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 CHEMICAL DATABASE SKILLS
Code CHEM495
Coordinator Dr N Berry
Chemistry
Ngberry@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 7 FHEQ First Semester 7.5

Pre-requisites before taking this module (or general academic requirements):
This module is only available to PGT students who have completed either a BSc Chemistry (Hons) or MChem programme or accepted equivalent. Students cannot take this module if they have already taken CHEM385, CHEM375 or CHEM395.  

Aims

Chemical databases are in common use by practising chemical scientists. This module aims to introduce students to the skills required to use various chemical databases through lectures and computer based workshop sessions. In this module, students will will attend six lectures and six practical sessions in chemical database skills and database skills. The general aims of the module are:

  • To introduce students to chemical database skills, including on-line searching of literature, citations, chemical reactions and structures.
  • To ensure that students can exploit chemical database skills when producing advanced level scientific reports. This will be tested with specially designed assessments/ essays to demonstrate the use of chemical database information within a scientific report.

(this module is for PGT only)


Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to

  • Use scientific databases effectively for literature and citation searches.
  • Find relevant information from on-line chemical databases regarding chemical reactions and structures.
  • Be able to apply the database skills in writing an advanced report drawing from scientific literature.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -

Database skills lectures / tuition

Laboratory Work -

Supervised database activities


Syllabus
1   Chemical database skills: Students will be introduced to scientific literature and databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Beilstein and Gmelin. They will apply search strategies using logical search combinations in on-line searching with citation searching and downloading references into a unique personal reference database. Students will learn how to search for particular compounds, reactions and physical properties using chemical databases such as Beilstein and Gmelin. The students will use crystallographic databases for structure based searching for compounds and downloading of 3D structures for molecular graphics work. The information gathered from two searches, including the use of Endnote to collect references, will be used in the word-processed reports; one of a selected scientific problem involving chemical literature and the second related to their research project. These scientific reports, which will be assessed, will be expect ed to draw on chemical literature and databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Beilstein and Gmelin.

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 6

     6

     12
Timetable (if known) Database skills lectures / tuition
  		    Supervised database activities
  		     
Private Study 63
TOTAL HOURS 75

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  2x10 hour scientific  Semester 1  40  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 1 
Coursework  6x 6 hour assignment  Semester 1  60  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 2 Notes (applying to all assessments) Reports: 20% from each report. (2x20%) The information gathered from two searches, including the use of Endnote to collect references, will be used in two word-processed reports. In one report a problem will be answered from the scientific literature and presented with appropriate use of database information as taught in the module. The other report will be set in conjunction with the student's supervisor and should be related their research and use the databases and referencing skills taught in the module. The assessment of these word-processed reports will be by the module teachers and the student's supervisor(s). Assignment problem sets: 10% from each set (6x10%) Dealing with the use of databases, database skills (5 sets) and x-ray diffraction (1 set). This work is not marked anonymously. August resit for PGT students if applicable.