65306 Analytical Chemistry 1
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 65212 Chemistry 2 OR 65213 Chemistry 2 (Advanced) OR 65621 Environmental Chemistry
Description
In this subject students are introduced to key data analysis and instrumental concepts, and develop the laboratory skills that underpin analytical chemistry. The subject covers quantification and statistical methods for data analysis, as well as theoretical and practical experience in standard analytical instrumentation, chromatography and mass spectrometry. Students gain an understanding of these techniques and become proficient in preparing calibration curves to quantify unknowns by chromatographic analysis. Students also become proficient in the statistical evaluations of an analytical data set.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Explain in detail the theoretical concepts for each of the instrumental techniques |
|---|---|
| 2. | Identify and apply the appropriate statistical analysis needed to interpret experimental data |
| 3. | Develop practical skills in acquiring quantified data on chromatographic instrumentation |
| 4. | Work collaboratively as a team to achieve experimental goals |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry and be able to explain specialised knowledge in one or more sub-disciplines. (1.1)
- Evaluate scientific evidence and apply effective experimental design, analysis and critical thinking to test current chemistry knowledge. (2.1)
- Work autonomously or in teams to address workplace or community problems utilising best scientific practice, and to act safely and responsibly in chemistry laboratory and practical settings. (3.1)
- Effectively communicate concepts and scientific discovery in chemistry using different formats to present information in professional or public settings. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The Faculty of Science has developed a set of key graduate attributes (GA’s) and course intended learning outcomes (CILO’s). Analytical Chemistry 1 contribute to the development of the following GAs and CILO’s:
1. Disciplinary Knowledge
The workshops and practicals will build and implement the skills necessary to; prepare calibration curves to quantify samples; identify and apply appropriate statistical analyses; use and analyse the outputs of analytical instrumentation such as chromatography and mass spectrometry.
2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking
The practicals and the associated laboratory reports will develop your ability to frame a problem for investigation, perform appropriate experiments, interpret the associated data, and determine what it means in the context of the literature.
3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility
Throughout this subject, you will develop familiarity with a range of advanced instrumentation in hands-on laboratory sessions. You will develop the skills needed to apply your knowledge through data acquisition and interpretation both in research and industrial context. There will also be opportunities to work collaboratively and autonomously during the workshops, applying knowledge and consolidating your understanding of the interpretation process which is a key professional competency.
5. Communication
Communication of your results is crucial in both research and industrial settings. Here you will further develop and improve your written communication skills by preparing concise and logical laboratory reports.
Overall, this subject aims to prepare the students to become competent chemists, by providing them with a firm theoretical and practical grounding in analytical techniques. The theoretical, professional and practical knowledge obtained in Analytical Chemistry 1 will be further elaborated on in the subjects Analytical Chemistry 2 in later sessions of the course.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject will be delivered through workshops (2hpw) which will involve an explanation and discussion of theoretical disciplinary knowledge followed by enquiry based collaborative problem solving to apply and master the material presented. These collaborative learning activities include group discussions in the workshops. Online polls will be conducted during the workshops as an exercise to provide immediate feedback on the student's understanding of the topic. Online quizzes will be an essential component of the subject to provide feedback on the student’s acquired knowledge as the session progresses, with each topic assessed upon completion. Students will be required to do the online preparatory work that will be expanded upon during the workshops.
10 x 3 hr practical sessions will be conducted to re-enforce the theory discussed in the workshops. Students will conduct online pre- or post-labs during each practical, engage in hands-on laboratory-based learning activities as part of a collaborative group, and will demonstrate their understanding of the subject material through individual laboratory reports. Immediate verbal feedback will be given during the practicals, and written feedback will be provided with the reports. This feedback will guide the students in their authentic assessments.
2 authentic laboratory assessments will be performed during practical sessions. The first will test your proficiency with a piston pipette where your repeatability will be assessed. In the second your capacity to prepare a calibration curve to quantify a known sample will be assessed.
Content (topics)
The following is a brief outline of the subject content:
- Data analysis (theory and practical)
- Introduction to spectrophotometry
- Chromatography (Basic theory and practical)
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Worksheets and Quizzes
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 2.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | Workshop Activities
Topic Quizzes
|
Assessment task 2: Practical Reports
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: |
|
Assessment task 3: Authentic Laboratory Assessments
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 1 practical session |
| Criteria: |
|
Minimum requirements
Minimum requirements: Students must obtain at least 50% of the available marks to pass this subject.
Practical classes in subjects offered by the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences are an essential and integral part of each subject in which they run. In addition to assisting students’ understanding of concepts, practical classes develop laboratory skills and experience, including safety skills, that are essential graduate attributes desired by employers. Thus, students are strongly recommended to attend the scheduled practical classes. Failure to attend a class that is associated with a submitted assessment task will attract a mark of Zero for that report unless an acceptable reason for their absence, supported by relevant evidence is provided to the subject coordinator.
Required texts
Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 9th Edition, D.C. Harris W.H. Freeman and Company, 2016, ISBN 0-7167-4464-3
Recommended texts
- Harris, D.C Lucy, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 10th Edition,Freeman and Company, 2020
- Pavia, Lampman and Kriz, Introduction to Spectroscopy, 2001, 3rd Edition, Thomson Learning
- Field, LD, Sternhell, S. and Kalman, JR, Organic Structures from Spectra, 2013, 5th edition, Wiley
- Statistics and Chemometrics for Analytical Chemistry (6th Edition)– May 25, 2010 by James Miller, Jane C Miller.