Molecular spectroscopy is primarily focused on optical spectroscopic information arising from either atomic movement -- such as infrared or Raman spectroscopies -- or electron transitions between different molecular orbitals. You will learn basic group theory to understand and predict IR and Raman spectra on a fundamental level, and to use symmetry to construct and use molecular orbital diagrams for polyatomic molecules, in order to predict and understand electronic transitions in molecules. Electronic transitions in d-block elements will also be covered.
Diffraction is a key technique for gaining atomic level information about the molecular structure in solid crystalline materials. Crystalline materials contain periodic arrangements of atoms that cause incident beams of X-rays, electrons or neutrons to produce constructive interference patterns, which in turn provide element and position-dependent information of the crystalline material. You will learn the basic principles behind diffraction, with a special focus on X-ray crystallography and its use for the study and determination of crystalline structures.
