Module CHEM3061: CHEMISTRY AND SOCIETY

Department: Chemistry

CHEM3061: CHEMISTRY AND SOCIETY

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To broaden the knowledge of chemical principles, particularly those that touch on science in industry and health.

Content

• Metals in medicine: survey of the importance of inorganic compounds and complexes in healthcare.
• Pharmaceutical chemistry: design, synthesis, classification and mode of action of a selection of drugs in current use.
• Industrial case studies.
• Polymers and biopolymers: classification, structure and properties.
• Chemistry and the environment: atmospheric pollution, detergents, analysis of selected pollutants, mutagenicity.
• Two essays.

Learning Outcomes

• Display familiarity with the likely mode of action of a number of metal-based compounds used in the treatment of disease;
• be aware of the principles behind diagnostic imaging methods (including gamma-imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography) and the importance of metal complexes in such techniques;
• classify a number of important drugs according to their site and mechanism of action;
• appreciate some of the methods by which drugs may be discovered and their efficacy optimised;
• discuss how manmade pollutants interact with the natural chemistry of the environment, explain the reasons for their environmental impact and/or toxicity and appreciate the complex issues involved in reducing the harmful effects of pollutants.

• Demonstrate skills in scientific writing.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures are used to convey concepts and are examined by written papers. This is the best method to assess the knowledge of the students.
• Workshops are larger groups of students where problems are considered and common difficulties shared. This ensures that students have understood the work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.
• Two 2000 word essays, one at the end of each of the first two Terms allow the undergraduates to study a topic given that Term in greater depth. These are summatively assessed.
• The collection held in January is for students to assess their own learning and performance to improve their examination technique. It is an opportunity for them to assimilate the work completed in the first term. Papers are returned to students with model answers so that they can learn from the experience.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Collection. (1 hour written examination in week 11) set work, usually in preparation for workshops.