Introductory Skills & Practical 2 - CHE00028C
Module summary
This module builds on Introductory Skills & Practical 1 in complementing the core theoretical content of the Chemistry degree programme by further developing the core skills that students require to become a professional chemist.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2025-26 |
Module aims
Building on Introductory Skills & Practical 1, this module will continue the development of the skills that complement the core chemical knowledge of the degree programme. Specific aims are:
-
To further develop students’ practical laboratory skills, introducing new techniques and consolidating prior knowledge with practice
-
To introduce the use of software packages for studying, analysing and presenting data in Chemistry
-
To introduce key analytical techniques for identifying molecules and monitoring reactions
-
To further develop the core mathematical and quantitative skills which underpin high-level study in Chemistry
-
To develop students’ employability skills, and transferable skills, through group work, problem solving, and the study of “real world” chemistry applications
Module learning outcomes
Students should be able to:
-
apply the foundational principles of practical chemistry to conduct routine laboratory work safely, and to demonstrate competence in a range of general laboratory skills of increasing complexity
-
perform mathematical manipulations of increasing complexity
-
select and apply mathematical methods of increasing complexity to solve chemical problems, including quantification of errors.
-
use software packages to process data, to represent chemical reactions, to investigate/visualise molecules and to present scientific data
-
analyse experimental outputs, such as spectroscopic data, to identify molecules and solve chemical problems
-
demonstrate transferable and problem-solving skills including group work to solve problems, based on commercially-relevant scenarios
-
integrate the principles of the York Strengths programme into employability plans
Module content
-
York Strengths
These sessions (intro lecture, workshop), primarily in week 1, introduce students to the York Strengths programme, focusing on employability skills.
-
Industry Challenge
This single-day activity focuses on working in teams to solve “real world” problems in an industrial context.
-
Global Challenge: Food
This activity focuses on working in teams to solve “real world” problems in the chemistry of food assessed through the practical portfolio.
-
Practical work
Building directly on Introductory Skills & Practical 1, this element introduces new practical techniques and consolidates students’ prior knowledge through lab days and theory lectures. Workshops are also provided to familiarise students with software used in solving chemical problems (e.g. spectral processing, molecular modelling) with assessment through the practical portfolio.
-
Mathematics for chemists II
The lectures and workshops build directly on the experience developed in Skills & Practical 1, this element introduces selected topics including error analysis, matrices and determinants, to support fundamental chemical ideas later in the course. The sessions include opportunities for students to work through problems with guidance and supervision to develop their problem-solving skills in a 'hands-on' way.
-
Analytical Techniques for Structure Determination
Introduction of key techniques for monitoring chemical reactions and characterising molecules, including NMR (6 lectures), mass spectrometry (3 lectures) and chromatographic tools (3 lectures). The lectures are supported with workshops so that students can practise hands-on interpretation with guidance.
-
Scientific Writing
A lecture introduces guided self-study; students are taught key ideas for the presentation of chemical information (data, structures etc.).
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50.0 |
| Practical | 50.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50.0 |
| Practical | 50.0 |
Module feedback
Throughout the laboratory exercises, students will receive formative verbal feedback on their ongoing performance from demonstrators, to help them improve their understanding and skills. For Practical Skills Assessment 2, students will receive individual feedback on their performance, and some more generalised feedback, by email.
For the Mathematics for Chemists II course, and for the Integrated Analysis course, students receive formative verbal feedback on the work they complete in the associated workshops, and marks via eVision.
For the Food Challenge exercise, students receive formative verbal feedback on their progress in the preparation time, and individual feedback (comments and marks) via email.
Indicative reading
-
Cockett and Doggett, "Maths for Chemists"
-
Voet and Voet, "Biochemistry"
-
Dean, Jones, Holmes, Reed, Weyers and Jones, “Practical Skills in Chemistry”
-
Vogel, “Practical Organic Chemistry”
-
Cranwell, Harwood and Moody, “Experimental Organic Chemistry”
-
Burrows, Holman, Lancaster, Overton, Parsons, Pilling, Price, “Chemistry3”