Al-Hussien Bin Talal University

Faculty of Science
Department of Chemistry
Molecular Spectroscopy (0306442)
First Semester 2009/2010
Dr. Abdelaziz Jbarah

Course Overview:
Molecular spectroscopy studies the interaction of light and matter and probes the matter and its environ-
ment. It is the basis of molecular structure determination, many microscope techniques, and most remote
sensing techniques. This graduate-level class will be techniques oriented and cover infrared (IR), visible,
ultraviolet (UV), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron spin resonance (ESR) and emission (fluo-
rescnece) spectroscopy. We will also discuss most current laser spectroscopic techniques. We'll also discuss
X-ray, photoelectron and other less "standard" spectroscopic methods.

Course Goals:
The class will teach students what information molecular spectroscopy provides to scientists as well as how
to carry out molecular spectroscopy experiments. Successful student learning outcomes will be to be able to
know which spectroscopic technique is of utility in a specific situation and know how to record the appro-
priate spectrum.

Textbook:
-P. W. Atkins, Physical Chemistry, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 7th edition (2002)
-K. J. Laidler, J. H. Meiser and B. C. Sanctuary, Physical Chemistry, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston,
4th edition (2003)

Grading:
First Exam: 25% (02.11.2009, Monday)
Second Exam: 25% (14.12.2009, Monday)
Final Exam: 50%

Office hours: Monday (12:00-01:00 pm), Tuesday (10:30-11:30 am), Wednesday (12:00-01:00 pm)

Office location: College of Mining and Environmental Engineering, 3rd floor

Course Content
Title Chapter Hours
Introduction - 1.5
Atkins 7th edition, Chapter 16
Rotational and vibrational spectra 9
Atkins 8th edition, Chapter 13
Atkins 7th edition, Chapter 17
Electronic transitions 9
Atkins 8th edition, Chapter 14
Atkins 7th edition, Chapter 18
Magnetic resonance 9
Atkins 8th edition, Chapter 15
Some modern applications of spectroscopy Laidler 4th edition, Chapter 14 7.5
Some of molecular spectra as examples for molecular spec-
troscopy will be visualized by using OriginLab, Gaussview - 6
and Chemoffice software’s during this course.