Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title KEY SKILLS FOR CHEMISTS 1
Code CHEM180
Coordinator Dr G Sedghi
Chemistry
G.Sedghi@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2015-16 Level 4 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (or general academic requirements):
A2 - level chemistry or equivalent  

Aims

The aim of this module is:

(i) to equip students with the basic quantitative transferable skills required for the first year of a Chemistry degree programme. (60% of module)

(ii) to broaden a student''s perspective of chemistry whilst developing their general transferable skills with a focus on communication and employability. (40% of module)


Learning Outcomes

The overarching leaning outcome is for students to have the key skills that will equip them to perform well in the rest of their chemistry degree programme.

The learning outcomes can be divided into two areas: Quantitative and General Key Skills.

Quantitative key skills:

By the end of this module a successful student should be able to handle:

  • Simple volumetric calculations as required for titrations in analytical chemistry
  • Basic algebraic manipulation and functions needed for kinetics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics
  • Elementary geometry required for the understanding of molecular shapes and solid state chemistry
  • The representation of data via graphs, pa rticularly straight line graphs, and the manipulation of data in spreadsheet programs for data analysis
  • The basic idea of a derivative and an integral for use in physical chemistry
  • The physical concepts of energy, momentum and angular momentum

General key skills:

By the end of this module a sucessful student will have been exposed to:

  • The importance of chemistry in the development of our society
  • The future of chemistry
  • The representation of chemistry in the media

In addition successful students will have developed their:

  • investigative, critical, writing and presentation skills.
  • employability skills.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -

Tutorial -

Other -


Syllabus
1  1

This section of the module will be the responsibility of Dr Gita Sedghi who will head the workshops using staff and student demonstrators as appropriate. The syllabus will involve:

  • Concepts of proportion: calculation of molarity, concentration after dilution, using results of titrations
  • Simple re-arrangement algebra, order of operations in brackets, quadratic equations, exponents and logarithms, the exponential function, trigonometric functions
  • Calculation of volume, identification of (molecular) shape, trigonometry and geometry
  • Drawing graphs, linearizing data, what to do with gradients and intercepts in practical examples
  • Data analysis with spreadsheet programs
  • Derivative as gradient, rates of change
  • Integration as the opposite of differentiation
  • Chain and product rules in differentiation
  • Stationary points of functions, maxima and minima
  • Forms of energy, conversion and conservation of energy– why it is important for Chemistry
  • What are momentum and angular momentum?
2

This section of the module will be the responsibility of Dr Susan Barlow with lectures given mainly by chemistry staff and tutorials given by personal tutors.

Presentations

The presentations will be chosen to encourage students to consider:

  • Introduction: What module is about, how it works (Dr Barlow)
  • Historical aspects of chemistry (Dr Higgins)
  • Chemistry and nantotechnology (Professor Brust)
  • Chemistry and medicinal chemistry (Professo r O''Neill)
  • Library resources (Clair Sharpe, Library)
  • Careers (careers service)
  • Various aspects of chemistry, including research within the Chemistry Department (e.g. femotsecond chemistry, Dr Arnolds)

Assessed Tasks

Students will be expected to complete six assessed tutorial tasks as part of this module and attend and comment on/ review the lectures.

  •  An ice-breaker session and group discussion with personal tutor.
  • Writing scientific report based on an undergraduate experiment.
  • A revision session, involving short student presentations on topics from a Year 1 module.
  • A library-based exercise to introduce them to the library catalogue and encourage them to visit the library.
  • A PowerPoint presentation on the impact of chemistry in society, medicine or nanotechnology.
  • A final written essay based on the general key skills section on subjects such as the ''impact of chemistry in society, medicine or nanotechnology'' or ''why should we study chemistry?''

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 8

   6

     36

 50
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 100
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  2 hours each class t  Two class tests in semesters 1  20  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 1 
Coursework  12 x 3 hours Quantit  Semesters 1 & 2  40  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 2 
Coursework  5 x 1 hour General K  Semesters 1 & 2  30  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 3 
Coursework  1000 words General K  Final essay  10  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 4 Notes (applying to all assessments) Quantitative problems - Class Test: Students who fail the class test will be required to resit the class test. Assessed tutorial and review tasks: Written work is submitted via Vital and assessed by the tutor or module moderator as appropriate. Oral presentations in tutorials are assessed by the tutor during the tutorial. Students who fail this module will be allowed to resubmit assessed written tasks that have not reached the required standard at the first attempt over the summer. Powerpoint slides associated with failed presentations can be resubmitted for marking but it will not be possible to gain any marks associated with the oral part of the presentations on resit. Anonymous marking is not possible. Quantitative problem solving exercises: Students who fail this module will be given the opportunity to complete failed exercises during the summer. This work is not marked anonymously Final report:The essay is submitted via Vital and assessed by the tutor. Students who fail this module will be allowed to resubmit a final report that has not reached the required standard at the first attempt. Anonymous marking is not possible.