CH0NUI: Fundamental Chemistry

Module code: CH0NUI

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Silvia Baldanza, email: s.baldanza@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Ying Li, email: yingliubc@qq.com

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to cover most of the chemistry topics which are part of the A-level syllabus.

Students will learn how to predict the properties of molecules from their structures and gain an understanding of how and why reactions happen. After studying the material covered in the lectures, students will apply what they have learnt in the laboratory, also developing their practical skills and learning how to work safely in the lab environment. 

This module will equip the students with a comprehension of the chemical principles that provide the foundations for many scientific disciplines.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the fundamentals of chemical bonding, properties and reactions and apply this knowledge to explain unfamiliar scenarios.
2. Explain chemical processes and apply their knowledge to answer A-level standard questions on a variety of topics.
3. Draw conclusions from experimental results and critically evaluate errors in experimental work.
4. Work safely and effectively in the laboratory.
5. Record results accurately and draw logical conclusions from them.

Module content

Topics include: chemical calculations; organic molecules; atomic structure; bonding and intermolecular forces; the periodic table and its elements; redox reactions; organic mechanisms; thermodynamics; equilibria; kinetics; biological chemistry; chemical analysis and spectroscopy.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course is taught through a mixture of face-to-face lectures, interactive workshops and practical classes. Videos of experimental techniques will be used to support practical skills and recordings of the lectures will be made available for revision purposes wherever possible. Students are expected to spend at least one hour of independent study for every hour spent in class.

Study hours

At least 124 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

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

Reassessment

Additional costs