NES1406 : General Chemistry
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Elizabeth Gibson
- Lecturer: Dr Nick Walker, Dr Fabio Cucinotta
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Physical chemistry is the study of the fundamental physical laws that underpin the behaviour of molecular systems. It has wide application throughout science. This module reviews the foundations of physical chemistry, including principles of chemical composition, chemical change and chemical equilibria. These concepts will be illustrated with examples from environmental chemistry, food chemistry, and chemical analysis. A blended learning approach will be taken to ensure that students fully understand the applications of each element of the taught material.
Outline Of Syllabus
Each week will comprise of workshops, focusing on taught material and calculations, covering the following topics:
Units and Dimensions
Density
Concentration
Absorption Spectroscopy
Stoichiometry and Yield Density
Thermochemistry
Ideal Gas Law
Colligative Properties
Simple Equilibria
Solubility Product
Acids and Bases
pKa and Buffers
Conductivity and Conductance
Basic Electrochemistry
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 16:00 | 16:00 | Calculation Assessment |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Lectures, or equivalent, covering integrated taught material and calculations via Canvas and NUMBAS |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Revision and preparation for calculation assessment. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Online practice questions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | Advanced calculation workshops in PC clusters |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Calculation workshops in lecture theatre |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Each lecturer available during teaching weeks to discuss individually any student questions |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 23:00 | 23:00 | Independent Study |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Induction |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Classes will comprise elements of taught theoretical material and calculations based on that material. Students will be led through exemplary calculations to explain the methodology for problem solving, and then will be provided with unseen calculations to complete with assistance in class. These classes provide the platform knowledge required to complete independent online calculations for summative assessment in order to fulfil the learning outcomes. PC workshops provide the students with an opportunity to gain guided practice in advanced calculations.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 100 | Online calculation assessments using Canvas and NUMBAS |
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 calculation assessments using Canvas and NUMBAS |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The online assessments will assess the level of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module, including knowledge, understanding, and all aspects of the module.
** Students studying from abroad may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period, in which case the format of the paper may differ from that shown in the MOF. These students should contact the school to discuss this **
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES1406's Timetable