Studying at York
Advanced Topics & Practical - CHE00039H
- Department: Chemistry
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Module summary
This module builds on prior Year 1-2 Skills & Practical modules, developing advanced practical techniques, independent problem solving, and advanced core theoretical content of the Chemistry degree programme.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
Module aims
Building on prior Skills & Practical modules, this module develops more advanced skills and knowledge that are relevant to the MChem programme, in order to prepare students for the final year of the MChem programme. Specific aims are:
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To develop students’ practical skills, consolidating the use of standard research-level techniques and introducing some advanced practical techniques
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To introduce students to more advanced scientific writing skills, to support project work
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To develop students’ independent work and problem solving skills through complex integrated characterisation problems.
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To develop students’ understanding of selected lecture topics
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To further develop students’ interview skills, in preparation for industrial placement interviews and subsequent employability
Module learning outcomes
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced experimental techniques in the laboratory, and distinguish their applications and scope
- Solve complex characterisation problems, by finding and integrating a variety of different data sources
- Discuss principles underpinning Advanced Separation Science & Mass Spectrometry, Fundamentals of Magnetic Resonance, and Advanced Topics in Catalysis and Physical Methods for Structure Determination
Module content
Advanced Topics
Advanced Separation Science & Mass Spectrometry (JAM, 5 lectures, 2 h central workshop)
Fundamentals of Magnetic Resonance (MEH, 5 lectures, 2 h central workshop)
Advanced Topics in Catalysis (HFS, 5 lectures, 2 h central workshop)
For 2023-24 only, this will also include a course on Physical Methods for Structure Determination (being moved from Year 3 to Year 2). [ six lectures, one workshop]
Practical/skills
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Interview Skills
These sessions focuses on developing students’ interview skills, in support of applications for industrial placements and subsequent work/further study.
[two half-day sessions]
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Practical work
Building on prior Skills & Practical modules, this element introduces further advanced practical techniques, and consolidates students’ understanding of routine, research-lab-level practical work. The laboratory exercises are overseen and taught by laboratory demonstrators. Information is provided in a variety of formats, including introductory lectures, instructional videos, experimental scripts, experimental briefings, notes and interactions with the demonstrators.
[one introductory lecture, five practical laboratory sessions]
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Scientific Writing
Primarily using guided self-study, students are taught key ideas in structure and presentation in scientific writing.
[introductory lecture, guided self-study]
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 25 |
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 55 |
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 20 |
Special assessment rules
Other
Additional assessment information
Advanced Topics exam: Free choice of two questions out of three
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 25 |
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 55 |
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 20 |
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.
The Advanced Topics lectures are supported with workshop sessions, in which students receive formative verbal feedback on their work. Feedback (marks) for the assessment is provided after the Common Assessment Period.
Physical Methods is supported with a workshop, in which students receive formative verbal feedback on their work. Feedback (marks, and cohort level feedback on the assessment) will be made available on eVision and on the VLE, respectively.
Indicative reading
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Dean, Jones, Holmes, Reed, Weyers and Jones, “Practical Skills in Chemistry”
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Vogel, “Practical Organic Chemistry”
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Cranwell, Harwood and Moody, “Experimental Organic Chemistry”
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Burrows, Holman, Lancaster, Overton, Parsons, Pilling, Price, “Chemistry3”
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R. H. Hill & D. C. Finster, “Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students”
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Williams and Fleming, “Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry”
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Ebsworth, Rankin and Cradock, “Structural Methods in Inorganic Chemistry”
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Brisdon, “Inorganic Spectroscopic Methods”
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Atkins “Physical Chemistry”
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Weller, Overton, Rourke and Armstrong, “Inorganic Chemistry”
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Clayden “Organic Chemistry”