| Unit name | Introductory Practical Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEM10004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Dennis |
| 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?
This unit introduces safe and organised working practices within a laboratory environment and some basic laboratory techniques.
Units aims: To develop in students the first fundamental practical skills.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is the core laboratory unit for your first year and is designated must pass as it underpins all subsequent practical units. You will develop fundamental practical and data handling skills which are a key part of your training.
An overview of content
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Identify procedural and chemical hazards and operate effectively, safely and efficiently to carry out an experiment within the allotted time.
2. Know when and how to:
3. Interpret and manipulate data sets using Excel and present results using Word.
4. Analyse and interpret results and spectra from a range of analytical techniques including NMR, IR, UV-Vis, Melting point and TLC.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
With a solid foundation of core chemistry laboratory skills you will progress to subsequent years of your degree as a competent and confident experimental chemist.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit you will be able to:
Practical work both within and without the teaching laboratory, information searching, writing and data-handling tasks, and independent study. All of these tasks are supported by important e-learning resources, using a combination of in-silico simulations, asynchronous activities such as quizzes, videos and forums, and synchronous sessions (which will also be available asynchronously).
There will also be opportunities to receive personalised feedback on formative work from demonstrators and peers. Students will be required to complete practical work in person in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units and to satisfy any accreditation requirements.
How you will be assessed
Students will be continuously assessed in practical work and scientific reporting (summative and formative - 100%).
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks:
The majority of the work will be formatively assessed, giving the students the chance to learn and develop the skills which they will build upon in later years.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark:
You will be required to engage with and submit summative scientific written reports. At the end of the unit students will then be required to demonstrate their skills by performing assessed experiments, which will be holistically judged against the intended learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan
Supplementary or resit assessment of this unit is 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. CHEM10004).
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 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.
