CHEM 1311 - Chemistry IB(S)

North Terrace Campus - Summer - 2016

This course will cover aspects of acid/base equilibria, kinetics and electrochemical processes, the importance of molecular shape and how chemists determine the structure of compounds using spectroscopic techniques including ultraviolet, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Synthetic and Bio-organic Chemistry. Topics will include - an introduction to chemical synthesis with particular reference to addition and substitution reactions, Strategies for synthesis and properties of biologically significant molecules.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHEM 1311
    Course Chemistry IB(S)
    Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences
    Term Summer
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 60 hours for the duration of the course
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites Only available to students who have previously attempted CHEM 1200 in the preceding academic year and have achieved at least 60% in the laboratory component
    Incompatible CHEM 1201, CHEM 1521, CHEM 1310, CHEM 1312
    Assumed Knowledge STACE Stage 2 Chemistry or equivalent
    Assessment Exam, online assessment, workshop preparation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Natalie Williamson

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    A successful student should be able to:

    1. develop critical thinking and enhance their problem solving ability;
    2. discuss the principles of scientific methodology and collaborative work;
    3. explain what acids and bases are and how to measure and quantify acidity and basicity;
    4. recognise the composition of a buffer solution and how it behaves on addition of acid or base;
    5. describe the basic principles of reaction kinetics, the application of stereoisomerism to carbon-containing compounds and the structural types and chemical behaviour of amino acids and bonding within peptides;
    6. identify redox processes and their application to Galvanic cells and batteries;
    7. determine the structure of an unknown molecule given appropriate spectroscopic data;
    8. define and apply the principles of electrophilic addition reactions, electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions, SN1 and SN2 reactions and carbon-carbon bond formation;
    9. devise a synthesis of a given material based on use of the three Reaction Summaries (‘Roadmaps’).
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    3-9
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The textbook for Chemistry IB(S) is shown below and it is recommended that students acquire their own copy or arrange access to one.

    'Chemistry', 2nd Edition, Blackman et al. (Wiley).

    Additional notes may be issued for individual sections of the course.
    Online Learning
    It is important that all students maintain active communication channels with the Chemistry Discipline throughout the course. The primary communication channels from the Discipline to students are emails and MyUni (for important course-related announcements, teaching material and additional resources).


    The University's online learning management system, MyUni (https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au), will be used to provide students with a variety of learning resources, including (but not limited to) the following:
    * Lecture notes
    * Lecture recordings
    * Workshop questions and solutions
    * Links to summative assignments
    * Links to other websites that may assist learning, such as maths help

    All learning resources will be provided electronically, and no printed copies will be supplied.

    MyUni will also be used on a regular basis to post announcements about assessment deadlines and other information related to the course and to send students emails to their University-provided student email account. 
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course consists of a series of self-directed learning activities supported by ten three-hour workshop sessions.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A full-time student should expect to spend, on average, a total of 48 hours per week on their studies.  This includes the formal contact time required for the course (e.g. lectures and tutorials), as well as non-contact time (e.g. reading and revision). For a 3-unit course, the expected workload would be, on average, 12 hours per week for 13 weeks.  This equates to approximately 150 hours in total for an intensive course.

    To complete their studies successfully, students are expected to complete all of the self-directed learning exercises and activities, attend all scheduled workshops, as well as commit additional time to individual study, group study and the completion of assessment tasks. Students who wish to excel and students whose background preparation for a course is poor should expect to commit additional time to that described above.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The course content will include the following:

    Part 1. Acids, Bases, Kinetics and Electrochemistry
    * Aspects of acid/base equilibria, kinetics and electrochemical processes

    Part 2. Structure Determination
    *The importance of molecular shape and how chemists determine the structure of compounds using spectroscopic techniques including ultraviolet, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

    Part 3. Synthetic and Bio-organic Chemistry
    *An introduction to chemical synthesis with particular reference to addition and substitution reactions. Strategies for synthesis and properties of biologically significant molecules will also be addressed
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Type of assessment Percentage of total assessment Hurdle Outcomes being assessed/addressed
    Online assessment Formative and Summative 45% No 1-9
    Workshop preparation Formative and Summative 10% No 1-9
    Examination Summative 45% Yes (45%) 1-9
    Multiple choice quick quizzes Formative 0% No 1-9
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must achieve a minimum of 45% in the final examination to pass this course.

    Failure to meet this requirement and/or not achieving the minimum mark/hurdle for each learning requirement will result in a grade of Fail (F).
    Assessment Detail

    Online assessment: (45% of total course grade) Five summative online exercises (each worth 9% of the overall course grade) will be used to assess progressive understanding of course material. Students receive instant feedback on submission.

    Workshop preparation: (10% of total course grade) Each workshop will have one question from the set of provided problems assigned for students to complete prior to the session. This question will be marked by the workshop facilitator during the session.

    Examination: (45% of total course grade) An end-of-semester examination will be used to summatively assess understanding of the course material.

    Multiple Choice Quick Quizzes: (0% of total course grade) At the end of each online learning session, students will be provided with a 5-question multiple choice quiz based on the material covered. Students will receive feedback and be able to discuss their answers in the workshop session that follows.

    Submission
    Late submission of assessments

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.