Module Descriptors
CHEMISTRY 1
FORE30132
Key Facts
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences
Level 3
15 credits
Contact
Leader:
Email:
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 57
Independent Study Hours: 93
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
  • EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 60%
  • COURSEWORK weighted at 24%
  • PORTFOLIO weighted at 16%
Module Details
Module Indicative Content
Subject Specific
The states of matter. Elements, compounds and mixtures. Atomic structure. The periodic table and trends. The mole and relative atomic, molecular and formula masses. Stoichiometry, reacting masses and volumes of pure solids, liquids, gases and solutions. Simple models of ionic, covalent and metallic bonds. Polar bonds. Intermolecular forces (including H-bonding). Classification of reactions into redox, acid-base, precipitation, solvolysis (especially hydrolysis) and pyrolysis. Balancing chemical equations.

Module Special Admissions Requirements
Meet the admissions requirements of the Science Foundation Year
Module Learning Strategies
Subject Specific
The module will be delivered by tutor led theory sessions, problem solving classes and practical work.
Emphasis will be on student involvement.

Study Skills
When the Science Foundation Year is viewed as a whole, there are 72 hours of class contact and 96 hours of independent study (guided reading, tutorial tasks etc.) that are dedicated to study skills. All modules will have an equal share of this time. The 72 hours of class contact will be spread evenly throughout the teaching year and will be split between tutorials (48 hours) and IT workshops (24 hours). The tutorial programme will be designed to emphasise and develop independent study, whilst delivering the study skills indicative content outlined above. The dedicated IT workshops are to familiarise the students with the use of the common computer packages, indicated above, within a scientific context. . The overall ethos will be one of encouraging active learning and developing a sense of responsibility for learning.
Module Additional Assessment Details
An EXAM length 1.5 HOURS weighted at 60%. COURSEWORK length 1500 WORDS weighted at 24%. And a Study skills portfolio (16%)

A 1.5 hr end of module examination to assess outcomes 1to 8 inclusive (60%)
Coursework (laboratory reports, problem solving exercises etc, equivalent to a total of 1500 words in length) to assess outcomes 1 to 9 inclusive (24 %).
A study skills portfolio (to assess learning outcome 10, (16% of available marks) (please see additional assessment information)

Additional Assessment Information:
Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment, namely coursework and an end of module examination. These will be used to assess both mastery of the subject of each module and the attainment of study skills. Both elements will be used to assess the former of these (these elements will, respectively, be given weightings of 40 % and 60%), whilst study skills will be wholly assessed via the coursework element. In each case, the nature of the coursework will be chosen to develop one or more facets of study skills, such as report writing, essay writing, oral presentation, problem solving, use of IT, teamwork and information retrieval. A tutor will be assigned to monitor and coordinate study skills provision across the modules, thereby ensuring that each student has the opportunity to attain and be assessed in each of the study skills learning outcomes. By the end of each teaching block, each student's overall performance across all 7 of the study skills outcomes will have been assessed. For each student the mark attained will then form 40% of the coursework mark for each module. By this means, the study skills element of each module is given a weighting of 16% of the available marks (i.e. 0.4 x 40).

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via:
Continuous informal feedback in class and mid-module tests

Study Skills

An ability to:
1. Think critically and examine practical problems from the scientific perspective. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, An, PS, Ap.
2. Collect, interpret and report results in a variety of media. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, E, An, PS, C, Ap.
3. Work individually and as a team member in the solving of problems. SS1, L, E, An, PS, Ap.
4. Show a basic working ability with a range of PC and IT based software. SS1, C.
5. Display a basic understanding of the fundamental basis of scientific endeavour. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, An, PS, Ap.
6. Undertake self-appraisal of learning achievements and understand the need for and value of a reflective approach to intellectual and personal development and thereby have begun to develop a sense of awareness and a degree of responsibility for their own learning. SS1, L, R.
7. Display familiarity and competence in the use of basic 'study skills'. SS1, C.

Note that these study skills learning outcomes are common to all of the modules of the Science Foundation Year. Also, note that the letter codes following the individual learning outcomes refer to the learning outcomes for the Science Foundation Year as a whole. For details, see Table 1 of the Science Foundation Year Programme Specification.

Module Texts
Chemistry-Molecules, Matter and Change (3rd edition)
P Atkins & L Jones, Freeman 1997
Salters Advanced Chemistry- Chemical Ideas (2nd Edition), Heinemann 2000
Chemistry- Collins(2nd Edition), C Conoley & P Hills, Collins Educational 2000
Module Resources
Well-appointed classroom.
Appropriately equipped laboratory.
Appropriately resourced library.
I.T Resources equipped with Office or equivalent