Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2025-2026

Module CHEM2138: Practical Chemistry 2 - Integrated

Department: Chemistry

CHEM2138: Practical Chemistry 2 - Integrated

Type Open Level 2 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2025/2026 Module Cap Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078) AND Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087) AND Practical Chemistry 1B (CHEM1107)

Corequisites

  • Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012)

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Practical Chemistry 2 - Synthetic (CHEM2147), Practical Chemistry 2 - Measurement (CHEM2157)

Aims

  • To expand and promote the knowledge and understanding of chemistry through practical work.

Content

  • To expand and promote the knowledge and understanding of chemistry through practical work.
  • Practical work in intermediate chemistry.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the chemical principles underpinning the practical work carried out.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Perform and discuss more complex laboratory experiments, including dry reactions, the use of vacuum equipment, and purification by chromatography.
  • Prepare, purify and identify a range of compounds.
  • Use spreadsheets to analyse data.
  • Understand the importance of more complex experimental design and safety.
  • Develop skills in conducting procedural and chemical risk assessments.
  • Perform more complex experimental manipulation.
  • Evaluate results in terms of the theory underlying the experiment.
  • Write coherent scientific reports on obtained data.
  • Demonstrate time management skills and an ability to plan experimental work.
  • Interpret spectroscopic data (e.g. NMR, IR, Mass spectrometry).
Key Skills:
  • Problem solving.
  • Verbal and written communication.
  • Numerical skills.
  • Group working.
  • Information retrieval.
  • Scientific writing.

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

  • Laboratory classes teach students techniques in various aspects of chemistry.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Practicals 48 48 sessions Terms 1 and 2 3 hours 144
Dry lab skills sessions (out of lab) 12 12 sessions Terms 1 and 2 3 hours 36
Induction including health and safety briefing 1 At start of Term 1 1 hour 1
Preparation, reading and completion of post-lab activities 119
Total 300

Summative Assessment

Component: Practical Work Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Results of laboratory work 100% 2x 3-hour practical examination

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment occurs continuously by means of feedback for pre-lab activities, verbal and written feedback in practical activity sessions, and via written feedback on assessed work.


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