Quantum Mechanics of Molecular Structures from edX

Knowing the geometrical structure of the molecules around us is one of the most important and fundamental issues in the field of chemistry. This course introduces the two primary methods used to determine the geometrical structure of molecules: molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction.

In molecular spectroscopy, molecules are irradiated with light or electric waves to reveal rich information, including:

Motions of electrons within a molecule (Week 1),
Vibrational motions of the nuclei within a molecule (Week 2), and
Rotational motions of a molecule (Week 3).

In the gas electron diffraction method, molecules are irradiated with an accelerated electron beam. As the beam is scattered by the nuclei within the molecule, the scattered waves interfere with each other to generate a diffraction pattern. In week 4, we study the fundamental mechanism of electron scattering and how the resulting diffraction images reveal the geometrical structure of molecules.

By the end of the course, you will be able to understand molecular vibration plays an important role in determining the geometrical structure of molecules and gain a fuller understanding of molecular structure from the information obtained by the two methodologies.

FAQ

Do I need to buy a textbook?

No, you can learn the contents without any textbooks. However, if you hope to learn more on the subjects treated in this course, you are recommended to read the textbook introduced below:

Kaoru Yamanouchi, “Quantum Mechanics of Molecular Structures,” Springer-Verlag, 2012.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Two major methods to determine the geometrical structure of molecules in the gas phase: molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction
How to quantize various motions of molecules, extract the quantized energy levels, and determine the geometrical structure of molecules from the spectrum

The fundamental mechanism of electron scattering on the basis of quantum mechanics and how to determine the geometrical structure of molecules from gas electron diffraction images

Two major methods to determine the geometrical structure of molecules in the gas phase: molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction
How to quantize various motions of molecules, extract the quantized energy levels, and determine the geometrical structure of molecules from the spectrum
The fundamental mechanism of electron scattering on the basis of quantum mechanics and how to determine the geometrical structure of molecules from gas electron diffraction images

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction, which are industry-standard tools in chemistry

Teaches how to quantify molecular motions to extract energy levels and deduce molecular structure from spectra

Develops understanding of electron scattering mechanisms and how to use diffraction patterns to determine molecular structure

Taught by Kaoru Yamanouchi, a leading expert in molecular structure determination

Textbook available to supplement learning

Career center

Learners who complete Quantum Mechanics of Molecular Structures will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design, build, and operate plants and processes that create and transform chemicals, fuels, foods, pharmaceuticals, and other products. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand how the molecules will behave during chemical reactions. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Chemical Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists develop new materials with improved properties, such as strength, durability, and conductivity. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand how the molecules will interact with each other and with other materials. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Materials Scientist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Biochemist

Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand how the molecules interact with each other and with other molecules in the body. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Biochemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biochemist

Analytical Chemist

Analytical Chemists develop and use methods to analyze the chemical composition of materials. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand the properties of the materials. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as an Analytical Chemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Analytical Chemist

Physical Chemist

Physical Chemists study the physical properties of matter and the changes that occur when matter undergoes chemical reactions. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand the properties of the molecules and how they interact with each other. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Physical Chemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physical Chemist

Pharmaceutical Chemist

Pharmaceutical Chemists develop and test new drugs. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand how the drugs will interact with the body. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Pharmaceutical Chemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmaceutical Chemist

Environmental Chemist

Environmental Chemists study the chemical composition of the environment and the effects of pollutants on the environment. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand the properties of pollutants and how they interact with the environment. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as an Environmental Chemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Chemist

Geochemist

Geochemists study the chemical composition of the Earth and the processes that have shaped the Earth's history. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand the properties of minerals and how they interact with each other. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Geochemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geochemist

Surface Chemist

Surface Chemists study the chemical processes that occur on the surfaces of materials. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand how molecules interact with surfaces and how to modify surfaces to improve their properties. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Surface Chemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Surface Chemist

Materials Engineer

Materials Engineers develop and test new materials for use in a variety of applications. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand the properties of the materials and how they will perform in different applications. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Materials Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Spectroscopist

Spectroscopists use spectroscopy to study the structure and properties of molecules. They use molecular spectroscopy to determine the geometrical structure of molecules, which helps them understand the properties of the molecules and how they interact with each other. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Spectroscopist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Spectroscopist

Science Teacher

Science Teachers teach science to students at all levels, from elementary school to college. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to explain the structure and properties of molecules to their students. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Science Teacher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Lab Technician

Lab Technicians conduct experiments and collect data in a laboratory setting. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to collect data on the structure and properties of molecules. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Lab Technician.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lab Technician

Scientific Researcher

Scientific Researchers conduct research to advance our understanding of the world around us. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to study the structure and properties of molecules. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Scientific Researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scientific Researcher

Quality Control Chemist

Quality Control Chemists ensure that products meet quality standards. They use molecular spectroscopy and gas electron diffraction to analyze the chemical composition of products and ensure that they meet specifications. This course would provide a foundation in these techniques, helping you succeed as a Quality Control Chemist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Chemist