Practical Chemistry II

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Relate experimental discoveries to theoretical understanding and present conclusions in a range of formats
• Compare methods and results to the findings of other scientists and develop arguments based on those comparisons
• Interpret information to carry out basic planning and decision making in experimental work
• Interpret multiple types of collected data to solve chemical problems
• Use knowledge and found information to select appropriate methodologies in planning of experimental work and decision making during experiments
• Critique the effectiveness of experimental strategies

Lab skills to be developed • Plan (work flow) and carry out longer or more complex preparative and analytical procedures inc workup with minimal guidance where explained previously • Make decisions on what quantities, equipment, solvents etc to use in synthesis • Choose the right spectroscopic technique to apply to a problem, plan a characterisation strategy and then collect and process spectra and other data correctly • Calibrate an instrument, plot calibration data and determine errors • Separation on a column with TLC used to guide solvent choice without detailed instructions Development of advanced chromatographic separations (HPLC/GC) with guidance • Construct more complex Python code for data analysis through fitting to fundamental equations with minimal guidance • Apply all of the skills learned previously to carry out synthetic work and measurements then record data at a high standard • Write a simple MD programme e.g. vibration of a diatomic or some statistical mechanics Personal and written skills • Plan timing of experimental sessions where tasks cannot be carried out sequentially, working with others to manage access to shared equipment • Choose appropriate formats to present data with minimal guidance • Undertake employability training to understand the process of applying for placements and/or eventual employment • Report experimental information at the standard of a scientific journal or conference in a range of forms inc concise reports, posters, presentations and effective brief data analysis reports • Work within a group, pooling of results and resources, and adjusting experimental planning as necessary as results come to light Information and data skills • Risk assessments from materials safety data sheets covering chemical and non-chemical hazards • Detailed experimental planning and some more open-ended work, inc timing and breaking a problem into distinct tasks • Use of the scientific literature to guide aspects of an experimental procedure • Suggest formulae relevant to an experiment and experiments to test those formulae • Present data correctly and where appropriate apply error analysis without a specific instruction to do so • Use theory knowledge to carry out spectral interpretation beyond comparison with tables, e.g. NMR splitting patterns, MS fragmentation patterns, and consideration of shifts in IR and Raman peak positions and bringing spectroscopic data together to identify compounds • Use appropriate tools and theory to present and analyse data • Compare data or procedures with those found in the literature and reference the sources properly • Use databases such as Reaxsis, Web of Science or Scifinder to find a scientific paper and use it to extract specific information

Practical sessions, supported by pre-labs and some written assignments. Employability sessions organised with careers.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.