Unit information: Analytical Geochemistry in 2016/17

Unit name	Analytical Geochemistry
Unit code	EASC20038
Credit points	10
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Sherman
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	EASC10001 Geology 1, EASC10002 Environmental Geoscience, EASC10007 Computing for Earth Scientists and EASC10008 Introduction to Field Skills in Earth Sciences
Co-requisites	N/A
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will cover the chemical analysis of soil and water samples using instrumental and wet-chemical methods. Lectures will cover electronic structures and spectroscopy, electrochemistry, chromatography, solution chemistry, statistics and data analysis. Practicals will cover sample preparation, analysis using ICP-OES, colorimetry, volumetric and electrochemical methods.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Develop an appropriate sample collection in the field and sample preparation procedure in the lab.
• Understand the physical principles behind analytical methods and be able to choose an appropriate analytical method for a particular problem.
• Understand precision, accuracy and detection limits of analytical methods.
• Be able to do calculations to convert between different chemical quantities.
• Use statistics to determine the significance of analytical results in field sampling.

Teaching Information

15 lectures and 5 practicals

Assessment Information

Five 4-page (maximum) practical write-ups (50%) and a 2 hour written exam (50%)

Reading and References

Recommended

• Skoog,D.A. (1985) Principles of Instrumental Analysis .
• Radojevic, Miroslav & Bashkin, Vladimir N., (2006) Practical Environmental Analysis (Hardcover)