Module Details |
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module. |
Title | PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY WITH DATABASE SKILLS | ||
Code | CHEM375 | ||
Coordinator |
Dr A Steiner Chemistry |
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Year | CATS Level | Semester | CATS Value |
Session 2008-09 | Level Three | First Semester | 30 |
Aims |
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In this module, students will spend four weeks carrying out advanced experimental work in the areas of Organic, Organometallic and Physical Chemistry. The general aims of the module are:
There is also a component on chemical database skills: Chemical database skills and molecular modelling are becoming resouces now in common use by practicing chemical scientists. This part aims to introduce students to these skills through lectures and computer based workshop sessions. In this part, students will will attend six lectures and six practical sessions in chemical database skills and database skills. The general aims of this part are:
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Learning Outcomes |
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By the end of the module, students should be able to
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Syllabus |
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Practical |
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 questions to which the student has to submit answers in their written report. The wr ite-up of one major experiment consists of a word processed report including the usage of chemical drawing software. Inorganic: Students are required to carry out four 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 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. Finally they prepare a solid state compound, a superconducting mixed oxide. The students are required to characterise their products using a combination of analytical and spectroscopic techniques. A written report is required for each experim ent 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. The write-up of one major experiment consists of a word processed report including the usage of chemical drawing software. Physical: Students carry out a minimum of three physical chemistry experiments. The first is a compulsory experiment in which the students measure the gas phase IR spectrum of an unknown, toxic gas, and interpret their results using spreadsheets to identify the gas and determine its molecular properties. The second instrumental experiment involves the use of sophisticated equipment, including cylic voltammetry, Bunsen flame spectroscopy or high vacuum. The final experiment is a computer based experiment on either thermal desorption or atmospheric kinetics. In all cases students have to produce a full written report on the experiment and be able to answer probing questions on the theoretical basis of the techniques. |
Chemical Database |
Chemical database skills: Students will be introduced to scientific literature and databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Beilstein and Gmelin. They will apply search strategies using logical search combinations in on-line searching with citation searching and downloading references into a unique personal reference database. Students will learn how to search for particular compounds, reactions and physical properties using chemical databases such as Beilstein/Gmelin Crossfire. The students will use crystallographic databases for structure based searching for compounds and downloading of 3D structures for molecular graphics work. The information gathered from two searches, including the use of Endnote to collect references, will be used in the word-processed reports of two preparative experiments. These word-processed reports will be used in the assessment |
Teaching and Learning Strategies |
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This module consists of three x four week sections in Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. 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. The chemical database skills consists of 6 computer-aided lectures dealing with different databases and discussing search strategies, after which the students do 6 sets of assignment problems in their own time. Selected databases will be made available to the students in the Chemistry computer laboratory, and there will be six supervised sessions (1 hour each) where a member of staff will be on hand to assist students with database a ctivities. It is recognised that self-study will be important for students to become well-practiced and competent chemical database users. The new computer room in chemistry will be an important resource for them in this respect. |
Teaching Schedule |
Lectures | Seminars | Tutorials | Lab Practicals | Fieldwork Placement | Other | TOTAL | |
Study Hours |
180 |
12 6 Database skills lectures/ tuition |
192 | ||||
Timetable (if known) |
Wed. 2-5, Thur 9-5, Fri 9-5
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Private Study | 108 | ||||||
TOTAL HOURS | 300 |
Assessment |
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EXAM | Duration | Timing (Semester) |
% of final mark |
Resit/resubmission opportunity |
Penalty for late submission |
Notes |
CONTINUOUS | Duration | Timing (Semester) |
% of final mark |
Resit/resubmission opportunity |
Penalty for late submission |
Notes |
Organometallic laboratory | 4 weeks | first | 25 | none | Students will be informed at start of course about marking deadlines and late submission penalties. | Work marked in students presence to allow for immediate feedback or students lab book marked. Anonymous marking impossible. |
Organic laboratory | 4 weeks | first | 25 | none | Students will be informed at start of course about marking deadlines and late submission penalties. | Work marked in students presence to allow for immediate feedback or students lab book marked. Anonymous marking impossible. |
Physical laboratory | 4 weeks | first | 25 | none | Students will be informed at start of course about marking deadlines and late submission penalties. | Work marked in students presence to allow for immediate feedback or students lab book marked. Anonymous marking impossible. |
Chemical Database Skills | during semester 1 | First | 25 | none | Students will be informed at start of course about marking deadlines and late submission penalties. | 6 sets of assignment problems dealing with the use of databases, database skills (5 sets) and x-ray diffraction (1set). The information gathered from two searches, including the use of Endnote to collect references, will be used in the word-processed reports of one or two of the preparative experiments. This work is not marked anonymously |
Recommended Texts |
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See laboratory manual. Aktins, Physical Chemistry, Editions 6,7,8. Housecroft and Constable, "Chemistry", Edition 2. Organic Chemistry, J. Clayden, N. Greeves, S. Warren, and P. Wothers, OUP 2000, ISBN-10: 0-19-850346-6. |