Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Physical chemistry is the study of the fundamental physical laws that underpin the behaviour of molecular systems. This module will review the foundations of physical chemistry, including principles of chemical composition, chemical change and chemical equilibria. These concepts will be illustrated with examples from environmental chemistry, food chemistry, and chemical analysis.

Inorganic Chemistry is central to our contemporary understanding of solid materials. This module will introduce the concepts and nomenclature of required for detailed study in the field; to teach the basic theoretical skills needed and the rational approach to using this knowledge in, particularly focusing on the syllabus detailed below, and how these areas link to current research.

The aim of the practical skills component is to introduce students to basic aspects of safe laboratory practice and the ability to use safety information sources. It will facilitate students to develop manipulative skills with items of laboratory apparatus that are commonly-encountered in the professional workplace, and provide a “hands-on”, contextualised, tangible perspective on chemical concepts taught in lectures and workshops. Students will learn to evaluate data and report results; and will be introduced to the most fundamental techniques of chemical analysis. Students will be trained in the appropriate handling of scientific data.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures and workshops will focus on taught material and calculations covering the following topics:

- Units and Dimensions
- Concentration and Molarity
- Thermochemistry
- Colligative Properties
- Simple Equilibria
- Solubility Product
- Acids and Bases
- Basic Electrochemistry
- Periodicity and trends in inorganic chemistry
- Atomic and molecular orbitals
- Chemical bonding and structure
- Molecular symmetry

The practical skills component provides a tangible, “hands-on” contextualisation of topics encountered in lectures and workshops. The syllabus of the practical laboratory skills component includes;
- laboratory and safety awareness
- basic interpretation of infrared, UV-Visible and fluorescence spectra
- introduction to calorimetry, electrochemistry and spectroscopy.
- introduction to fundamental principles of calibration and data handling.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students should:

(In General Chemistry)
Understand and be able to carry out calculations regarding the following concepts:
- The importance of dimensions, units, and significant figures.
- How to express concentration in different units and how to interconvert between units
- Thermochemistry and simple equilibria including solubility product and colligative properties
- The concepts of Bronsted acids and bases, pH, pKa, and buffers
- Conductance and electrochemistry

(In Inorganic Chemistry)
be able to:
- Describe Periodic Trends across periods and down groups
- Correlate periodic trends with physical data
- Use an understanding of structure and bonding to explain reactivity of inorganic compounds
- rationalise the structures of inorganic solids
- Describe different atomic orbitals and use them to construct an understanding of molecular orbitals
- Evaluate symmetry in a molecule

(In Practical/Laboratory Skills)
- Understand and be able to use and act on safety information sources such as safety manuals,
chemical hazard pictograms, safety signage and COSSH risk assessment data.
- Identify the principles of scientific inquiry: Knowledge of how experimentation and testing, observations and analysis allow the testing of hypotheses. Knowledge of good practice in the reporting of observations and results.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students should be able to:

- plan and organise coursework effectively
- have the ability to express physical phenomena in mathematical notation
- have the ability to manipulate mathematical expressions in a chemical context
- have the ability to understand the concepts of precision and accuracy
- calculate energetic properties of ionic solids.
- use crystal field theory to calculate electronic configurations, spectroscopic, magnetic
and structural features of first-row transition metal complexes.
- identify, draw and predict the characteristic features of inorganic compounds including
structure, ligand, oxidation state, coordination number and donor atoms.
- plan and organise course and laboratory work effectively.
- observe, summarise and report the results of laboratory experiments.
- collaborate effectively to complete practical tasks and investigations.
- read and comprehend safety information provided in COSHH forms, CLP pictograms, university manuals and local rules; work safely in response to guidance provided.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Traditional lecture delivery (General and Inorganic Chemistry) is accompanied by tutorial exercises to help students consolidate their understanding. Lecture delivery through guided questioning will be used where possible to ensure that staff are aware of areas of misconception/difficulty and to focus the students towards understanding the material.

Workshop classes in General Chemistry will support students' numerical and mathematical skills. Students will be led through exemplary calculations to explain the methodology for problem solving, and then will be provided with unseen calculations to complete with assistance in class. These classes provide the platform knowledge required to complete independent online calculations for summative assessment in order to fulfil the learning outcomes.

Structured material made available online via Canvas (General and Inorganic Chemistry): A combination of short recordings of lecture material and text published on VLE. Exercises (e.g. canvas quizzes or written problem-solving exercises) as well as example calculations and applications will be published to support learning.

Practical Labs will provide the students with an opportunity to gain practice in basic chemical manipulations. Practical sessions are designed to introduce students to key concepts and allow them the opportunity to develop expertise in a range of fundamental scientific skills, including using scientific literature, and collecting, interpreting and presenting scientific information.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Computer Assessment in General Chemistry will assess the level of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module and student ability to solve problems on related topics.

The formative piece of assessment for Inorganic Chemistry will assess the level of knowledge and understanding from topics studied in semester 1. Inorganic Chemistry tutorials and associated assessment facilitates individual and group participation in solving problems.

The practical/lab reports will assess the students’ ability to plan and carry out experimental work within the laboratory setting, and accurately record, analyse and report scientific data. In producing the report, students will need to demonstrate their use of taught practical skills, and appropriate reporting and interpretation of data. The skills associated with recording scientific data are assessed by a mark for the notebook, which is kept during each laboratory. The outcomes of individual experiments are assessed by short templated submission and/or online methods - these tasks may be completed in laboratory hours.

General Notes

N/A