CH1PH1NU-Physical Processes and Molecular Organisation (NUIST)

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Dr Joanne Elliott

Email: j.m.elliott@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of Physical Chemistry, which will also act as a foundation for the remainder of the course.

Aims:

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of Physical Chemistry, which will also act as a foundation for the remainder of the course.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should be able to quantitatively assess basic chemical thermodynamics, equilibria, molecular organisation, quantum mechanics and kinetics data and describe basic concepts. They should understand what dictates the physical properties of matter and how basic molecular properties can be determined.

Additional outcomes:

Work in this module will lead to improved numeracy and descriptive abilities.

Outline content:

Semester 1

 

What makes Reactions go? (12 hours of lectures; 8 hours of workshops): Chemistry and Energy. Forms of energy; enthalpy, Hess’s Law, qualitative approach to entropy and free energy, 2nd and 3rd laws of thermodynamics.

 

Molecular Organisation (9 hours of lectures; 5 hours of workshops): Gases, Liquids & Solids. Ideal gas behaviour; interactions between molecules; qualitative discussion of how real gases behave; pressure-temperature phase diagrams for one-component systems; vapour pressure; Raoult's law; temperature-composition phase diagrams for two partially miscible liquids and for a mixture of volatile liquids: application to fractional distillation.

 

Introductory Statistics (4 hours of lectures; 2 hours of workshops): Mean, standard deviation and standard error. 

 

Review Lectures (4 hours) Revision of material covered in all courses in preparation for the Semester 1 exam.

 

Semester 2

 

Chemistry in the Balance – Equilibria (8 hours of lectures; 4 hours of workshops): The importance of equilibrium in chemistry and life. Equilibrium law; dynamic nature; gaseous and solution equilibria; acid-base equilibria; heterogeneous equilibria. The effect of temperature and a variety of simple calculations.

 

Chemical Kinetics (8 hours of lectures; 4 hours of workshops): The rate equation; order, rate constant and integrated rate equations; kinetics and mechanism; Arrhenius equation; more complex reactions and enzymic catalysis.

 

The Quantum World (8 hours of lectures, 4 hours of workshops): Inside atoms and molecules: Why do we need quantum mechanics?; Quantisation; Energy levels; The interaction of light with matter; Spectroscopy.

 

Review Lectures (6 lectures) Revision of material covered in all courses in preparation for the Semester 2 exam.

 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Three one-hour lectures per week, along with workshops.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	29	30
Seminars	15	12
Guided independent study:
Revision and preparation	56	58
Total hours by term	100	100	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	75
Set exercise	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:

1 x 2 hour examination at the end of Semester 1, 37.5% (based on topics covered in Semester 1)

1 x 2 hour examination at the end of Semester 2, 37.5% (based on topics covered in Semester 2)

(2 x exams, 37.5% each = 75%)

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The module includes 5 or 6 homework tasks per semester. For each student, the three best marks from homework tasks in Semester 1 will count for 12.5% of the module mark, and the three best marks from homework tasks in Semester 2 will count for 12.5% of the module mark. Each homework will be equally weighted.

6 homework tasks (3 in Semester 1 + 3 in Semester 2) × 4.17% = 25%

Formative assessment methods:

Students will receive oral feedback on their performance during the workshops on the material covered in this module. 

 

Students will gain experience of putting their knowledge into practice and receive informal feedback on their progress in workshop and tutorial sessions.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment of the written examinations is held during the standard re-examination periods. Failed coursework may be re-assessed by an alternative assignment before or during these periods.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 11 September 2019