Chemistry for Natural Sciences 1a: Introduction to Chemical Structure & Reactivity - CHE00014C

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  • Department: Chemistry
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Glenn Hurst
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2017-18

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching cycle
A Autumn Term 2017-18

Module aims

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to key concepts of chemical structure, reactivity and mechanism through a blend of lectures, practicals and tutorials. In particular, the module will help students make the transition from their pre-university studies to university-level study, and will ensure that they have a firm foundation in these fundamental topics, to underpin certain Chemistry modules.

Module learning outcomes

  • Students will build on their A level knowledge of bonding by considering key concepts of structure/bonding of relevance to molecular compounds. In particular, they will use electronic structure and concepts such as resonance to predict the shapes and stabilities of different molecules.
  • Students will obtain an introductory-level understanding of quantum theory and its impacts on atomic structure. They will use this theory to gain an understanding of the behaviour of the elements.
  • Students will be able to recognise organic functional groups and apply principles of organic reactivity and mechanism, and use simple curly arrow mechanisms in order to predict and rationalise how simple organic compounds react with one another.
  • Students will learn key practical skills for carrying out synthetic reactions including different practical manipulations, product purification and simple analysis skills to test purity. They will develop skills in considering the hazards of practical work, and simple numerical skills in assessing product yield and/or purity. They will also learn to plan their time in the laboratory effectively, to work in a collaborative manner with students around them, and to communicate their results in a simple/concise manner.

Module content

Module Structure

Structure & Bonding

JML

7 lectures

Workshop

Organic Reactions and Mechanisms

DKS

7 lectures

Tutorial

Atomic Structure & Intro to Quantum Theory

CED

7 lectures

Tutorial

Synthesis Practical

GAH

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Practical
Synthesis Practical		 N/A 10
University - closed examination
Chemistry Natural Sciences Ia		 1 hours 90

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
University - closed examination
Chemistry Natural Sciences Ia		 1 hours 90

Module feedback

Weekly feedback is provided for college tutorial assignments, both verbally and through written feedback on assignments. Supervisors will also discuss performance in college tutorials and workshops at end-of-term meetings through the college marks sheets that are returned to supervisors termly. Feedback on practical writeups is provided weekly through both annotation of scripts by markers and verbally by Graduate Teaching Assistants. Students receive their marks for practical write-ups on a weekly basis and collectively via supervisors at end-of-term meetings. The closed examinations held in Wk1 SpT are marked typically within 10 days with scripts and mark slips being returned to students via supervisors in Week 3 of the Spring term. Examiners reports on each question are made available to students via the Chemistry web pages. Failing students or those whose performance is a cause for concern are written to by the Chair of the Examiners and Chair of the Board of Studies following the Spring term closed examination.

Indicative reading

"Chemistry3: Introducing Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry, 2nd edition" by Burrows, Parsons, Price, Holman and Pilling (published by Oxford University Press, 978-0-19-969185-2)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.