CH0NUI-Fundamental Chemistry

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:F
Semesters in which taught: Semester 2 module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Available at the NUIST-Reading Academy only
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Silvia Baldanza
Email: s.baldanza@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The aim of this module is to lay a basic foundation of the key aspects of inorganic, physical and organic chemistry for BSc Applied Chemistry students at the NUIST—Reading Academy.

Module Lead:  Ying Li (yingliubc@qq.com)

Aims:

The aim of this module is to lay a basic foundation of the key aspects of inorganic, physical and organic chemistry for BSc Applied Chemistry students at the NUIST—Reading Academy

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should be able to:

• Describe, discuss and explain the subject matter of the module


• Critically analyse and solve workshop and tutorial questions, as well as numerical problems based on the module content.

Additional outcomes:

The students should be able to develop and sharpen their critical analysis, deductive reasoning and mathematical problem solving skills.

Outline content:

Inorganic Chemistry:  Atomic structure, arrangement of electrons in orbitals, build-up of periodic table. Periodicity and properties: Atomic and ionic radius, ionization energies, electronegativity. Variation down groups in the periodic table and across rows. Ionic and covalent bonding, inter and intra-molecular forces and impact on properties of molecules. Oxidation state variation, redox half equations, redox reactions (oxidation and reduction as simultaneous processes).

Physical Chemistry: Gas, liquid and solid states: Ideal gases and gas laws. Thermodynamics: first law of thermodynamics. Energy profile of a reaction. Endo and exothermic reactions, enthalpies of formation, reaction, atomisation, hydration. Measuring enthalpy changes by calorimetry. Hess’s law. Chemical equilibrium: Reactions that reach equilibrium, the dynamic nature of equilibria. Equilibrium constant, Le Chatelier’s principle and factors that affect equilibrium and equilibrium constant. Chemical kinetics: rate equation, rate constant. Dependence of rate on concentration. Reaction order and half-life of zero, first and second order reactions. Concept of moles, calculations based on molarity and molality of solution.

Organic Chemistry:

Basics of structural formulae in organic chemistry. Different functional groups and types of carbon compounds based on functional groups. Lewis structures and methods to draw simple dot-and-cross structures. Chemical bonding in organic compounds and parameters of covalent bonds: Bond length, bond angle, and bond energy. Bonding and molecular shape. Theories of chemical bonding: Lewis Structure and valence shell electron pair repulsion. Brief difference between pi and sigma bonds. Nomenclature: Some commonly used trivial names such as acetone, acetic acid and alcohol, etc., and the systematic nomenclature for aliphatic compounds and functional groups. Isomerism and conformation. Different types (primary/secondary/tertiary/quaternary carbon atoms) of carbon atoms in organic compounds; constitutional isomerism and general idea of stereoisomerism. Relationship in terms of stereochemistry: idea of stereogenic centers and enantiomers with mirror image relationship. Conformational isomerism caused by the rotation of C-C σ-bond and solid and dashed wedge drawing for conformation. Electronegativities, polar bonds and molecular dipoles, dipole moment. Basic intermolecular interactions, such as Van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bonding interaction; difference between intermolecular interactions and intramolecular interactions; cleavage and formation of covalent bonds (electron movement and arrow push).

Properties of alkanes. Basic physical properties of alkanes and reactions of alkanes simple radical halogenation of alkanes. Properties of alkenes and addition reactions (electrophilic addition). Structure and properties of benzene and simple aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions (halogenation). Some basic characterization methods used to determine structures of organic compounds. Basic information for infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry in application of structure elucidation. 

General topics in Chemistry:

• Name simple binary compounds: Rules to name simple inorganic binarycompounds: ionic and covalent compounds in addition to some common names.


• Types of chemical reactions and solution stoichiometry: Precipitation reactions, acid-base reactions, and oxidation-reduction reactions. Master the stoichiometry of these reactions and balancing these reactions.


• Acids and bases: pKa and pH. Strong and weak acids and bases. Definition of pKa and pH. Relationship between acidity and pH. Relationship between pKa and pH for aqueous solutions. Factors to determine the pKa of one acid.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is mainly carried out by lectures. Tutorials and workshops will be provided to help students put the theory into practice. Each lecture or tutorial or workshop is a 2-hour session.

Contact hours:

	Semester 1	Semester 2
Lectures		78
Tutorials		18
Guided independent study:		104
Total hours by term	0	200
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	60
Set exercise	30
Class test administered by School	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

1 x 2 hour examination at the end of Semester 2, 60%

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

A number of workshops will be delivered during the year. The three best workshops from the two halves of the course will each count 5% to the module marks = 30%

(6x workshops, 5% each = 30%)

1 x 2 hour in-class test in the middle of Semester 2, 10%

Formative assessment methods:

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 Support Centres 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 (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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:

By exam and coursework as appropriate, subject to confirmation by the NUIST—Reading Academy.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 22 September 2022