Lecture Notes and Instructional Material in Theoretical Chemistry
Lecture Notes and Instructional Material in Theoretical Chemistry
Lecture Notes and Instructional Material in Theoretical Chemistry
Millard H. Alexander's instructional material delves into more
complex topics in modern theoretical chemistry. He covers approximation methods,
electronic structure theory, molecular spectroscopy, collision theory, and
chemical kinetics in comprehensive discussions. The text follows this format to
delve deeper into the mathematical and physical foundations of molecular
behavior, specifically in the context of computational and experimental
chemistry. This article is a manuscript guideline for graduate students in
theoretical chemistry looking to extend their knowledge in these specialized
topics.
This guide is meant to
provide easy access for chemistry students to develop necessary mathematical
skills in a concise, at-hand fashion. It relates key mathematical concepts that
commonly are applied in chemistry, in algebra, calculus, and statistical
methods. The book presents mathematics as fundamental to solving problems in
chemistry and for grasping more sophisticated ideas in physical chemistry,
quantum mechanics, and molecular simulations. It is focused on enhancing the
student's ability to apply mathematical tools in both theoretical and
experimental contexts in chemistry.
This lecture note highlights molecular mechanics as a
computational chemistry approach to the modeling of molecular systems. The
fundamental concepts included are: force fields, stretching, bending, and
torsional energies. It explains the different components of energy, including
van der Waals interactions and electrostatic forces, and goes further to
describe factors through which they were used in predicting molecular behavior.
Sherrill has also covered challenges in fitting atomic charges and how to
parameterize force fields. Consequently, there is an in-depth overview of the
computational methods used for simulating molecular structures and reactions.