Department of Chemistry, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
CH10009 Foundation chemistry laboratory |
| Credits: 3 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: PR 100% |
| Requisites: |
| While taking this unit you must take CH10010 and take CH10011 and take CH10012 |
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This unit is only available to students on Chemistry programmes.
Aims & Learning Objectives: This foundation course is designed to impart some of the essential basic techniques and skills in practical chemistry that will be important throughout the degree course. Interpretation of results obtained in the light of theories and concepts developed in other units will also be an aim. After following the Unit, students should be able to: * Assemble and use straightforward apparatus for preparative and analytical chemistry * Accurately report observations and measurements made in the laboratory * Use PC's for communication and basic data analysis and use Library sources for finding chemical information * Perform accurate analytical measurements using selected titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods. * Prepare standard solutions and perform straightforward purification techniques such as recrystallisation * Interpret results in terms of an appropriate theoretical framework and draw appropriate conclusions * Quantitatively assess the significance of measurements made in the laboratory Content: A series of quantitative and qualitative experiments and exercises will be performed. These will illustrate some basic principles of volumetric and spectrophotometric analytical chemistry. Methods used will include acid-base and redox titrimetry, absorption and fluorescence spectrophotometry. The accuracy and limitations of thermochemical measurements will be explored. The use of these techniques in "real" situations will be used to develop an understanding of precision and accuracy in chemical measurements. Basic manipulative techniques such as crystallisation and purification of compounds will be performed. An introduction to using PC's and spreadsheets for analysing results, for e-mail and chemical simulation will be covered as will Library sources of data. |