Syllabus for Engineering Chemistry

Module 1: Electrochemistry and corrosion science

Contact hours: 9

1. Electrochemical cells

   • Electrode potential and the Nernst equation for a single electrode and a cell
   • Standard hydrogen and calomel reference electrodes: construction and working
   • Electrochemical series and applications
   • Glass electrode and pH measurement
   • Conductivity measurement using a digital meter

2. Batteries and fuel cells

   • Lithium-ion battery: construction and working
   • Hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell with acid electrolyte: construction and working

3. Corrosion and protection

   • Electrochemical corrosion in acidic and alkaline media
   • Galvanic series and corrosion control
   • Cathodic protection: sacrificial-anode and impressed-current methods
   • Copper electroplating and electroless plating

Module 2: Materials for electronic applications

Contact hours: 9

1. Nanomaterials

   • Classification by dimension and material
   • Sol–gel and chemical-reduction synthesis
   • Applications
   • Carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphene and carbon quantum dots: structure, properties and applications

2. Polymers

   • Halogenated and non-halogenated fire-retardant polymers (examples)
   • Conducting polymers: classification
   • Polyaniline and polypyrrole: synthesis, properties and applications

3. Electronic materials and devices

   • OLEDs and dye-sensitized solar cells: construction, working and applications
   • Materials used in quantum-computing technology
   • Supercapacitors and spintronics

Module 3: Molecular spectroscopy and analytical techniques

Contact hours: 9

1. Spectroscopy

   • Types of spectra and molecular energy levels
   • Beer–Lambert law and numerical problems
   • Electronic spectroscopy: principle, transitions, conjugation, instrumentation and applications
   • Vibrational spectroscopy: principle, vibrational modes of CO₂ and H₂O, and applications

2. Thermal analysis

   • Dielectric thermal analysis of polymers: working and applications

3. Electron microscopy

   • Scanning electron microscopy: principle, instrumentation and applications

Module 4: Environmental chemistry

Contact hours: 9

1. Water quality and treatment

   • Water characteristics and hardness: types, disadvantages and degree of hardness
   • Ion-exchange softening: principle, process and advantages
   • Reverse osmosis: principle, process and advantages
   • Disinfection by chlorination, breakpoint chlorination, ozone and UV
   • Dissolved oxygen, BOD and COD: definitions and significance

2. Waste and sustainability

   • Sewage treatment: primary, secondary and tertiary stages
   • Trickling filter and UASB processes
   • E-waste disposal: recycling, recovery and reuse
   • Greenhouse gases and ozone depletion
   • Sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals

Course objectives

1. Understand chemistry concepts used in engineering.
2. Learn applied topics in spectroscopy, electrochemistry and analytical methods.
3. Understand environmental issues, pollution and waste management.

Course outcomes

1. Explain core electrochemical and corrosion concepts.
2. Describe engineering materials and their applications.
3. Use analytical techniques to characterize materials.
4. Outline water treatment and waste-management methods.

Assessment

Continuous Internal Evaluation (CIE)

• Attendance — 5 marks

• Continuous assessment — 10 marks

• Two written internal examinations — 10 marks each

• Laboratory examination — 5 marks

End-Semester Examination (ESE): 60 marks

• Part A: Eight questions, two from each module, carrying 3 marks each (24 marks). Answer all.

• Part B: Two questions from each module; answer one full question from each module. Each carries 9 marks (36 marks).

• Examination duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.