CH1GCA: General Chemistry A

Module code: CH1GCA

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

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

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

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have a strong pass in GCSE Chemistry or equivalent. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE CH0CHE (Compulsory)

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

Starting a degree in the life sciences but don’t have an A level or equivalent in chemistry? Then this is the right module for you.

Designed specifically for students in the life sciences, this module covers the key chemistry A-level concepts with a specific emphasis on the chemistry required for the Food Science or Biology and their applications.

Students will develop an understanding of the fundamental chemistry topics that will be built on in other parts of their Programme. They will become familiar with the language and terminology of chemistry and develop an awareness of the importance of chemistry for their future studies.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Apply key principles to explain chemical concepts to an A-level standard.
2. Perform calculations and solve problems on A-level topics.
3. Be confident with using the language and terminology of chemistry in food science, nutritional science and biological contexts.
4. Appreciate the relevance of the material covered to applications in the life sciences.

Module content

This module will introduce you to atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, intermolecular forces, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, acids and bases, pH, buffers, redox reactions, organic structure and nomenclature, isomerism, chirality, carbonyl chemistry and substitution and elimination reactions.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course is taught through a mixture of face-to-face lectures and interactive workshops. Every week, one chemical topic will be covered. The lectures will outline the theory and applications and the following workshop session will focus on practice on problem solving related to that topic.

The sessions will have a specific emphasis on the chemistry required for the life sciences and the material illustrated in case studies and workshops is relevant to these students.

Case studies will focus on the relevance of basic chemistry concept to their future studies and workshop problems will help them improve their numerical skills applied to life sciences chemistry problems.

Study hours

At least 40 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.

Formative MCQ Semester 1, Teaching Week 4

Formative exam style exam Semester 1, Teaching Week 11

Reassessment

Additional costs