Introduction to Practical Chemistry I

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Report and explain experimental findings in terms of underlying theory
• Collect data and compare it with expected properties of molecules or materials
• Duplicate a range of basic chemical laboratory procedures by following detailed instructions

Lab skills to be developed

• Taking responsibility for equipment
• Consider quantities in synthesis (including molar equivalents) and scale-appropriate equipment
• Make and record accurate measurements
• Spectroscopic data collection and recognising a good vs a poor spectrum
• Weighing, recrystallization, titration, filtration and making solutions (from instructions)
• Understand the basic elements of code (variables, arrays and loops) used to run a piece of equipment e.g. colorimeter
• Basic thin layer chromatography

Information and data skills

• Guided risk assessment from given information
• Discuss rationale for conditions used in experiments carried out from a prepared script
• Effective lab book use introduced as a structured process from a template
• Carry out calculations with guidance from measured data and given formulae
• Use estimation to assess whether a result is reasonable
• Error estimation and propagation (worst case scenario)
• Correct graph plotting and axis labelling
• Basic spectral interpretation – Beer-Lambert and IR/NMR vs functional group tables
• Retrieve data (e.g. melting points) from provided sources for comparative purposes

Personal and written skills

• Prepare properly for lab sessions and manage time to complete work during the session – timing guidance will be given on lab scripts
• Writing components of a concise lab report
• Follow instructions to present data in defined formats with informative labelling e.g. graph axes, table headings etc
• Elements of team/group working, e.g. participate in an “ice breaker” exercise, and work as a group to plan and make a set of concentrations for UV/vis, giving a group presentation of analysed data

Practical sessions, supported by pre-labs and some written assignments. Study skills and team skills delivered in some cases through separate sessions. This module formally carries zero effort since that is attributed to the three accompanying theory modules (3 x 45 h).

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.