Module CHEM1032: Foundations of Chemistry: Atoms, Bonding & Energetics

Department: Chemistry

CHEM1032: Foundations of Chemistry: Atoms, Bonding & Energetics

Prerequisites

• A-level or equivalent in Chemistry AND Mathematics

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To teach the fundamentals of theoretical and practical Chemistry (contribute to the requirements of RSC accreditation) and to provide a foundation on which later courses can be based.
• To develop the basic manipulative, procedural and reporting skills required for practical chemistry, building on pre-university study.
• Some of the material in this module aims to ensure that students from different pre-university backgrounds attain a common base level.

Content

• Structure and bonding: structure of the hydrogen atom, introduction to orbitals, Aufbau principle, multi-electron atoms, valence bond and MO theories.
• Chemical periodicity. Evaluation of how elements and compounds vary with relation to the periodic table. Rationalisation and prediction of properties based upon periodic position.
• Bonding in solids (extended and molecular), Inorganic structural chemistry (common structure types and rationalisation of structures). The ionic model (and its limitations).
• Organic chemistry. Nucleophiles and electrophiles. Organic synthesis, mechanism, and reactivity. Descriptive chemistry of selected organic functional groups.
• Spectroscopy. General principles of spectroscopy, electromagnetic spectrum, absorption and emission of photons, transitions and spectra, selection rules, populations, Beer-Lambert law, UV-vis spectroscopy; principles of IR spectroscopy, IR as an analytical tool.
• Thermodynamics of ideal chemical systems: first and second laws of thermodynamics, U (Internal integral energy), H (Enthalpy), S (Entropy), and G (Gibbs free energy), equilibrium constants. Introduction to phase diagrams and phase rules.
• Chemical kinetics. Reaction profile and measuring reaction rates. Rate laws, coefficients, order of reaction, integrated rate expressions and half-lives. Arrhenius equation, steady state approximations.
• Development of the basic manipulative, procedural and reporting skills required for practical chemistry, building on pre-university study.
• Foundational knowledge of research-led practical chemistry for single honours, natural sciences, and other students.
• Activities including synthetic, measurement, procedural and analytical aspects of practical chemistry, data analysis and applied spectroscopy.

Learning Outcomes

• To draw the graphical forms of hydrogenic wavefunctions, and describe their importance in determining the form of the periodic table;
• To describe the hybrid orbital method of bonding in sp, sp2 and sp3 configurations;
• To describe the molecular orbital theory of bonding in 1st row homo and hetero diatomics;
• To describe trends in properties of elements and compounds throughout the periodic table, and account for why these trends occur;
• To describe the bonding in solids and understand the difference between extended and molecular solids;
• To describe systematically the 3D structures of simple metals and compounds, and perform simple calculations related to these structures;
• To rationalise and represent the geometries of simple organic molecules and account for the bonding in them;
• To describe the key aspects of stereochemistry and isomeric relationships (constitutional, diastereoisomeric, enantiomeric);
• To describe the difference between electrophiles and nucleophiles, accounting for their differing behaviour;
• To rationalise the chemistry of alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes and carbonyl compounds;
• To describe, including the use of curly arrows, the reaction mechanisms of nucleophilic substitution at sp3 carbon and electrophilic addition to alkenes, and apply this understanding to simple transformations;
• To describe the basic principles underlying spectroscopy;
• To describe the fundamental thermodynamic parameters and calculate their values from physical data, relate changes in the parameters to phase changes and use them to calculate equilibrium constants for chemical reactions;
• To relate reaction mechanism to rate laws and use kinetic data to draw mechanistic conclusions.
• Demonstrate basic skills in planning and executing practical work in Chemistry.
• Become familiar with and begin learning how to prepare procedural and chemical risk assessments.
• Perform safely basic experimental procedures such as titrations, synthesis, purification, crystallisation and analysis of organic and inorganic compounds.
• Use chemical apparatus correctly with care and confidence.
• Use volumetric glassware and balances in the correct manner and obtain accurate and precise results.
• Make careful observations of chemical reactions and explain them qualitatively including with balanced chemical reactions.
• Determine physical properties experimentally and their associated uncertainties.

• Solve basic chemical problems.
• Work effectively alone or collaboratively to solve practical chemical problems;
• Develop IT skills and apply these to laboratory reports and data analysis.
• Organise and manage workload by ensuring appropriate engagement with and preparation for practical activities (pre-lab work).
• Clearly communicate scientific data in verbal and written form using standard chemistry language, methods and styles.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the chemical principles illustrated by the practical work.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of manipulative, procedural and soft skills required for practical chemistry.

• Work effectively in a tutorial group to solve chemical problems;
• Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.
• Practical safety training is provided throughout the course during the laboratory sessions.

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

• Lectures deliver subject-specific knowledge.
• Tutorials, consolidation lectures and revision classes give enhancement of the student learning experience.
• Self-directed study, through reading lecture notes and textbooks, and practising questions, develops subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation.
• A progress test is held in January for students to assess their own learning and performance to improve their examination technique.
• On campus written examination demonstrates achievement of the appropriate level of subject-specific knowledge.
• Pre-laboratory exercises ensure students gain understanding of the chemical concepts, safety information and practical procedures they will perform in the laboratory.
• Practicals are designed to develop skills in experimentation and specific practical techniques.
• Post-laboratory assignments develop students’ abilities to analyse data and communicate practical findings. Assignments are formatively or summatively assessed.
• Students are also expected to meet termly with their Academic Advisor.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Set work in preparation for tutorials. For the practicals, formative assessment occurs continuously throughout the module. Formative assessment includes automated and/or verbal feedback from demonstrators for pre-lab activities, verbal and written feedback during practical sessions, and verbal, written and/or automated feedback on assessed work. Feedback may be provided at individual or experiment group level.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.