| Unit name | Building Blocks of Chemistry 1 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEM10023 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Charmant |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| 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?
Building Blocks of Chemistry 1 provides the initial core knowledge and skills that are vital to studying a degree in Chemistry. The unit is centred around three key themes:
•Structure
•Change
•Analysis
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is part of a series of units throughout levels 4 – 6 that cover the core chemistry topics a professional chemist would be expected to have a firm grounding in.
An overview of content
The three themes of structure, change and analysis are introduced through the topics: Periodicity; Shape; Reactivity and Characterisation. A unifying Models strand will provide further support to links between key underpinning concepts.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
In teaching these themes, we will emphasise skills/problem solving over knowledge, to form explicit links between seemingly disparate content, and to show how chemistry addresses world problems.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit students should be able to:
•Accurately draw, model and predict molecular shapes
•Infer atomic structure and properties from the periodic table
•Identify molecules and their behaviour from data and spectra
•Identify reactants in terms of nucleophiles, electrophiles, acids and bases and describe some simple reaction mechanisms
You will learn through a blended approach with a mix of asynchronous and synchronous lecture, online resources, individual student-led enquiry and team-based student-led enquiry. Some lecturers will encourage in-class active learning sessions to compliment asynchronous lectures and embed student agency by inviting students to direct the direction the instruction takes. Formative workshops provide a safe space to explore chemistry, discuss it with the lecturers and other students and become familiar with the sorts of questions that might be asked in examinations.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks: Students will complete regular marked exercises as part of tutorials/workshops. Tasks leading to summative coursework will also be underpinned by either staff-led or peer-to-peer formative feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark:
The unit will be assessed by coursework (75%) and a single, timed, end-of- unit test (25%). The coursework summative tasks will include problem sheets and computer-marked tests.
When assessment does not go to plan
The re-assessment tasks will directly mirror those in the assessment tasks.
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. CHEM10023).
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.
