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Fundamentals of Chemistry for Biochemists 2 - CHE00032C

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  • Department: Chemistry
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

Together with the semester 1 module Foundation Chemistry for Biochemists I, this semester 2 module aims to provide the Biochemistry student with a firm foundation in chemistry. The emphasis in this course is on the principles of physical chemistry (kinetics) and inorganic chemistry (transition metals). Practical work in chemistry is introduced.

Module learning outcomes

Appreciation of basic chemical concepts in:

  • transition metal chemistry including aspects of structure, bonding, spectroscopy and reactivity
  • laws of kinetics with applications to atmospheric, environmental, chemical and biological systems including approaches to monitoring reaction rates and using integrated rate laws to process experimental data

Practical chemistry skills:

  • Development of practical skills around safe handling of chemicals and glassware, using instrumentation, following simple procedures and maintaining a lab book

Module content

Transition Metals

AKDK

10 lectures + 1h tutorial

The first transition series Sc to Cu.

The origin of colour and magnetic properties in terms of the filling of d orbitals

The role of transition metals on catalysis.

Kinetics

TJD

10 lectures + 1h tutorial

The methods of determining rates of reaction, effects of concentration and temperature on the rates of reaction.

Application to the understanding of reaction mechanisms.

Practical Chemistry

JD

Semester 2 lab sessions

Students will undertake a number of lab sessions

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 60
Essay/coursework 40

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 60
Essay/coursework 40

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.

  • Practicals: feedback will be provided in the laboratory by GTA demonstrators and academic staff.

  • 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.

Indicative reading

Burrows, Holman, Parsons, Pilling and Price: Chemistry3 (Oxford University Press)


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.