Faculty of Science

Objectives

To introduce the chemistry of the excited state and the consequences of absorption of light by molecules (fluorescence, phosphorescence, quantum yields) and extensions into the photochemistry of biological systems.

Contents

Photochemistry and properties of light; Wave and particle nature of light; The photoelectric effects; photoelectron spectroscopy; photo conduction; Degradation of electronically excited atoms; Energy diagrams; transition for excited states; Einstein’s coefficients; Absorption of radiation; Quantum theory of absorption; Beer-Lambert’s law in relation to analytical chemistry; Infrared and microwave absorption; rotational constants; force constants; Ultraviolet spectra of atoms and molecules; vision (retinae); The fate of electronically excited states; Fluorescence and phosphorescence; rate constants; The First and Second Laws of photochemistry; Applications to photosynthesis (light and dark reactions); The Quantum Yield: single photochemical reactions; Use of fluorescence and phosphorescence rate constants; Photochemical equilibrium; Effect of temperature on photochemical reactions; photochemical kinetics; Flash photocopies; photochemical effects on solids; photography; chemiluminescence; photoelectric cells; Photo sensitized reactions; photometric titrations; Dissociation processes involving light: free radical production; photochemical oxidation; Chemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere; photochemical smog; Hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals in the atmosphere; photo additions; Woodward reactions.

Prerequisite: