In this module, students will spend four weeks carrying out advanced experimental work in two Chemistry subjects chosen from Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry

The general aims of the module are:

• To give the student practical experience and understanding of advanced practical techniques for Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry.
• To develop appropriate techniques for each type of experiment
• To show the use of appropriate characterisation techniques
• To familiarise the student with the preparation of written reports
• To establish a close link with aspects of the lecture material covered in the Yr 3 course

By the end of the module, students should be able to

• Carry out advanced practical techniques in the areas of Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
• Give a reasoned written exposition of experimental work and achievements
• Make valid deductions from acquired data
• Be capable of giving 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
• Show that they understand the wider social or technological relevance of their work

Students carry out two of the following three laboratory practicals:

Organic: Students carry out four organic experiments. The introductory experiment is designed to give them experience of both flash chromatography as a purification technique and also the identification of reaction products by NMR. Subsequently they carry out a Sharpless asymmetric hydroxylation of stilbene, a lipase resolution of a racemic alcohol, and a Heck reaction. The course is designed so that they carry out two of the major purification techniques in Organic Chemistry (recrystallisation and flash chromatography). The reaction products are fully analysed and the students are required to run their own ¹H-NMR, IR, optical rotations and melting points. They are required to produce a written report for each experiment supplying the compounds they have made, full spectroscopic data and mechanistic details of the chemistry involved. Each practical is accompanied by a series of q uestions to which the student has to submit answers in their written report.

Inorganic: Students are required to carry out four out of five inorganic experiments. An introductory experiment is designed to give them basic experience in the handling of air-sensitive compounds and the use of inert atmosphere techniques. Subsequently they carry out two out of three typical examples of preparative organometallic chemistry, including (i) the preparation of the classic iron sandwich compound, ferrocene, (ii) an arene- and phosphine-substituted molybdenum carbonyl complex, (iii) the oxidative addition of a chloroalkene to a nickel(0) complex prepared in situ by the reduction of hydrated nickel chloride, and a solid state experiment: the synthesis of a lithium vanadium oxide bronze and the measurement of its conductivity. The students are required to characterise their products using a combination of analytical and spectroscopic techniques. A written report is required for each experiment and this includes both the description of experimental work and interpretation of the results. In addition, each experiment includes several questions, the answers to which are submitted for marking as part of the written report.

This module consists of two four-week laboratory sessions chosen from Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry. The students have the choice of two out of three of these subject areas. The students are required to present a written report on each of the experiments they have carried out and to answer questions relating to broader aspects of the associated chemistry. Each experiment is marked, in the presence of the student, according to clear marking schemes. The students are asked questions designed to probe both their understanding of the experiments they have undertaken and the underlying chemistry.