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Core 5: Reactivity - CHE00018I

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  • Department: Chemistry
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Victor Chechik
  • Credit value: 30 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

This module explores chemical reactions, reactivity and analysis. 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

At the end of this module students will have:

  • an understanding of key principles of reactivity and bonding of atmospheric, biological, organic and organometallic species and physical organic chemistry.
  • developed written and verbal communication skills in small group tutorials and workshops.
  • applied the principles taught in the module to solve unseen problems in small group tutorials and workshops
  • developed new and existing laboratory skills, accurate recording of experimental data in physical organic chemistry.
  • performed data analysis using a range of software.
  • developed scientific writing skills .
  • developed team working and presentation skills through the Group Exercise.

Module content

Module content:

Autumn term:

  • Fundamentals of Atmospheric Chemistry (LJC, 5 lectures, college tutorial, assessed workshop)

Spring/Summer terms:

  • Physical Organic Chemistry and Conformational Analysis (IJSF, 8 lectures, college tutorial)
  • Organometallic chemistry (ASW, 8 lectures, college tutorial)
  • Synthesis of biological molecules (LIW, 6 lectures, college workshop
  • Electrochemistry (AP, 9 lectures, college tutorial)
  • Heteroaromatic chemistry (PAC, 6 lectures, college tutorial)
  • Practical chemistry
  • Group exercises (GAH, three 2½ hour workshops with team presentations). Run in weeks 8-9 of the Summer term
  • Career planning (includes ½ day career symposium (ABH), CV workshop (BG), interview practices (LCJ)). Run in week 10 of the Summer term

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Practical report		 N/A 10
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Core 5 Exam		 5 hours 70
Open Examination: Multiple choice questions online
Assessed workshop: Fundamentals of Atmospheric Chemistry		 1 hours 12
Open Examination: Multiple choice questions online
Group Exercises		 N/A 8

Special assessment rules

Non-reassessable

Additional assessment information

For each summative assessment component:

Practical-related report - to be submitted in the Summer term

Core 5 Closed Exam: Reactivity

  • students answer one compulsory question and three out of four other questions.

Fundamentals of Atmospheric Chemistry is assessed by an assessed workshop. Reassessment of this component is in the form of an exam question based on the same content. The group exercises are assessed by presentations.

Group exercises summatively assessed during group presentation

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Practical report		 N/A 10
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Core 5 Exam		 5 hours 70
Open Examination: Multiple choice questions online
Assessed workshop: Fundamentals of Atmospheric Chemistry		 1 hours 12

Module feedback

  • Tutorials/workshops: 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.
  • Exams: closed exam results with per-question breakdown are returned to the students via supervisors within 5 weeks. 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.
  • Group exercises, formative feedback during week 8 summer term, summative feedback during week 9
  • Scientific writing: cohort-level (non-individual) formative feedback will be delivered within five weeks for the scientific writing exercises. For the assessed practical report, individual summative feedback will be delivered within five weeks.

Indicative reading

Atkins, Overton, Rourke, Weller and Armstrong, “Shriver and Atkin’s Inorganic Chemistry”, Oxford University Press.

Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers, “Organic Chemistry”, Oxford University Press.

Atkins, de Paula, “Atkins' Physical Chemistry”, Oxford University Press.

Skoog, West, Holler and Crouch, “Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry”, Thomson/Brooks/Cole.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores 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. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.