introduction to  spectroscopic methods; radiochemical methods; specific applications to problems in air and water quality analysis, toxic and trace metal estimation in biological and environmental samples.

    CHEM C231 : Chemistry Project Laboratory

    The course includes projects involving laboratory investigation or laboratory development in chemistry. The course is normally available to students of second or higher level. The course must coterminate with a project report.

    CHEM C232 : Chemistry of Organic Compounds

    Electrophilic  and  nucleophilic  aromatic  substitution; nucleophilic additions to carbonyl compounds, aldol and related condensations; amines, malonic ester and acetoacetic ester synthesis; carbohydrates; orbital  symmetry  and  chemical  reactions; hetrocyclic compounds.

    CHEM C311 : Chemical Kinetics

    Discussion of reaction rate theory, kinetics and mechanism of various types of reactions, effect of temperature on reaction rates, energy of activation, theories of reaction rates and photochemistry.

    CHEM C312 : Chemistry of Nontransitional  Elements

    Basic principles of inorganic chemistry; abnormal and general properties; methods of preparation; industrial uses of derivatives of non-transitional elements.

    CHEM C321 : Chemical Thermodynamics

    Review of classical thermodynamics and an introduction to statistical mechanics with applications to chemical systems.

    CHEM C322 : Quantum Chemistry

    Review of the postulates of quantum mechanics and some exactly solvable potential problems; angular momentum; variation method; stationary state and time dependent perturbation theory; atomic structure: antisymmetry, determinantal wave functions, SCF method, coupling of angular momenta, spectra; symmetry: point groups, representations, direct product, projection operators; molecules – Born-Oppenheimer approximation, molecular Hartree Fock calculations, VB and MO theories: ab initio and semi empirical methods; symmetry and molecular spectra.

    CHEM C331 : Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds

    Structure & reactivity; oxidation and reduction, aliphatic nucleophilic substitution; aromatic substitution reactions; eliminations, addition to carbon heteromultiple bonds and rearrangements; stereo chemistry of cyclic compounds.

    CHEM C332 : Synthetic Organic Chemistry

    Retrosynthetic analysis, synthetic strategies, protecting groups, carbon-carbon bond forming reactions, functional group disconnection, carbon-carbon bond disconnection, ring annelation, multistep synthesis, synthetic equivalents, asymmetric synthesis.

    CHEM C341 : Biophysical Chemistry

    The principles governing the molecular shapes, structures, structural transitions and dynamics in some important classes of biomolecules and biomolecular aggregates will be discussed. The topics will include: structure, conformational analysis, conformational transitions and equilibria in proteins and nucleic acids; protein folding; lipids - monolayers, bilayers and micelles; lipid-protein interactions in membranes.

    CHEM C342 : Coordination Chemistry

    Crystal field, ligand field and molecular orbital theories; chemistry of transitional metals; organometallic compounds; lanthanides and actinides.

    CHEM C351 : Computational Chemistry

    Selected problems in computational chemistry from diverse areas such as chemical kinetics and dynamics, quantum mechanics, electronic structure of molecules, spectroscopy, molecular mechanics and conformational analysis, thermodynamics, and structure and properties of condensed phases will be discussed. The problems chosen will illustrate the application of various mathematical and numerical methods such as those used in the solution of systems of algebraic equations, differential equations, and minimization of multidimensional functions, Fourier transform and Monte Carlo methods.

    CHEM C352 : Bonding in Inorganic Compounds

    Point groups and molecular symmetry; uses of point group symmetry; ionic bonding; covalent bonding; valence bond and molecular orbital theories of simple compounds; electronegativity; VSEPR model; fluxional molecules; ionic and covalent solids; band theory; dipole related forces; hydrogen bonding; coordination compounds: VB, crystal field and MO theories, electronic spectra and magnetic properties.

    CHEM C361 : Polymer Chemistry

    Types of polymers; structures of polymers; molecular weight and molecular weight distributions; kinetics and mechanisms of major classes of polymerization reactions such as step growth, radical, ionic, heterogeneous, and copolymerization methods; polymer solutions- solubility, lattice model and the Flory-Huggins theory, solution viscosity; bulk properties- thermal and mechanical properties such as the melting and glass transitions, rubber elasticity, and viscous flow; polymerization reactions used in industry.

    CHEM C362 : Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds

    Periodicity; periodic anomalies; p orbitals in pi bonding; d orbitals in non-metal chemistry: similarities and contrasts within a group, e.g., C-Si, N-P; chemistry of boron hydrides, aluminosilicates; hydrogen; acid-base concepts; hard and soft acids and bases; chemistry in aqueous and nonaqueous media; halogens and noble gases; coordination chemistry: different coordination numbers, chelation, isometrism and reactivity; chemistry of metals; introduction to bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry.

    CHEM C391 : Instrumental Methods of Analysis

    Principles and practice of modern instrumental methods of chemical analysis.  Emphasis on spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible, infrared, NMR (1H, 13C and other elements, NOE, correlation spectroscopies), ESR, atomic absorption and emission, photoelectron, Mossbauer, and fluorescence.  Other topics will include mass spectrometry, separation techniques, light scattering, electroanalytical methods, thermal analysis, and diffraction methods.

    CHEM C411 : Chemical Experimentation

    Specially designed for M.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry; cannot be taken by others under any circumstances. This laboratory course is designed only for M.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry students in order to develop competence in selected techniques of modern analytical chemistry.

    CHEM C412 : Photochemistry and Laser Spectroscopy

    Photochemical events : absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence; Jablonski  diagrams; physical properties of molecules after photoexcitation; photochemical tools and techniques : spectrophotometers,  fluorescence decay time measurement and analysis, flash photolysis;  fundamental properties of laser light; principles of laser operation ; description of some specific laser systems : Helium-Neon, Argon ion, CO2, Nd-YAG  and ultrafast Titanium : Sapphire lasers.

    CHEM C421 : Theoretical Inorganic Chemistry

    Stereochemistry of inorganic compounds; acids and bases; nonaqueous solvents; chemistry of the elements of the first period.

    CHEM C422 : Statistical Thermodynamics

    Review of classical thermodynamics, principles of statistical thermodynamics, ensemble averages; Boltzmann distribution; partition functions and thermodynamic quantities; ideal gases and crystals; thermodynamic properties from spectroscopic and structural data; dense gases and the second virial coefficient; statistical mechanics of solutions; Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics.

    CHEM C431 : Stereochemistry and Reaction Mechanisms

    Relative and absolute configuration; stereochemistry of organic compounds including those containing nitrogen atoms, allenes, and biphenyls; stereochemical implications of various organic reactions; conformational analysis of cyclohexanes and  substituted cyclohexanes; mechanism of addition, elimination and substitution reactions.

    CHEM C461 : Nuclear and Radiochemistry

    Nuclear and radiochemistry; transuranic elements; nucleus; nuclear reactions and radiation chemistry.

    CHEM C491 : Special Projects

    Short-term research-based course.

  • Higher degree courses (M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes)

     

    CHEM G513 : Advanced Nuclear and Radiochemistry

    Nuclear stability, binding energy, properties of nucleons; Nuclear models (Shell Model, Liquid drop model), Radioactive decay characteristics, decay kinetics, α, β and γ decay, nuclear reactions, types, radiative capture, reaction cross section, theory of fission; Nuclear reactors – classification, Reactor power, Breeder reactors, Nuclear reactors in India, Reprocessing of spent fuel, Nuclear waste management (HLW, LLW and ILW); Detection and measurement of activity, GM counters, Gamma counters, Liquid Scintillation counting; Application of radioactivity, Szilard Chalmers reaction, Isotope dilution analysis, Neutron activation analysis, Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radionucleides, interaction of radiation with matter.

    CHEM G521 : Environmental Chemistry

    Energy-flows and supplies, fossil fuels, nuclear energy, nuclear waste disposal, renewable energy, industrial ecology, green chemistry, ozone chemistry, effect of SOx, NOx as pollutants, reformulated gasoline, water pollution and treatment, organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides, eco-system effects, Toxic chemicals – Effect of dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and species of metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium etc.

     

    CHEM G531 : Recent Advances in Chemistry

    The course is aimed at providing an overview of recent developments in selected areas of chemistry. Topics to be covered may be drawn from: modern theories of structure, bonding and reactivity, spectroscopy, chemical dynamics, phase transitions, surface phenomena, solid state materials, and synthetic and mechanistic organic and inorganic chemistry, or such other topics as may emerge in the development of the subject.

    CHEM G541 : Chemical Applications of Group Theory

    Groups, subgroups and classes : definitions and theorems; molecular symmetry and symmetry groups; representation of groups; character tables; wave functions as bases for irreducible representations; direct product; symmetry adapted linear combinations; symmetry in molecular orbital theory; hybrid orbitals; molecular orbitals of metal sandwich compounds; ligand field theory; molecular vibrations; space groups.pastingd nucleophilic addition reactions; oxidation and reduction; enolates in organic synthesis; retro synthetic analysis; multiple step synthesis; protecting groups.

    CHEM G552 : Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

    Advanced coordination chemistry, reactions, kinetics and mechanism; advanced organometalic chemistry, bonding models in inorganic chemistry, inorganic chains, rings, cages and clusters; group theory and its applications to crystal field theory, molecular orbital theory and spectroscopy (electronic and vibrational); inorganic chemistry in biological systems.

    CHEM G553 : Advanced Physical Chemistry 

    Equilibrium: The laws of Thermodynamics, applications to phase equilibrium, reaction equilibrium, and electrochemistry; Structure: Principles and techniques of quantum mechanics, applications to atomic and molecular structure and spectroscopy, statistical thermodynamics, molecular interactions, macromolecules, solid state; Dynamics: Molecular motion in gases and liquids, reaction rate laws, mechanisms and rate theories of complex reactions, molecular reaction dynamics, surface processes, electron transfer dynamics.

    CHEM G554 : Physical Methods in Chemistry

    Advanced spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic techniques used in chemistry; Topics will include electronic absorption spectroscopy of organic and inorganic compounds, ORD, CD; vibrational rotational spectroscopy symmetry aspects; Dynamic and Fourier transform NMR, NOE, Multipulse methods, Two-Dimensional NMR; EPR; NQR; Mossbauer spectroscopy; Magnetism; Ionization Methods: Mass spectrometry, Ion Cyclotron Resonance; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Microscopic techniques: TEM, STM, AFM; EXAFS, XANES; X-ray Crystallography.

    CHEM G561 : Heterocyclic Chemistry

    The fundamental structural characteristics; synthesis and reactions of various heterocycles with
    nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur heteroatom in the ring; heterocyles such as pyrrole, thiophene,
    furan, imidazole, thiazole, oxazole, indole, benzofuran, pyridine and quinoline; advanced synthesis and reaction mechanism of heterocyclic compound. 

    CHEM G562 : Solid State Chemistry 

    Basics of solid state chemistry, comprehensive survey of different synthesis techniques, properties and their structural-property relationship of solid materials; introduction to special nanomaterials, ceramics, polymers, biopolymers and nanocomposites; thermal and mechanical properties of nanomaterials; nanocomposites in hydrophobic applications; recent advances in material science.

Overview

Established in 1944, we are one of the oldest departments on the campus. The department has grown with strong research interests in the Physical Chemistry, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, etc.

Equipped with a state of the art instrumentation facility and research laboratories, we are counted amongst the best departments for education in Chemistry across the country.

Contact us

Dr. Subit Kumar Saha
Head,
Department of Chemistry

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Pilani 333031, Rajasthan (India)

Phone: +91-1596-245073 Ext 279/276
Fax: +91-1596-244183
Email:  sksaha@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in

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