Noesis

Chemistry

Matter, bonds, reactions and the language of transformation.

notes
304notes
chapters
30chapters
tests
155tests
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0.6Mwords
Test bank →Learning path →Deep dives → (283 topics)

Phase 1 — Foundation Chemistry

Age 12–15 equivalent · 3–4 months @ 1.5 hrs/day4 chapters
1.1

Matter, Measurement & the Mole

16 topics
  1. 1.1.1States of matter — solid, liquid, gas, plasma; macroscopic vs particulate view
  2. 1.1.2Pure substances vs mixtures — elements, compounds, homogeneous - heterogeneous
  3. 1.1.3Separation techniques — filtration, distillation, chromatography, centrifugation, sublimation
  4. 1.1.4Physical vs chemical change
  5. 1.1.5SI units in chemistry — kg, mol, K, Pa; derived units (J, L)
  6. 1.1.6Significant figures and rounding rules
  7. 1.1.7Density, molar mass, molar volume
  8. 1.1.8Law of conservation of mass (Lavoisier) — proof, examples
  9. 1.1.9Law of definite proportions (Proust)
  10. 1.1.10Law of multiple proportions (Dalton)
  11. 1.1.11Avogadro's law and Avogadro's number N_A = 6.022 × 10²³
  12. 1.1.12The mole concept — counting by weighing
  13. 1.1.13Molar mass calculations
  14. 1.1.14Empirical formula vs molecular formula — determination from % composition
  15. 1.1.15Concentration units — mass %, volume %, ppm, ppb, molarity (M), molality (m), mole fraction
  16. 1.1.16Dilution formula M₁V₁ = M₂V₂
1.2

Atomic Structure (Classical)

11 topics
  1. 1.2.1Dalton's atomic theory — postulates and limitations
  2. 1.2.2Discovery of electron (Thomson, cathode rays), proton (Goldstein), neutron (Chadwick)
  3. 1.2.3Thomson's plum-pudding model
  4. 1.2.4Rutherford's gold-foil experiment — nuclear model
  5. 1.2.5Atomic number Z, mass number A, isotopes, isobars, isotones
  6. 1.2.6Calculation of atomic mass from isotopic abundance
  7. 1.2.7Bohr model of hydrogen — postulates, radius rₙ = 0.529 n² - Z Å, energy Eₙ = −13.6 Z² - n² eV
  8. 1.2.8Derivation of Bohr's radii and energies from electrostatics + quantization
  9. 1.2.9Hydrogen emission spectrum — Lyman, Balmer, Paschen, Brackett, Pfund
  10. 1.2.10Rydberg formula 1 - λ = R(1 - n₁² − 1 - n₂²)
  11. 1.2.11Limitations of Bohr — fails for multi-electron atoms, fine structure
1.3

Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry

9 topics
  1. 1.3.1Writing and balancing chemical equations
  2. 1.3.2Types of reactions — combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, redox
  3. 1.3.3Limiting reagent problems
  4. 1.3.4Percent yield, theoretical yield, actual yield
  5. 1.3.5Solution stoichiometry — titrations, dilutions
  6. 1.3.6Oxidation number rules — assigning, change
  7. 1.3.7Balancing redox equations — ion-electron (half-reaction) method, oxidation-number method
  8. 1.3.8Acid-base reactions — neutralization, salt formation
  9. 1.3.9Combustion stoichiometry — fuel + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
1.4

Periodic Table — First Look

5 topics
  1. 1.4.1Mendeleev's periodic table — based on atomic mass
  2. 1.4.2Modern periodic law — based on atomic number
  3. 1.4.3Groups (1–18), periods (1–7), s - p - d - f blocks
  4. 1.4.4Metals, non-metals, metalloids — properties
  5. 1.4.5Common elements and their symbols (first 30)

Phase 2 — Intermediate Chemistry

Age 15–17 equivalent · 6–8 months @ 2 hrs/day8 chapters
2.1

Quantum Atomic Structure

11 topics
  1. 2.1.1Black-body radiation and Planck's quantum hypothesis E = hν
  2. 2.1.2Photoelectric effect — Einstein's photon model
  3. 2.1.3Dual nature of matter — de Broglie λ = h - p
  4. 2.1.4Heisenberg uncertainty principle — Δx Δp ≥ ℏ - 2
  5. 2.1.5Quantum numbers — n (principal), l (azimuthal), mₗ (magnetic), mₛ (spin)
  6. 2.1.6Orbital shapes — s (spherical), p (dumbbell), d (cloverleaf), f
  7. 2.1.7Aufbau principle — order of filling (Madelung rule, n + l)
  8. 2.1.8Pauli exclusion principle
  9. 2.1.9Hund's rule of maximum multiplicity
  10. 2.1.10Electronic configuration of elements (Z = 1 to 30) — exceptions Cr, Cu
  11. 2.1.11Stability of half-filled and fully-filled subshells
2.2

Periodic Trends

9 topics
  1. 2.2.1Effective nuclear charge Z_eff — Slater's rules
  2. 2.2.2Atomic radius — covalent, metallic, van der Waals; trends across period and group
  3. 2.2.3Ionic radius — cation - parent atom, anion - parent atom; isoelectronic series
  4. 2.2.4Ionization energy — first, second, …; trends and anomalies (e.g. B - Be)
  5. 2.2.5Electron gain enthalpy - electron affinity — trends, anomalies (e.g. Cl - F)
  6. 2.2.6Electronegativity — Pauling, Mulliken, Allred-Rochow scales
  7. 2.2.7Diagonal relationship — Li - Mg, Be - Al, B - Si
  8. 2.2.8Metallic - non-metallic character trends
  9. 2.2.9Variation of oxidation state across the table
2.3

Chemical Bonding

18 topics
  1. 2.3.1Octet rule — Lewis structures, exceptions (incomplete octet, expanded octet, odd-electron species)
  2. 2.3.2Formal charge calculation — best resonance structure
  3. 2.3.3Ionic bonding — Born-Haber cycle, lattice energy (Kapustinskii equation)
  4. 2.3.4Fajan's rules — covalent character in ionic compounds
  5. 2.3.5Covalent bonding — bond length, bond energy, bond order
  6. 2.3.6Polarity of bonds — dipole moment μ = q·d
  7. 2.3.7Polarity of molecules — vector sum of bond dipoles
  8. 2.3.8VSEPR theory — geometry from electron pairs (linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, octahedral, etc
  9. 2.3.9Effect of lone pairs on geometry (e.g. H₂O bent, NH₃ pyramidal)
  10. 2.3.10Valence Bond Theory (VBT) — hybridization (sp, sp², sp³, sp³d, sp³d²)
  11. 2.3.11σ vs π bonds — overlap, strength
  12. 2.3.12Molecular Orbital Theory (MOT) — LCAO, bonding - antibonding orbitals
  13. 2.3.13MO diagrams of H₂, He₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, NO, CO — bond order, magnetism
  14. 2.3.14Why O₂ is paramagnetic (MOT prediction)
  15. 2.3.15Resonance — delocalization, resonance energy (benzene, ozone, carbonate)
  16. 2.3.16Hydrogen bonding — intermolecular, intramolecular; consequences (boiling points, water density)
  17. 2.3.17van der Waals forces — London dispersion, dipole-dipole, dipole-induced dipole
  18. 2.3.18Metallic bonding — electron sea, band theory (intro)
2.4

States of Matter (Quantitative)

17 topics
  1. 2.4.1Gas laws — Boyle (PV const at T), Charles (V - T const at P), Gay-Lussac (P - T const at V)
  2. 2.4.2Combined gas law and ideal gas equation PV = nRT
  3. 2.4.3Dalton's law of partial pressures
  4. 2.4.4Graham's law of effusion - diffusion (rate ∝ 1 - √M)
  5. 2.4.5Kinetic molecular theory — derivation of P = (1 - 3)ρv²_rms
  6. 2.4.6Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of speeds — most probable, mean, rms
  7. 2.4.7Real gases — deviations from ideality, compressibility factor Z
  8. 2.4.8van der Waals equation (P + a - V²)(V − b) = RT — physical meaning of a, b
  9. 2.4.9Critical constants Tc, Pc, Vc; law of corresponding states
  10. 2.4.10Liquefaction of gases — Linde, Claude processes (concept)
  11. 2.4.11Liquid state — vapour pressure, viscosity, surface tension
  12. 2.4.12Solid state — crystalline vs amorphous; unit cell, Bravais lattices
  13. 2.4.13Cubic systems — SCC, BCC, FCC; packing fraction calculations
  14. 2.4.14Coordination number, voids (tetrahedral, octahedral)
  15. 2.4.15Ionic crystals — NaCl, CsCl, ZnS, fluorite, antifluorite structures
  16. 2.4.16Defects — Schottky, Frenkel; non-stoichiometric defects
  17. 2.4.17Electrical properties — conductors, semiconductors, insulators; doping (n-type, p-type)
2.5

Thermodynamics (Chemical)

16 topics
  1. 2.5.1System vs surroundings; open, closed, isolated
  2. 2.5.2State functions vs path functions
  3. 2.5.3First law - ΔU = q + w (chemist sign convention)
  4. 2.5.4Work in expansion - reversible isothermal w = −nRT ln(V₂ - V₁), irreversible w = −P_ext ΔV
  5. 2.5.5Enthalpy H = U + PV; ΔH for reactions at constant P
  6. 2.5.6Heat capacities Cp, Cv; relationship Cp − Cv = nR (ideal gas)
  7. 2.5.7Standard enthalpy of formation ΔH°f
  8. 2.5.8Hess's law — enthalpy is a state function; enthalpy cycles
  9. 2.5.9Bond enthalpies — estimating ΔH_rxn from bond energies
  10. 2.5.10Born-Haber cycle revisited — calculating lattice energy
  11. 2.5.11Enthalpy of combustion, neutralization, hydration, solution
  12. 2.5.12Spontaneity — second law; entropy ΔS
  13. 2.5.13Standard entropy S° and ΔS_rxn = Σ S°(products) − Σ S°(reactants)
  14. 2.5.14Gibbs free energy ΔG = ΔH − TΔS; spontaneity criteria
  15. 2.5.15ΔG° and equilibrium constant - ΔG° = −RT ln K
  16. 2.5.16Coupling reactions — driving unfavorable reactions
2.6

Equilibrium

16 topics
  1. 2.6.1Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium
  2. 2.6.2Law of mass action and Kc, Kp
  3. 2.6.3Relationship Kp = Kc(RT)^Δn
  4. 2.6.4Reaction quotient Q vs K — direction of shift
  5. 2.6.5Le Chatelier's principle — pressure, temperature, concentration, catalyst effects
  6. 2.6.6Heterogeneous equilibria — pure solids - liquids excluded
  7. 2.6.7Acids and bases — Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, Lewis definitions
  8. 2.6.8Conjugate acid-base pairs
  9. 2.6.9Ionic product of water Kw = 10⁻¹⁴ at 25 °C
  10. 2.6.10pH, pOH, pKa, pKb scales
  11. 2.6.11Strong vs weak acids - bases; degree of dissociation α
  12. 2.6.12Ostwald's dilution law (weak acid) - α = √(Ka - C)
  13. 2.6.13Common ion effect
  14. 2.6.14Buffer solutions — Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
  15. 2.6.15Solubility product Ksp — common-ion suppression, selective precipitation
  16. 2.6.16Salt hydrolysis — pH of salt solutions (4 cases - SA - SB, SA - WB, WA - SB, WA - WB)
2.7

Redox & Electrochemistry (Intro)

11 topics
  1. 2.7.1Galvanic (voltaic) cells — anode (oxidation), cathode (reduction)
  2. 2.7.2Standard electrode potentials — SHE reference, electrochemical series
  3. 2.7.3Cell EMF E°_cell = E°_cathode − E°_anode
  4. 2.7.4Nernst equation E = E° − (RT - nF) ln Q
  5. 2.7.5Spontaneity from E°_cell and ΔG = −nFE
  6. 2.7.6Equilibrium constant from E° - ln K = nFE° - RT
  7. 2.7.7Concentration cells
  8. 2.7.8Batteries — primary (dry cell), secondary (lead-acid, Li-ion)
  9. 2.7.9Fuel cells — H₂ - O₂ fuel cell (spacecraft relevance)
  10. 2.7.10Electrolysis — Faraday's laws (m = ZIt), industrial electrolysis (NaCl, Al)
  11. 2.7.11Corrosion — electrochemical mechanism; cathodic protection, galvanization
2.8

Chemical Kinetics

12 topics
  1. 2.8.1Rate of reaction — average vs instantaneous
  2. 2.8.2Rate law — order vs molecularity
  3. 2.8.3Differential rate equations for 0, 1st, 2nd order — derivations
  4. 2.8.4Integrated rate laws — half-life t₁ - ₂ for each order
  5. 2.8.5Pseudo-first-order kinetics
  6. 2.8.6Methods to determine order — initial rates, integrated method, half-life method
  7. 2.8.7Temperature dependence — Arrhenius equation k = A·e^(−Ea - RT)
  8. 2.8.8Activation energy from Arrhenius plot; effect of catalyst
  9. 2.8.9Collision theory — frequency factor, steric factor
  10. 2.8.10Transition state theory — activated complex (intro)
  11. 2.8.11Reaction mechanisms — elementary steps, rate-determining step
  12. 2.8.12Catalysis — homogeneous, heterogeneous, enzyme catalysis

Phase 3 — Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

6–8 months @ 2 hrs/day5 chapters
3.1

Hydrogen and s-Block

10 topics
  1. 3.1.1Position of hydrogen in the periodic table (anomalous)
  2. 3.1.2Isotopes of hydrogen — protium, deuterium, tritium
  3. 3.1.3Preparation, properties, uses of dihydrogen
  4. 3.1.4Hydrides — ionic, covalent, interstitial
  5. 3.1.5Water — structure (HOH = 104.5°), anomalous expansion, hardness (temporary - permanent), softening
  6. 3.1.6Heavy water D₂O, hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ — structure, preparation, reactions
  7. 3.1.7Alkali metals (Group 1) — physical - chemical properties, anomaly of Li, diagonal Li-Mg
  8. 3.1.8Alkaline earth metals (Group 2) — physical - chemical properties, anomaly of Be, diagonal Be-Al
  9. 3.1.9Important compounds — NaOH, NaCl, Na₂CO₃ (Solvay), NaHCO₃; CaO, CaCO₃, gypsum, plaster of Paris
  10. 3.1.10Biological importance of Na, K, Ca, Mg
3.2

p-Block

11 topics
  1. 3.2.1Group 13 (Boron family) — anomaly of B, diagonal B-Si; BX₃ Lewis acidity; diborane B₂H₆ (3c-2e bond), borazine
  2. 3.2.2Aluminium — chemistry, alloys; alumina, alums
  3. 3.2.3Group 14 (Carbon family) — allotropes of C (diamond, graphite, fullerenes, graphene, CNTs)
  4. 3.2.4Silicon and silicates; silicones; zeolites
  5. 3.2.5Group 15 (Nitrogen family) — N₂ inertness; NH₃ synthesis (Haber); HNO₃ (Ostwald); oxides of N (N₂O, NO, NO₂, N₂O₄, N₂O₅)
  6. 3.2.6Phosphorus allotropes (white, red, black); P₄O₆, P₄O₁₀; oxoacids of P (H₃PO₃ vs H₃PO₄ basicity)
  7. 3.2.7Group 16 (Oxygen family) — allotropes of O (O₂, O₃); ozone chemistry, ozone layer
  8. 3.2.8Sulfur — allotropes (rhombic, monoclinic); SO₂, SO₃; H₂SO₄ (Contact process); oxoacids of S
  9. 3.2.9Group 17 (Halogens) — properties, oxidizing power; HX strengths; interhalogens; pseudohalogens
  10. 3.2.10Oxoacids of halogens — HClO, HClO₂, HClO₃, HClO₄ — acidity trend
  11. 3.2.11Group 18 (Noble gases) — discovery, isolation, compounds of Xe (XeF₂, XeF₄, XeF₆, XeO₃) — structure and bonding
3.3

d-Block (Transition Metals) & f-Block

9 topics
  1. 3.3.1General electronic configuration (n−1)d¹⁻¹⁰ ns⁰⁻²
  2. 3.3.2Variable oxidation states — reasons
  3. 3.3.3Atomic - ionic size trends; lanthanide contraction
  4. 3.3.4Magnetic properties — paramagnetism via spin-only formula μ = √(n(n+2)) BM
  5. 3.3.5Colour of complexes — d-d transitions
  6. 3.3.6Catalytic properties — examples (V₂O₅, Fe, Ni, Pt)
  7. 3.3.7Important compounds — KMnO₄, K₂Cr₂O₇ — preparation, oxidizing reactions
  8. 3.3.8Lanthanides — electronic configuration, lanthanide contraction, oxidation states (mostly +3)
  9. 3.3.9Actinides — electronic configuration, comparison with lanthanides; nuclear chemistry tie-in
3.4

Coordination Chemistry

15 topics
  1. 3.4.1Werner's theory of coordination compounds
  2. 3.4.2Ligands — classification (mono, bi, poly, ambidentate, chelating); denticity
  3. 3.4.3Nomenclature (IUPAC) — naming complex ions and compounds
  4. 3.4.4Coordination number and geometry — 2 (linear), 4 (tetrahedral - square planar), 6 (octahedral)
  5. 3.4.5Isomerism — structural (linkage, ionization, coordination, hydrate) and stereo (geometrical, optical)
  6. 3.4.6Effective Atomic Number (EAN) rule
  7. 3.4.7VBT applied to complexes — inner vs outer orbital, hybridization, magnetism
  8. 3.4.8Crystal Field Theory (CFT) — Δ_oct, Δ_tet, splitting diagrams
  9. 3.4.9Crystal Field Stabilization Energy (CFSE) — high-spin vs low-spin; spectrochemical series
  10. 3.4.10Jahn-Teller distortion
  11. 3.4.11Colour and spectra — d-d transitions, charge transfer; selection rules
  12. 3.4.12Magnetic moments of complexes
  13. 3.4.13Ligand Field Theory (LFT) and MO description (overview)
  14. 3.4.14Stability constants of complexes — chelate effect
  15. 3.4.15Applications — biological (haemoglobin, chlorophyll, vit B₁₂), medicinal (cisplatin), industrial (catalysts)
3.5

Inorganic Qualitative Analysis

4 topics
  1. 3.5.1Cation groups I–V — group reagents, separation scheme
  2. 3.5.2Common anions — Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, CO₃²⁻ — confirmatory tests
  3. 3.5.3Flame tests — characteristic colours
  4. 3.5.4Borax bead, charcoal cavity tests

Phase 4 — Advanced Organic Chemistry

6–8 months @ 2 hrs/day8 chapters
4.1

General Organic Chemistry (GOC)

12 topics
  1. 4.1.1Tetravalency of carbon; hybridization recap (sp, sp², sp³)
  2. 4.1.2Catenation and the diversity of organic molecules
  3. 4.1.3Functional groups and homologous series
  4. 4.1.4IUPAC nomenclature — alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, amines,
  5. 4.1.5Isomerism — structural (chain, position, functional, metamerism, tautomerism) and stereo (geometrical - cis-trans - E-Z,
  6. 4.1.6Chirality — chiral centres, enantiomers, diastereomers, meso compounds
  7. 4.1.7Optical activity — specific rotation, racemic mixtures, resolution
  8. 4.1.8Electronic effects — inductive (+I - −I), mesomeric - resonance (+M - −M), hyperconjugation, electromeric
  9. 4.1.9Reactive intermediates — carbocations (stability), carbanions, free radicals, carbenes, nitrenes; rearrangements (hydrid
  10. 4.1.10Reagent classification — electrophiles, nucleophiles (hard - soft)
  11. 4.1.11Types of organic reactions — addition, substitution, elimination, rearrangement
  12. 4.1.12Reaction mechanisms — curved-arrow notation, bond formation - breaking (heterolysis vs homolysis)
4.2

Hydrocarbons

10 topics
  1. 4.2.1Alkanes — preparation (Wurtz, Kolbe electrolysis, hydrogenation), properties, free-radical halogenation (Cl₂ - Br₂)
  2. 4.2.2Conformations of ethane, butane — Newman projections
  3. 4.2.3Cycloalkanes — Baeyer's strain theory; cyclohexane chair - boat, axial vs equatorial
  4. 4.2.4Alkenes — preparation (dehydration, dehydrohalogenation, Zaitsev's rule), addition reactions
  5. 4.2.5Markovnikov vs anti-Markovnikov (peroxide effect, Kharasch)
  6. 4.2.6Hydroboration-oxidation, ozonolysis (reductive - oxidative), syn vs anti dihydroxylation, halohydrin formation
  7. 4.2.7Alkynes — preparation, acidity of terminal alkynes, addition reactions, hydration to ketones
  8. 4.2.8Aromaticity — Hückel's rule (4n + 2 π electrons); examples (benzene, naphthalene, pyridine, furan, cyclopentadienyl anio
  9. 4.2.9Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) — nitration, halogenation, sulfonation, Friedel-Crafts alkylation - acylation;
  10. 4.2.10Activating vs deactivating groups; ortho - para vs meta directors; reactivity order
4.3

Halides and Oxygenated Derivatives

9 topics
  1. 4.3.1Alkyl halides — preparation, SN1 vs SN2 (mechanism, kinetics, stereochemistry), E1 vs E2 (mechanism, Zaitsev - Hofmann)
  2. 4.3.2Effect of substrate, nucleophile - base, solvent, leaving group
  3. 4.3.3Aryl halides — low reactivity, addition-elimination (benzyne mechanism), nucleophilic aromatic substitution
  4. 4.3.4Alcohols — preparation, acidity (pKa ~16), oxidation (PCC, Jones, K₂Cr₂O₇), Lucas test
  5. 4.3.5Phenols — acidity (resonance stabilization), Kolbe-Schmidt, Reimer-Tiemann, Fries rearrangement
  6. 4.3.6Ethers — Williamson synthesis, cleavage by HI
  7. 4.3.7Aldehydes and ketones — preparation; nucleophilic addition; aldol, Cannizzaro, Wittig, Claisen-Schmidt, Mannich, Reforma
  8. 4.3.8Carboxylic acids — acidity, derivatives (acid chlorides, anhydrides, esters, amides), Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky, esterificat
  9. 4.3.9α,β-Unsaturated carbonyls — Michael addition, 1,2 vs 1,4 addition
4.4

Nitrogen-Containing Compounds

4 topics
  1. 4.4.1Amines — basicity (alkyl - NH₃ - aryl in water; reverse in gas phase), Hofmann elimination, carbylamine, Hinsberg te
  2. 4.4.2Diazonium salts — preparation, Sandmeyer, Gattermann, coupling reactions (azo dyes)
  3. 4.4.3Nitro compounds — preparation, reduction to amines (Sn - HCl, Fe - HCl, H₂ - Pt)
  4. 4.4.4Cyanides and isocyanides
4.5

Biomolecules

8 topics
  1. 4.5.1Carbohydrates — classification (mono - di - polysaccharides), Fischer - Haworth projections, mutarotation, glycosidic bo
  2. 4.5.2Amino acids — zwitterion, isoelectric point pI, classification (essential, non-essential)
  3. 4.5.3Peptide bond; primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary protein structure
  4. 4.5.4Enzymes — lock-and-key vs induced fit; Michaelis-Menten kinetics
  5. 4.5.5Nucleic acids — DNA, RNA; base pairing, double helix, replication, transcription, translation (overview)
  6. 4.5.6Lipids — fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids; saponification
  7. 4.5.7Vitamins — fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) vs water-soluble (B-complex, C)
  8. 4.5.8Hormones — peptide vs steroid (overview)
4.6

Polymers

7 topics
  1. 4.6.1Classification — natural vs synthetic; addition vs condensation; thermoplastic vs thermosetting
  2. 4.6.2Addition polymers — polyethene, PVC, PTFE (Teflon), polypropylene, polystyrene, PMMA, polyacrylonitrile
  3. 4.6.3Condensation polymers — nylon-6,6, nylon-6, terylene (PET), bakelite, melamine, Kevlar
  4. 4.6.4Polymerization mechanisms — free-radical, cationic, anionic, coordination (Ziegler-Natta), step-growth
  5. 4.6.5Number-average vs weight-average molecular weight; polydispersity index
  6. 4.6.6Biodegradable polymers — PHBV, nylon-2-nylon-6
  7. 4.6.7- Aerospace polymers - — Kevlar (body armour, parachutes), Nomex (fire-resistant), PBO, epoxy resins (composite matrix)
4.7

Chemistry in Everyday Life (compressed)

3 topics
  1. 4.7.1Drugs — analgesics, antibiotics, antiseptics, antacids (mechanism overview)
  2. 4.7.2Food chemistry — preservatives, artificial sweeteners, antioxidants
  3. 4.7.3Cleansing agents — soaps (saponification), detergents (anionic, cationic, non-ionic)
4.8

Spectroscopy & Analysis (Intro)

7 topics
  1. 4.8.1Electromagnetic spectrum recap — UV, visible, IR, NMR, microwave, X-ray
  2. 4.8.2UV-Vis spectroscopy — Beer-Lambert law, conjugation and λ_max
  3. 4.8.3IR spectroscopy — characteristic group frequencies (O-H, N-H, C=O, C≡N, C=C, etc.); fingerprint region
  4. 4.8.4¹H NMR — chemical shift, multiplicity (n + 1 rule), integration; common ranges
  5. 4.8.5¹³C NMR (overview); DEPT
  6. 4.8.6Mass spectrometry — molecular ion, fragmentation patterns, m - z
  7. 4.8.7Chromatography — TLC, column, GC, HPLC (principles)

Phase 5 — Specialised Chemistry (Aerospace & Materials Focus)

6–10 months @ 2 hrs/day5 chapters
5.1

Physical Chemistry (Advanced)

10 topics
  1. 5.1.1Quantum chemistry — particle in a box revisited; H-atom solutions
  2. 5.1.2Variational principle and perturbation theory (intro)
  3. 5.1.3Hartree-Fock method (concept); DFT (concept)
  4. 5.1.4Molecular spectroscopy — rotational (rigid rotor), vibrational (harmonic oscillator, Morse potential), rotational-vibrat
  5. 5.1.5Statistical thermodynamics — partition functions, Q_trans, Q_rot, Q_vib, Q_elec; computing thermodynamic properties
  6. 5.1.6Surface chemistry — adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, BET), catalysis on surfaces
  7. 5.1.7Colloids and surfactants — micelles, CMC, emulsions
  8. 5.1.8Electrochemistry (advanced) — Butler-Volmer equation, Tafel plot, overpotential
  9. 5.1.9Photochemistry — Stark-Einstein law, quantum yield, Jablonski diagram, fluorescence vs phosphorescence
  10. 5.1.10Solid-state chemistry — band theory, semiconductors, superconductivity, magnetism in solids
5.2

Nuclear & Radiochemistry

9 topics
  1. 5.2.1Nuclear stability — N - Z ratio, magic numbers, binding energy per nucleon
  2. 5.2.2Radioactive decay modes — α, β⁻, β⁺, electron capture, γ, spontaneous fission
  3. 5.2.3Decay kinetics — first-order; half-life, mean life, activity
  4. 5.2.4Radioactive series — uranium, thorium, actinium
  5. 5.2.5Nuclear reactions — Q-value, cross-section
  6. 5.2.6Fission — chain reaction, critical mass, reactors (thermal vs fast)
  7. 5.2.7Fusion — D-T reaction, solar fusion (p-p chain), tokamak - ICF
  8. 5.2.8Applications — radiocarbon dating, medical (Tc-99m, I-131), RTG (Pu-238 in spacecraft)
  9. 5.2.9Radiation safety — units (Bq, Gy, Sv), shielding
5.3

Combustion Chemistry (Propulsion Bridge)

10 topics
  1. 5.3.1Stoichiometric vs fuel-rich vs fuel-lean combustion
  2. 5.3.2Adiabatic flame temperature — calculation with enthalpies of formation
  3. 5.3.3Equilibrium products at high T — dissociation (H₂O ⇌ OH + H; CO₂ ⇌ CO + ½O₂)
  4. 5.3.4Chapman-Jouguet detonation; deflagration vs detonation
  5. 5.3.5Premixed vs diffusion flames
  6. 5.3.6Combustion of hydrocarbons (RP-1 - kerosene, methane) and hydrogen
  7. 5.3.7Combustion of hypergolics — N₂O₄ + UDMH - MMH; ignition delay
  8. 5.3.8Solid propellants — AP - HTPB - Al composition; burn rate dependence on pressure (Vieille's law)
  9. 5.3.9Pollutants — NOₓ, soot, unburned hydrocarbons
  10. 5.3.10CEA (Chemical Equilibrium with Applications) — using NASA-CEA tool to compute Isp, Tc, products
5.4

Materials Chemistry (Aerospace)

10 topics
  1. 5.4.1Metals & alloys — Al alloys (2024, 7075), Ti alloys (Ti-6Al-4V), Ni superalloys (Inconel, Hastelloy), stainless steels
  2. 5.4.2Refractory metals — W, Mo, Ta, Re for rocket nozzles
  3. 5.4.3Heat treatment — annealing, normalising, quenching, tempering; precipitation hardening
  4. 5.4.4Ceramics — alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, silicon nitride; properties at high T
  5. 5.4.5Carbon-carbon composites (RCC for nose cone - leading edges)
  6. 5.4.6Polymer-matrix composites — CFRP, GFRP; ply lay-up, laminate theory
  7. 5.4.7Ablative materials — phenolic-impregnated carbon ablator (PICA), AVCOAT, SLA
  8. 5.4.8Thermal protection — silica tiles (Shuttle), UHTCs (ZrB₂, HfB₂)
  9. 5.4.9Corrosion in aerospace environments — stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen embrittlement
  10. 5.4.10Surface treatments — anodising, plasma spraying, vapour deposition
5.5

Green Chemistry & Sustainability

5 topics
  1. 5.5.112 principles of green chemistry
  2. 5.5.2Atom economy
  3. 5.5.3Solvent selection — water, supercritical CO₂, ionic liquids
  4. 5.5.4Green propellants — LMP-103S, AF-M315E (vs hydrazine)
  5. 5.5.5Carbon capture, hydrogen economy (electrolysis, fuel cells)