Module CHEM1131: Chemical Systems & Change: Structure & Dynamics

Department: Chemistry

CHEM1131: Chemical Systems & Change: Structure & Dynamics

Prerequisites

• A-level or equivalent in Chemistry AND Mathematics.

Corequisites

• Foundations of Chemistry: Atoms, Bonding & Energetics (CHEM1032).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To introduce and reinforce background material in cognate subject areas that are of central importance to material taught in later chemistry modules.

Content

• Units and dimensions. Conventions and handling thereof.
• Qualitative Inorganic chemistry, redox equations and problem solving.
• Coordination chemistry. Isomerism, nomenclature and stability of complexes.
• Hard and soft acids and bases. Introduction to crystal field theory.
• Background material and skills in physics, and chemical biology that are of central importance to material covered in other Chemistry modules.
• The structures of amino acids, nucleotides, proteins, sugars, enzymes. Cell structure.
• Applied spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry; molecular structure analysis by NMR and IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry.
• Organic chemistry concepts and applications pertaining to synthesis and manipulation of functional groups.

Learning Outcomes

• Methods to balance redox equations and solve inorganic chemical problems.
• To describe the stability of transition metal complexes and determine possible isomers of transition metal complexes.
• To determine the co-ordination geometries of simple inorganic and organic molecules and ions and account for the bonding in them.
• Knowledge of the structures and properties of biomolecules and cell organisation.
• To describe, including the use of curly arrows, the fundamental organic reaction mechanisms of nucleophilic addition and substitution at carbonyl groups and apply this understanding to simple transformations.
• To be able to deduce the structure of simple organic species from NMR, IR and mass spectrometry spectra.

• Solve chemical problems.
• Develop mathematical solutions to basic chemical problems.

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

• Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
• Lectures deliver subject-specific knowledge.
• Tutorials 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.
• On campus written examination demonstrates achievement of the appropriate level of subject-specific knowledge.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Set work in preparation for tutorials.

■ 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.