2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CHEM1405 Practical Chemistry for Natural Scientists

5 creditsClass Size: 55

Module manager: Dr Stephen Gorman
Email: s.a.gorman@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

A-level Chemistry or Equivalent

Pre-requisites

CHEM1101

Chemistry 1: Bonding and Behaviour

This module is mutually exclusive with

CHEM1410	Practical Skills in Chemistry
CHEM1421	Practical Skills in Chemistry for Joint Honours 1
CHEM1422	Practical Skills in Chemistry for Joint Honours 2

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Students (i) develop an awareness of safe and competent practise in the chemistry laboratory, (ii) undertake experiments appropriate to the level 1 theory modules and to the general development of basic laboratory technique (ii) manipulate and present data that have been acquired in an experiment.

Objectives

To introduce students to the chemistry laboratory and equipment and to develop appropriate IT skills. On completion of this module students will have:

- undertaken introductory experimental work, with due attention to safety, in the chemical laboratory;
- manipulated basic laboratory apparatus and recorded data for subsequent analysis;
- synthesized inorganic and organic molecules of straightforward structural complexity;
- determined structure using spectroscopic data;
- developed an awareness of the nature of investigative chemistry, and the ability to interpret and present experimental evidence;
- developed their practical and problem solving skills.
- kept an appropriate record of work in the laboratory
- recorded data and physical measurements and comment on their precision and accuracy;
- use selected chemical apparatus and instruments in an appropriate manner;
- use PC-based spreadsheets, graphics and word-processing packages to manipulate and plot data and to prepare reports;

Learning outcomes
Students completing the module will be able to demonstrate:

(a) confidence in safely handling reagents/solvents, including those that pose a hazard;
(b) ability to undertake experimental work, with due attention to safety;
(c) ability to manipulate laboratory apparatus and record data for subsequent analysis;
(d) ability to synthesize inorganic and organic molecules of straightforward structural complexity;
(e) ability to determine structure using spectroscopic data;
(f) an understanding of some common practical techniques and their proper application in the laboratory situation;
(g) an ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate data; acquire and integrate information, and use information to solve problems appropriate for level 1;
(h) an ability to record data and physical measurements and comment on their precision and accuracy;
(i) an ability to use selected chemical apparatus and instruments in an appropriate manner;
(j) the ability to use PC-based spreadsheets, graphics and word-processing packages to manipulate and plot data and to prepare reports;

Skills outcomes
Use of scientific instrumentation.
Development of practical skills.
Development of research/investigative skills.

Syllabus

- Health and safety briefing
- Lab orientation
- ‘Essential lab skills’ (precipitation, recrystallization, melting point, IR)
- Synthesis of a simple organic compound
- Synthesis of a simple inorganic compound
- Workshop on processing, plotting and understanding experimental data
- Workshop on spectroscopy and origin
- Physical chemistry experiment

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
On-line Learning	1	1.00	1.00
Laboratory	7	3.00	21.00
Workshop	16	1.00	16.00
Private study hours			12.00
Total Contact hours			38.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			50.00

Private study

12h (including pre-labs, watching videos, screencasts)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

In-lab progress will be monitored by providing formative assessment of experiments/data manipulation/handling without the need for writing full experimental laboratory reports.

Completion of computer-based assignments at intervals.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	Continuous assessment of lab reports, group work and online tests.	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:52:16

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