The general aims of the module are:
• To give the student practical experience and understanding of advanced practical techniques in two areas from: Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry .
• To develop appropriate techniques for each type of experiment
• To show the use of suitable characterisation techniques
• To make valid deductions from acquired data
• To familiarise the student with the preparation of written reports
• To establish a close link with aspects of the lecture material covered in the Yr2 and Yr3 course

(LO1) By the end of the module, students should be able to
* Carry out advanced practical techniques in the areas of EITHER Organic OR Inorganic OR Physical Chemistry
* Give a reasoned written exposition of experimental work and achievements
* Make valid deductions from acquired data
* Give comprehensible written accounts of experimental work
* Demonstrate an understanding of shortcomings, experimental errors or weaknesses in data
* Further develop their time management skills via coordination of the synthetic and analytical components of their experiments

This module consists of two four-week practical sessions in Organic, Inorganic or Physical Chemistry. Students can choose a combination of any two from these three areas of Chemistry.

Organic and Inorganic Chemistry: Students carry out three synthetic experiments and are required to produce a written laboratory report for each experiment, supplying the compounds they have made, produce full analytical and spectroscopic data and demonstrate mechanistic details of the chemistry involved. Each experiment is accompanied by a series of questions to which the student has to submit answers in their written report.

Physical Chemistry: Students carry out a mini-project which uses a two-phase approach of a guided experiment and an inquiry-based experiment. Students first complete a guided experiment to familiarise themselves with the experimental technique, the types of data acquired, and analysis needed. For the inquiry-based experiments, students work in pairs within a larger gr oup of around 10-12 students. After completion of the second part, students produce a final report, which includes a summary of the provided publication, the description of experimental work, interpretation of the results and comparison to the literature. To assess experimental skills, students will be required to demonstrate a short experiment to a demonstrator.

This module consists of two four-week practical sessions in Organic, Inorganic or Physical Chemistry. Students can choose a combination of any two from these three areas of Chemistry.

Organic Chemistry: Students carry out three organic experiments that are based on catalytic transformations (enzyme-catalysed resolution, metal-catalysed reactions) and give them experience of both flash chromatography and recrystallisation as purification techniques. The reaction products are analysed by NMR, IR, optical rotations and melting points.

Inorganic Chemistry: Students carry out three inorganic experiments in which they prepare and analyse compounds from the branches of organometallic and solid state chemistry. The background to these topics is taught in lecture modules CHEM214 and CHEM313.

Physical Chemistry: Students carry out a mini-project in physical chemistry, involving experiments in the areas of spectroscopy, electrochemistry and/or surface science. The experi ments serve as an introduction to subjects covered in semester 2 Physical Chemistry lectures and allow students to develop more sophisticated skills in data acquisition, analysis and fitting.