Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module CHEM2021: CHEMISTRY OF THE ELEMENTS

Department: Chemistry

CHEM2021: CHEMISTRY OF THE ELEMENTS

Type	Open	Level	2	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2013/14	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

Core Chemistry 1A (CHEM1012).

Corequisites

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Excluded Combination of Modules

None.

Aims

To develop and consolidate principles of bonding and transition metal chemistry, and to study selected areas in more detail.

Content

Chemistry of the s and p block: covalent compounds, structure, bonding and stability.
Magnetic and spectral properties of transition-metal compounds, electronic spectra;
Practical work.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Describe and rationalize the detailed chemistry of the s and p-block elements, and give a description of the bonding in compounds featuring these elements.
Interpret (and predict) spectral and magnetic properties of transition metal complexes, use of Orgel diagrams, appreciate the modifications made for orbital overlap, and use orbital contributions to magnetic moments and colour to deduce information about a complex's stereochemistry.

Subject-specific Skills:

Perform more complex experiments in inorganic chemistry.

Key Skills:

Written communication, advanced through the use of essay type questions in lecture-support worksheets and laboratory reports.
Problem-solving, developed through workshop classes.
Numerical skills applied through calculations required in practical experiments and in the analysis of data collected in laboratory assignments.

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.
Laboratory classes teach students techniques in various aspects of inorganic chemistry. They are continuously assessed so that the student can learn from one session to the next.
Tutorials are given to ensure that the students have grasped the key concepts given in the lectures and to practice examples of problems. The work is formatively assessed.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	20	1 per week	1 Hour	18
Practicals	20	4 per week in Term 2	3 Hours	60	■
Workshops	2	2 in Term 3	1.5 hours	3	■
Preparation and Reading				117
Tutorials	2	1 per term	1 hour	2	■
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 65%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written examination	2 hours	100%	Two hour written examination
Component: Laboratory Work		Component Weighting: 35%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
results of laboratory work		100%	One hour written examination

Formative Assessment:

Set work in preparation for workshops and tutorials.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University