Accessibility statement

Chemistry for Natural Sciences III: Structure, Bonding & Reactivity - CHE00014I

« Back to module search

  • Department: Chemistry
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Seishi Shimizu
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This is the first module in Year 2 whose purpose is to extend students’ understanding of key concepts of structure, bonding, chemical reactivity, equilibrium and change through a blend of lectures, practicals, tutorials and workshops. The module adopts the principles of an integrated approach in which topics as diverse as retrosynthesis and enolate chemistry mix with key physical chemistry concepts (covering the behaviour and properties of solutions and mixtures), and coordination chemistry and metal to ligand bonding both of which are key foundations of inorganic chemistry, and on to an exploration of more advanced ideas of quantum chemistry. The subject matter explored in this module is covered at a more advanced level compared to the foundations courses delivered as part of stage 1 and serves to signal to the students how their understanding of chemistry will be expected to develop in its sophistication throughout the course.

Module learning outcomes

  • Students will develop their understanding of principles of retrosynthetic analysis.
  • Students will obtain a good understanding of organic synthesis with enolate equivalents.
  • Students will explore the properties and behaviour of solutions and mixtures, drawing on key principles of thermodynamics and equilibria introduced at Stage 1.
  • Students will learn about the principles of molecular symmetry and group theory. They will learn to use these ideas to classify molecules according to their symmetry and to use the tools of group theory to better understand theories of molecular bonding.
  • Students will obtain an understanding of the ways in which metals bond to other metals and other ligand molecules.
  • Students will obtain a good understanding of coordination chemistry. Students will obtain a good understanding of coordination chemistry.
  • Students will gain a detailed understanding of the principles and applications of quantum mechanics. The subject will be introduced using the abstract model of the particle in a one-dimensional box, but will extend this to three dimensions, to particle on a string and the harmonic oscillator. Students will develop an appreciation of the insights that these model systems offer into the behaviour of real atomic and molecule systems, their spectroscopy, properties, structure and bonding.
  • Students will further develop their practical skills in the laboratory.

Module content

Module Structure

Retrosynthetic Analysis

AFP

6 lectures

1x 2h College Workshop

Solutions and Mixtures

SS

Flipped course, 4-hour online resources, two 1-hour support sessions

Tutorial

Symmetry and Group Theory

DWB

6 lectures

Tutorial

Organic Synthesis with Enolate Equivalents

AR

6 lectures

Tutorial

Metal-Ligand & Inorganic Mechanisms

RED

10 lectures

Tutorial

Quantum Mechanics

PBK

6 lectures

Tutorial

Practical Chemistry

RED

Assessment

Module

Total credits

Component

% weighting

credits

CHE00014I

20

Paper 1

Paper 2

42.5

42.5

8.5

8.5

practical work

15

3

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Chemistry Natural Sciences III Paper I		 1.5 hours 42.5
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Chemistry Natural Sciences III Paper II		 1.5 hours 42.5
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Online assessment : Practical online assessment		 1 hours 15

Special assessment rules

Non-reassessable

Additional assessment information

Two closed examinations. 2 from 3 questions should be answered from paper 1 containing the following topics: 'Retrosynthetic Analysis', Organic Synthesis with Enolate Equivalents' and 'Solutions and Mixtures'. 2 from 3 questions should be answered from paper 2 containing the following topics: 'Quantum Mechanics', 'Metal-Ligand and Inorganic Mechanisms' and 'Symmetry and Group Theory'.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Chemistry Natural Sciences III Paper I		 1.5 hours 42.5
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Chemistry Natural Sciences III Paper II		 1.5 hours 42.5
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Online assessment : Practical online assessment		 1 hours 15

Module feedback

Written feedback will be given for tutorial work within a week. Written and/or oral feedback for workshops will be given either during the sessions or within a week. Closed exam results with per-question breakdown are returned to the students via supervisors within 5 weeks (as per special approval by the University Teaching Committee). Outline answers are made available via the Chemistry web pages when the students receive their marks, so that they can assess their own detailed progress/achievement. The examiners’ reports for each question are made available to the students via the Chemistry web pages.

Indicative reading

P. Atkins, T. Overton, J. Rourke, M. Weller, F. Armstrong, “Shriver and Atkin’s Inorganic Chemistry”, OUP, 2010.

J. Clayden, N. Greeves, S. Warren, “Organic Chemistry”, OUP, 2013.

P. Atkins, J. de Paula, “Atkins' Physical Chemistry”, OUP, 2010.


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.