CME1029 : Chemistry for Chemical Engineers
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Greg Mutch
- Lecturer: Dr Jake McClements
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will provide students with the necessary knowledge of, and skills in, key areas of chemistry required for chemical engineering.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus will cover key areas of chemistry required for chemical engineering:
• Equilibria: partial molar quantities, solutions, equilibrium constant, response to conditions, proton transfer equilibria, polyprotic acids, acid-base equilibria of salts in water, solubility equilibria, ions in solution, electrochemical cells.
• Kinetics: empirical chemical kinetics, rate laws, integrated rate laws, temperature dependence of reaction rates, reaction mechanisms.
• Quantum Theory & Atomic Structure: failures of classical mechanics, quantum theory, dynamics of microscopic systems, quantised translation and vibration, atomic structure, periodic trends in atomic properties.
• Bonding & Molecular structure: covalent bonds, ionic bonds, Lewis structures, VSEPR theory, valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory.
• Intermolecular Forces & Structure: electric properties of molecules, interactions between molecules, mesophases and disperse systems.
• Spectroscopy & Chromatography: general features of molecular spectroscopy, rotational spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy, separatory methods and chromatography, mass spectrometry.
• Solids & Surface Chemistry: crystal structure, bonding in solids, solid surfaces, adsorption and desorption, heterogenous catalysis.
• Organic chemistry: hydrocarbons, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatics, heteroatoms, functional groups, drawing and naming organic molecules, structural and stereoisomers, chirality and enantiomers, conformations, elimination and substitution mechanisms, biochemical molecules.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 44 | 1:00 | 44:00 | Reviewing lecture materials and notes |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Written examination |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 44 | 1:00 | 44:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Computer assessment |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Preparation for tutorials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Online Canvas quizzes |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Knowledge of mathematical and scientific principles, principles of equilibrium and kinetics, analytical techniques, and technical literature etc (i.e. all areas of the curriculum), and their relationship to chemical engineering, will be communicated in the lectures. Time is afforded to review lecture material.
Tutorials will provide students with experience of applying such knowledge to solve complex problems, also reinforcing the lecture material in the context of chemical engineering. Time is afforded to prepare for, and review tutorial materials.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 180 | 1 | A | 80 | Closed-book exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 20 | Timed Canvas-based assessment/quiz (60 minutes). |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | Online canvas quizzes provide feedback and skills practice to build upon (60 minutes). |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The exam will assess student knowledge and understanding of (i.e., ability to define and discuss) the mathematical and scientific principles, analytical techniques, and technical literature etc (i.e. across all areas of the curriculum), and their ability to apply these, and interpret information and data, to solve complex (unseen) problems in the context of chemical engineering principles and processes. This will assess AHEP 4 learning outcomes C1-3.
The computer assessment will give students an opportunity to review their progress at a suitable point in the semester and reduce the stakes of the end of semester exam. This will assess AHEP 4 learning outcomes C1-3.
The formative online Canvas quizzes throughout the module will provide students will ample feedback and skills practice.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CME1029's Timetable