| Unit name | Intermediate Practical and Analytical Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEM20013 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. McCarthy-Torrens |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
CHEM10004 Introductory Practical Chemistry |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Chemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
This unit builds on the practical skills acquired in CHEM10004, introducing more complex laboratory techniques and technologies to provide you with the skills required for advanced study in year 3. It develops research and transferable skills to equip you with the tools needed to effectively approach a research project and the workplace.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit develops your skills in synthetic techniques, interpretation of analytical data, instrumentation and manipulation/interpretation of numerical data. It develops research skills including experiment planning, teamworking and written and oral communication skills.
Overview of content:
By the end of this course you should be able to:
1. Adhere to established safety protocols and complete necessary safety documentation such as risk assessments and COSHH forms in order to minimise risk in the laboratory.
2. Know when and how to:
•Use a variety of common laboratory techniques to carry out syntheses
•Use inert atmosphere techniques to carry out air sensitive reactions
•Prepare samples for a variety of analytical characterisation methods including NMR, mass spec, IR, and GC
•Accurately interpret analytical data including NMR, mass spec, IR, and GC
•Record accurate and reproducible measurements using instrumental set-ups
•Use computational modelling to study molecules and reactions
•Search and use information from literature
•Plan an experiment
•Work effectively as part of a team
•Use spreadsheets and programming methods to manipulate numerical data and demonstrate whether data agrees with a given theory
•Estimate uncertainties from multiple data points
3. Prepare formal reports on an experiment including as
•A written report in English on an experiment, placing the work into context and critically interpreting the results, with appropriate structure and use of diagrams, figures and tables, scientific language and literature information
•Orally discussing an experiment using prepared slides to support the discussion
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
By the end of this unit you will have built on the core foundational experimental skills with intermediate practical skills, data analysis, and an understanding of experimental design. You will be ready to progress onto the final stages of your undergraduate degree as a confident experimental chemist.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit you will be able to:
•Manage parallel tasks to safely perform intermediate laboratory skills and procedures within the allotted time
•Independently work up and evaluate analytical characterisation data and/or physical data sets
•Produce original experimental reports in English and discuss your experiments orally in English
The unit is delivered mainly via laboratory-based or computer-based chemistry experiments, supported by workshops/masterclasses in analytical chemistry, experiment design, and communication skills. Significant e-learning resources are available on the School’s Dynamic Laboratory Manual, including guidance on the experiments themselves, the techniques needed, and how to report them in a scientific fashion.
There will be also be opportunities to receive individual feedback from both academic staff and demonstrators throughout the entire course. You will be required to complete practical work in person in order to meet the intended learning outcome for the unit, prepare you for subsequent units, and to satisfy any accreditation requirements
Tasks which help you learn and prepare for summative tasks:
At the start of the year you will undertake a rotation of formatively assessed practicals that allow you to practice skills that are new to the second year practical laboratory before reinforcing them in the summatively assessed practical rotation.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
You will be continuously assessed in practical work and research skills (summative 100%).
To receive credit for this unit you must attempt every aspect of the teaching and assessment to ensure you have attained all the key skills for progression to Advanced Practical or Project units. Failure to fully engage with the above activities may result in credit being withheld, even if the overall unit mark is above the pass mark for the unit. Where gaps in practical lab skils are identified there is a time-limited opportunity to schedule additional practicals at the end of the unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
Reassessment of this unit is normally only possible through engagement in the following academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CHEM20013).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
