MASTER OF SCIENCE (PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY) - K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce

Master of Science

Physical Chemistry | M.Sc.(Phy. Chem.)

Physical Chemistry Masters programme from KJSSC instils the students with skills of evaluation, interpretation and analyzing to get to the crux of the problem. The aim of the course is to polish the skills of the students, handle experiments for future research within academia or Research and Development in industry and gain lucrative careers in private and public sectors.

During the course the students have the opportunity to do their Project/ Internship in ​ prime research institutes or renowned industries. Students are encouraged to take up online courses from different portals such as Swayam, Coursera etc and due credit is given on completion. The different teaching strategies like blended learning, flipped class rooms, cooperative learning, technology in class rooms, inquiry based instructions etc. are used in combinations with different groups of students for their improved and interactive learning experience.

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Key Information

Admission Details
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Pedagogy

Students need to feel safe to learn effectively. A variety of teaching-learning strategies are implemented in order to reach out all students in the class and to develop effective learning methods.

  • Blended Learning through Flipped classes: Jigsaw Activity, Round Robin and Think Pair Share.
  • Project Based Learning.
  • Improviving communication skills through workshops.
  • Industry/ Institute visit.
  • Learning through Online platforms, Google classroom, LMS-Moodle, MOOCs-Coursera.

Career Prospects

The main employers of Physical chemistry post graduates are in the chemistry related industries: Pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, Metallurgical, Petrochemicals, Plastics and polymers, Food and drink industry, Paints and Pigments, Surfactants, Forensic Science etc.

Government Jobs: Scientific Officer post in the labs of Defence Research Development and Organization (DRDO), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Academics: Students can pursue B.Ed. and join as a teacher in National and International Schools and Junior Colleges. Students can appear for SET/NET and join as Assistant Professor in Degree Colleges.

Higher Education:

Students can do Ph.D. in leading Research and Academic Institutions like:

  • K. J. Somaiya College of Science and Commerce (KJSSC) and Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU)
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
  • Indian Institute of Sciences Education and Research (IISER)
  • Homi Bhabha National Institute (BARC)
  • Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
  • Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT)
  • University of Mumbai, University Affiliated Colleges, Deemed Universities.

Other Educational opportunities: Students can pursue various degree and diploma courses in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Law (LLB), Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Clinical Research, Bioinformatics, Quality Assurance, Instrumental Analysis, Packaging, Food and Drugs Analysis, Cosmetics and Perfumery Analysis, Solar Energy.

Eminent Alumni

Programme Outcomes

  • PO1: Relate the chemistry of nanomaterials, polymers, Electrochemistry ,nuclear chemistry to develop state of the art technologies for improving the quality of life
  • PO2: Build a strong theoretical basis of core topics in physical chemistry like Chemical Kinetics thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, Group theory for construction of new theories and models.
  • PO3: Analyse and interpret data to produce meaningful conclusions and recommendations by studying Advanced spectroscopic methods and characterisation techniques.
  • PO4: Be able to write a research paper in appropriate scientific style at the end of research project/internship.
  • PO5: Design and carry out scientific experiments as well as accurately record and analyse the results of such experiments.
  • PO6: Carry out relevant computations of chemical systems and use mathematical language to understand and describe chemical principles.
  • PO7: Explore new areas of research in both chemistry and allied fields of science and technology.
  • PO8: appreciate the central role of chemistry in our society and use this as a basis for ethical behavior in issues facing chemists.
  • PO9: Understand importance of Individual and team work in collaborative projects.
  • PO10:Communicate the results of scientific work in oral, written and electronic formats to both scientists and the public at large.
  • PO11: Function as a member of an interdisciplinary problem solving team.
  • PO12: Develop lifelong learning skills for continuous growth and improved performance.

Curriculum

For detail curriculum please refer below link

First Year Curriculum
Second Year Curriculum
 
 
MSc I (LOCF-NEP) 24-25
First Year (Semester- I)

The course discusses the basic and advanced concepts and applications of thermodynamics. Electrochemical principles like electrolytic conductance and ionic interactions and applications of these concepts in batteries and fuel cells.

This course contains four modules. Module 1 includes Inorganic reaction mechanism, racemization and isomerization. Module 2 focuses on synthesis, structure and bonding of organometallic compounds. Module 3 and 4 involve different structures of solids and inorganic cage, cluster compounds respectively.

This course includes four modules. Module I covers Physical organic chemistry and reaction mechanism, Module II includes Carbonyl group Chemistry. Module III focuses on Stereochemistry I which covers the basics of stereochemistry including principles of axial and planar chirality with nomenclature, prochirality and topicity. Module IV gives various Oxidation reduction reactions of organic compounds.

This course emphasis on analytical methods and its classification, Types of instruments and its components along with working, Fiber optics, Fourier Transform techniques, basic quality systems, quality audit, quality managements, laboratory staffs and their responsibilities. The course also focused on basic theories, instrumentation and applications of GC, HPLC, Partition chromatography, IR and UV-Visible spectroscopy.

First Year (Semester- II)

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the mathematical foundations of quantum chemistry, as well as applications of quantum mechanics on free particle, particle in a one, two and three dimensional box, harmonic oscillator etc. Understand the concept of rate of change associated with chemical change, identifying the kinetics of reaction in solution, enzyme catalysis and reactions in solids.

This course intended to introduce chemical bonding, molecular orbital theory and bent rule. Module 2 focuses on the study of organometallic chemistry of f-block elements and catalytic cycles and applications of organometallic compounds. Basic concepts of group theory, symmetry and construction of character tables are involved in module 3. Module 4 explains about inorganic ring and chain compounds. In this module types of silicates, phosphazene and detailed study of zeolites have been introduced.

This course includes four modules

Reaction pathways encompassing electrophilic, nucleophilic substitution reactions, and neighboring group participation.

Pericyclic reactions include the role of FMOs and classification of pericyclic reactions, approaches to predict the activation and stereochemistry of products formed.

Metals/Nonmetals in organic synthesis includes the role of organo boron, silicon, magnesium lithium and copper compounds in organic synthesis.

Spectroscopy I includes the principles and applications of UV, IR, NMR spectroscopy and their application in structure elucidation of organic compounds.

 

In this course, separation techniques like solvent extraction, super critical fluids, HPTLC along with various electrophoresis methods such as MECKE, SDS-PAGE, CITPE and CIEFE in detailed are focused.

The course also emphasis on basic theories, instrumentation and applications of NMR, Mass and Electroanalytical techniques such as Electrogravimetry, Coulometry, Ion Selective Electrodes, Chronopotentiometry and Chronoamperometry.

Second Year (Semester- III)

The course aims to provide a thorough discussion on the basic principles and applications of atomic as well as molecular spectroscopy Fundamentals regarding the solid state, including selected structural defects. Symmetry is very important in chemistry research and group theory is the tool that is used to determine symmetry.

Approximate methods in quantum chemistry are used to find solution of Schrodinger equation for complex atomic and molecular structure. Theories of chemical bonding like valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory and Huckel theory are discussed in Module-2. The description of physical phenomena in terms of a statistical treatment of the behaviour of large numbers of atoms or molecules are discussed in Statistical Thermodynamics.

The course aims to provide a thorough discussion on the basic principles and applications of modern analytical spectroscopy at the advanced level. Emphasis will be put on the characteristics, analytical aspects, merits and limitations, as well as the practical applications of different spectrochemical and thermal methods.

New, advanced and industrially important materials like Nano materials, Paints, pesticides and detergents. The syllabus concentrates on studying the structure of these materials, and relating them to their properties and applications.

Second Year (Semester- IV)

The course provides identification of different advanced spectroscopic techniques such as Raman, Mossbauer, ESR and X-ray. The syllabus concentrates on studying the structure of polymers and relating them to their properties.

Demonstrate knowledge of chemical and biochemical principles of fundamental environmental processes in air, water, and soil. Apply basic chemical concepts to analyze chemical processes involved in different environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution. The basic objective is to familiarize the concept and scope of environmental law.

Note : SEMESTER IV "** Internship/Project work Conditions Apply/subject to availability in Post COVID scenario"

Differentiators

  • Mandatory six month Internship/Research Project in renowned institutes /industries.
  • Continuous Internal Evaluation.
  • Project based Learning, Cooperative and Interactive learning strategies.
  • Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) such as Moodle, Google Classroom, online quizzes/ assignments, Webinars, Google meet, Microsoft Teams, OFFEE etc. in learning and evaluation processes.
  • Interaction with Stalwarts through Seminars and Workshops.

Head of the Department

Dr. Sugandha Shetye
sugandha@somaiya.edu