28 July 2026 🌤️

Picked thesis writing back up after I put it on hold this Spring; although I wrote so little back then it's as if I started today. It is. Not going well lol I enjoyed writing my BSc thesis but now I am Struggling™️ with this Master's. I know what I want to write about and I have some really good sources, but the writing just doesn't flow out of my mind like it usually does. Hopefully it's just a matter of getting back into a routine though.

23 July 2026 🌧️

Hello! My name is Lena and I'm a chemistry student in my final year of uni.

I completed my BSc thesis in the same research team in which I'm currently working on my MSc: a lanthanide electronic spectroscopy group. We are currently focusing on studying hydration equilibria; I enjoy it all very much, because I get to combine my two favorite branches of chemistry: inorgo and pchem! Some of the subdisciplines that are of particular interest to me are: lanthanide chemistry, coordination chemistry, electronic spectroscopy, and, albeit very tentatively, electrolyte solution thermodynamics.

I love chemistry very much and I'm always willing to talk about it, so feel free to hmu if you have any questions!

Links and navigation

#chemistry asks

#dabbling in sci comm - because I write sometimes :)

#queuerious chemists - a queue of mini-biographies of some historical chemists, posted on their birthdays

My tips for studying... -> chemistry in general -> analytical chem -> inorgo -> pchem -> orgo

The Chemistry Library - my collection of chemistry resources

Three of my sci comm posts that I particularly like and that neatly sum up most of my research interests: -> Equilibrium and one beautiful regularity (lanthanide coordination chemistry, hydration equilibria) -> Why some electronic transitions are forbidden and why that actually means jackshit (electronic spectroscopy) -> Solutions are stupidly complicated (electrolyte solution thermodynamics)

My storygraph

18 July 2026 🌤️

Girl from the flatlands goes on a trip to the mountains, takes a million photos and videos bc OMG HILLS AND MOUNTAINS

General chemistry

-> Chemistry: Molecules, Matter and Change, L. Jones, P. W. Atkins (the sort of thing you go through during the first year of your chem degree)

Inorganic chemistry

General

-> Basic inorganic chemistry, F. A. Cotton, G. Wilkinson, P. L. Gaus

-> Shriver & Atkins' Inorganic Chemistry, P. W. Atkins

Molecular symmetry

-> Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory, R. L. Carter (beginner friendly)

-> Chemical Applications of Group Theory, F. A. Cotton (a little more advanced than Carter)

Mandatory lanthanide corner

-> Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry, S. Cotton

Physical chemistry

General & thermodynamics

-> Concepts in Physical Chemistry, P. W. Atkins

-> Atkins' Physical Chemistry, P. W. Atkins

-> Thermodynamics, G. N. Lewis, M. Randall (rev. K. S. Pitzer, L. Brewer)

-> Molecular Driving Forces. Statistical Thermodynamics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Nanoscience, K. A. Dill, S. Bromberg

Quantum

-> Quantum chemistry and spectroscopy, T. Engel (might be the best intro to qchem I've ever come across)

Electronic spectroscopy

-> Theoretical Spectroscopy of Transition Metal and Rare Earth Ions. From Free State to Crystal Field, M. G. Brik, C. Ma

-> Inorganic Electronic Spectroscopy, A. B. P. Lever (NOT beginner friendly - proceed at your own risk. Very comprehensive though)

-> Spectroscopic Properties of Rare Earths, B. G. Wybourne

-> Optical Spectra of Transparent Rare Earth Compounds, S. Hüfner

Misc

-> Spin Dynamics. Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, M. H. Levitt

-> X-Ray Crystallography, G. S. Girolami