CH1GCB: General Chemistry B

Module code: CH1GCB

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 Candyce Clark, email: c.r.clark@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr John McKendrick, email: j.e.mckendrick@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have A-Level Chemistry with a mark above a C, or an equivalent qualification. (Open)

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 show how the chemical reactions that take place in living systems follow the same principles and mechanisms of those that take place in the laboratory.  We will discover that biochemical reactions result in biological transformations and thus understand why these processes occur the way they do.

Designed specifically for students in the life sciences, this module builds on the key chemical concepts for the molecular sciences, covering core ideas in physical, inorganic and organic chemistry.

This module develops the concepts introduced in A-level Chemistry and provides a comprehensive background in chemistry for biological scientists. It has a specific emphasis on the chemistry required for the life sciences and the material is illustrated in case studies and workshops relevant to these students.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Understand ll the topics outlined below.
2. Appreciate the relevance of the material to applications in the life sciences and biochemistry and related sciences.
3. Perform calculations and solve problems on any of the areas covered.

Students will develop confidence in applying the language and terminology of chemistry in biological situations, will improve their numeracy skills and have opportunity for small group work in the problem solving sessions.

Module content

Introductory concepts

• Atomic and molecular structure
• Non-covalent interactions
• Acids, bases and buffers
• Thermodynamics
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical reaction kinetics
• Organic reaction mechanisms and functional group chemistry

Analytical methods

• Uv-Vis
• IR spectroscopy
• NMR
• MS

Bio-inorganic chemistry

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

In person and online lectures and workshops on related topics will be presented. The lectures outline the theory and applications and the workshops involve practice on problem solving related to topics from chemistry and the life sciences. 

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 workshops will be held to prepare students for the assessed tutorial questions.

Reassessment

Additional costs