This module introduces the key chemical principles, models and vocabulary that underpin our understanding of atomic and molecular properties, structure, chemical bonding and reactions. The range of learning activities is designed to initiate progress towards the development of Keele's Graduate Attributes with an emphasis on development of information literacy and independent study skills.
2. To enable students to gain insight as to how the behaviour of electrons in atoms and molecules can be used to rationalise aspects of chemical bonding and chemical and physical properties.
3.To equip students with basic knowledge of the types of molecular energy levels, the principles of chemical spectroscopy and a basic appreciation of the relationships between molecular structure, energy levels and molecular spectra.
4. To develop students' transferable (employability) skills as part of the development of Keele's Graduate Attributes.
will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Describe, interpret and illustrate the principal features and energies of atomic (and hybrid atomic) and molecular orbitals and apply knowledge of atomic and molecular orbitals, the Pauli principle and exchange energy to predict selected properties of atoms and molecules. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Describe and account for periodic trends and irregularities in selected properties of the elements. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Describe the origin and characteristic properties of the principal attractive forces that exist between molecules and their dependence on molecular structure, and calculate the energies of selected intermolecular interactions.
will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Apply basic principles of chemical spectroscopy to solve standard problems in atomic, infrared, 1H/13C-NMR and UV-VIS spectroscopy. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Predict and describe acid-base properties of molecules based on molecular structure considerations and quantitative information (e.g. pKa data). will be achieved by assessments: 1,3, 4
Classify chemical species in terms of their reactivity and describe, classify and represent chemical reactions. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Locate and retrieve specific information from a variety of sources including textbooks, data books, on-line databases and research papers will be achieved by assessments: 2
Perform fundamental mathematical rearrangements and manipulations to solve numerical chemical calculations with due attention to scientific notation, physical units and significant figures. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3, 4
Workshops: 20 hrs
Class Tests: 2 hrs
Independent Study: 84 hrs
A series of problem sheets (approximately every 2 weeks) with a strong formative element involving tutor, self and peer-assessment.
A series (approximately three) of short information retrieval exercises based around the use of textbooks, databases and the peer-reviewed scientific literature. A societal, environmental and/or global perspective will feature in at least one of the exercises.
Class tests (~2 hours in total spread across the semester) employing a variety of questions styles.
Mixture of short and extended answer questions.
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