BSc (Hons) Chemistry Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of atoms and molecules, providing a base understanding from which to build your breadth and depth of knowledge. Through a series of interconnected topics, you will revisit many previously encountered chemistry concepts in a more rigorous and comprehensive manner, serving as a bridge to university-level chemistry. This will ensure you are exposed early on to fundamental chemistry concepts, irrespective of the curriculum you studied prior. The initial focus will be on building a picture of how electrons behave in atoms and molecular bonds, before covering basic principles of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Key topics in this module

Further explore key chemistry principles and gain a broad overview of future areas of chemistry that will be taught throughout your degree. Explore key concepts of reactivity and mechanism, building a more complete model of the world of atoms and molecules. Key topics in this module include: Chemical equilibria and kinetics Main group chemistry Transition metal coordination chemistry Reaction mechanisms and reactivity in organic chemistry

Practical chemistry skills are fundamental to a chemistry degree. Develop these key practical skills, as you are introduced to a range of techniques to practically synthesise and characterise molecules and quantitatively measure their physical and chemical properties. This allows you to put many of the concepts learned in lectures to practical use. This module begins with the basics, helping you build experience and confidence in practical chemistry and introducing the practical skills needed for later years, irrespective of your pre-university experience. There is also a significant focus on instilling the principles of safety and risk assessment that are fundamental to working effectively

Chemistry is often referred to as the “central science” as it interconnects and contributes directly to all other sciences. Enhance your interdisciplinary perspective by exploring fundamental concepts from physics at the interface of chemistry, and learn about how the language of mathematics helps describe the world of atoms and molecules. Alongside this, you will study the key principles of sustainability and green chemistry, and how these relate to global grand challenges. These topics broaden your contextual understanding of chemistry and lay a solid basis for your studies in the following years. Key topics in this module include: Physics for chemistry Sustainable chemistry

Chemistry is a broad and diverse science, and a modern chemistry degree develops and uses a broad range of general and professional skills. This module, which runs across the whole year, seeks to develop your broader skill set, providing you with a toolkit to help make the most of your studies here at Lancaster. It serves as an introduction to a range of transferable skills, in a chemistry context, including: Mathematical skills Communication and presentation techniques Data analysis and presentation Study, self-learning, and self-reflection/feedback skills Career and employability Information retrieval, literature searching AI in chemistry, ethics and plagiarism Computer skills and file and

Cells are the basic building blocks of life. In this module you will be introduced to how cells use biological molecules to perform specific functions. All cellular life, from single celled bacteria and yeast to complex multicellular organisms, including plants and humans, synthesise simple organic molecules such as sugars, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids. You will learn how organisms are able to synthesise these molecules to build complex biomolecules to store energy and genetic information. In addition, you will gain knowledge about the function of specific cell types, and intracellular organelles that perform essential processes within cells. You will learn how cells use defined pr

Develop your knowledge and expertise in the characterisation of chemical systems. By integrating models of structure, bonding, motion and reactivity with spectroscopic and analytical techniques that can directly probe and interrogate chemical systems, you will develop an enhanced view of their properties, structure and behaviour. Key topics in this module include: Analytical chemistry Symmetry and group theory Organic spectroscopy Inorganic spectroscopy Macromolecules Transition metal molecular orbital theory Application of these techniques is explored in practical and skills modules.

With a strong focus on practical chemistry and broader skills, we build your expertise and confidence in the lab. You will continue to develop your portfolio of practical and professional chemistry skills using familiar synthesis, characterisation, measurement and computational techniques as well as being introduced to new ones.

Practical experience is a key part of your journey to becoming independent in the lab. In this module, we continue to develop your practical chemistry skills and portfolio.

Further your knowledge and expertise in the chemistry and properties of inorganic and organometallic compounds, from the molecule through to materials. You will study the structure and properties of: d-block chemistry and organometallics Principles of f-block chemistry Main group chemistry and organometallics Inorganic polymers and clusters Solid-state inorganic materials With relevance to multiple applications, for example, catalysis and energy.

Develop further knowledge and expertise in organic chemical synthesis, focusing on mechanistic and structural chemistry and expanding on the approaches we can use to rationalise and predict the behaviour, structure and reactions of organic molecules. You will also cover basic organometallic chemistry and the application of organometallics to organic synthesis. You will further your theoretical knowledge and understanding of organic chemistry, expanding on the approaches used to rationalise and predict molecular structure and functional group reactivity. Key topics in this module include: Retrosynthetic analysis Aromatic chemistry Alkene and alkyne chemistry Enol and enolate chemistry Conform

In this module, you will critically explore the key concepts of physical chemistry, initially introduced in first year. You will begin to see their origins, complexities and limitations. Key to this is a thorough examination of quantum mechanics, and how the modern picture of the world of atoms and molecules arises naturally from it. Key topics in this module include: Quantum chemistry Physical principles of spectroscopy Thermodynamics of non-ideal systems Quantitative reaction kinetics Electrochemical processes These approaches combine to develop an enhanced picture of the properties and behaviours of chemical systems. Practical application of these techniques is explored in practical and s

Deepen your understanding by exploring the underlying connections between the main branches of physical chemistry. You will build upon knowledge gained in previous years, connecting the quantum perspective with computational chemistry to study the complexity of the interactions and reactions of real chemical systems. Key topics in this module include: Principles of computational chemistry Intermolecular interactions Surfaces Statistical thermodynamics Reaction dynamics Dynamical processes in electrochemical systems

Significant emphasis is placed on advanced practical chemistry skills, where you will focus on developing your independence in practical work, and on more open-ended and extended practical investigations. Build on the breadth of practical experience gain so far to further develop your expertise and confidence in advanced practical chemistry. Here, you will study more specialised practical techniques in more extended, open-ended practical’s that connect and develop skills from across the discipline and employ them in increasingly unfamiliar contexts. These practical skills directly complement the project that you will undertake this year.

Build upon topics learned in earlier years, covering the synthesis and structure of both organic molecules, the application of transition metal complexes to the catalysis of organic transformations, and further developing your knowledge and expertise in advanced synthetic chemistry. Key topics in this module include: Retrosynthesis and selective synthetic strategies Asymmetric synthesis Mechanistic and physical organic chemistry Reactive intermediates and photochemical methods Transition metal and organometallic chemistry

Chemistry is pivotal in addressing global challenges across sectors such as sustainability, energy, materials, pharmaceuticals, and medical treatments. Gain hands-on experience with advanced professional skills in an extended project: designing experiments, leading investigations, data analysis and management, health and safety, effective literature searching, experimental design, and proficiency in the use of specialised equipment and techniques. Build upon the theoretical knowledge and practical expertise you've acquired thus far. These experiences aim to refine your skills, build confidence and prepare you for advanced studies and professional work in the chemical sciences and beyond.

Learn about advanced techniques for chemical and electronic structure elucidation using both experimental and computational chemistry techniques, which will be of interest if you would like to focus on spectroscopy and proof of structure, and computational chemistry. Key topics in this module include: Quantum chemistry of molecules Structure interrogation techniques for molecular systems Quantum chemistry of solids and extended systems Structure interrogation techniques for solids and extended systems Theory of spectroscopic techniques for molecular and extended systems

This module focuses on advanced topics in materials and inorganic chemistry and will be of particular interest to you if you would like to focus on the development of new compounds and materials with 'designed' properties. Key topics in this module include: Inorganic chemistry for the synthesis of sustainable polymer materials Supramolecular chemistry Inorganic and materials chemistry for energy

This optional module covers topics informed by current research, providing significant depth in a specialised area of chemistry. This module focuses on advanced topics in organic chemistry and will be of particular interest to you if you would like to focus on pharmaceutical, medicinal, and advanced mechanistic chemistry. Key topics in this module include: Chemical biology and biomolecular chemistry Medicinal chemistry and drug design Advanced asymmetric synthesis and catalysis