Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Our modern society depends heavily on the properties of the elements and their compounds, including both metals and non-metals. Materials such as natural minerals and synthetic compounds such as organometallic and coordination compounds lie at the cutting edge of both pure and applied chemistry. Increasingly chemists are improving industrial materials by synthetic modification and molecular assembly, including the use of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. A graduate about to enter the workforce as a Chemist should be well informed about all these applications, which draw heavily upon the chemical principles developed through the introductory and intermediate levels, so these topics are most usefully treated at this advanced level of the course.

Aims

To understand the reactivity of elements and ligands in the context of inorganic, organometallic and materials chemistry. To know and understand some chemistry and properties of metallic and non-metallic elements and their compounds and how laboratory techniques are applied to the synthesis, characterisation and applications of these substances.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should:

1. Understand core concepts in the fields of modern organometallic, inorganic and materials chemistry, and have some appreciation of the history of these topics.
2. Appreciate the diversity of substances and materials in terms of their chemical and physical properties and applications.
3. Be aware of the importance of organometallic, inorganic and coordination compounds in catalysis and in biological systems.
4. Understand the theoretical principles and applications of a number of advanced analytical techniques particularly appropriate for investigation of a variety of compounds and materials.
5. Understand the laboratory practices associated with the techniques, including where practicable having hands-on experience.

Content

1. Organometallic Chemistry
The nature of the metal-carbon bond: typical structures illustrating the principles; Main Group organometallics: synthesis, stability, typical reactions; transition metal organometallics: electron counting, ligands, complexes, typical reactions; uses of organometallic compounds in organic synthesis as reagents or catalysts: representative examples of the use of both main group and transition metal organometallics in stoichiometric and catalytic roles for the production of synthetic products including both fine chemicals and large scale industrial products.

2. Advanced Materials Chemistry and Structural Characterisation
A selection of topics in the field of materials science and characterisation, such as structures and uses of clays, minerals and polymers. Methods of characterisation including electron microscopy and related analytical techniques, X-ray and electron diffraction.

3. Bioinorganic Chemistry
The inorganic chemistry of a selection of common biochemical processes, including oxygen uptake, storage and transport; synthetic oxygen carriers; biological redox reactions; and the roles of metals in enzyme activity.

4. Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
Illustrative examples of the chemistry of inorganic compounds focussing on similarities between groups of elements including the main group elements such as B, P and Si, and industrially important metals, including f-block transition metals (lanthanoids and actinoids, especially uranium).

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Lectures/tutorials (26 hours, 2 hours per week)
The lectures will cover both fundamental and applied aspects of the course content.

Practical work (24 hours, 7 x 3 hour sessions)
Practical work will comprise a series of exercises that illustrate the concepts from the lectures. Universal scientific skills such as the collection of accurate data, critical appreciation of the quality of data, and deductive reasoning are key features.

Workshops (8 hours, 4 x 2 hours)
These interactive sessions will allow a deeper exploration or revision of selected topics from the lecture program or the principles illustrated in the practical exercises.

Assessment

Performance and progress in the unit is assessed by a variety of means including written reports for practical exercises, written problem solving tasks and examination.Students are provided with feedback on submitted assessment items that informs the learning process in PQB631. Participation in workshops and laboratory exercises is an important component of the unit. Laboratory reports are assessed and returned to you during semester. The feedback provided therein will help you to monitor your progress and correct any misunderstandings.

Assessment name: Report
Description: Assessment of practical skills is by continuous assessment during laboratory sessions and by the submission of written practical reports. These will consist of written descriptions of procedures, interpretation of data and construction of arguments to support interpretations and conclusions. Prompt feedback is given on your laboratory reports and this forms an important part of your learning process. Formative and Summative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4 and 5.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: Written assignments involving problem solving tasks based on the Workshop topics. Feedback will be provided on your progress in developing the knowledge and skills required for success in this unit. Formative and Summative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: A written examination will be conducted during the examination period when you will be required to answer questions covering the lecture material. Summative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended textbooks:
1. Housecroft CE & Sharpe AG (2008) Inorganic Chemistry, 3rd Edition, Pearson, Essex, UK.
2. Atkins P and De Paula J (2006) Atkins' Physical Chemistry, 8th Edition, Oxford Uni Press.

Other references:
1. Crabtree, RH (2005) The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Elements, Wiley-Interscience.
2. Hill, AF (2002) Organotransition Metal Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry.

Risk assessment statement

The professional practice of Chemistry requires the safe handling of Hazardous Substances. A practical laboratory program is an important part of this unit, so you will be required to handle such substances. The chemicals and procedures used in this unit are deemed to be appropriate for students at this level of the course. You will be provided with a School Health and Safety Manual in this unit (or a pre-requisite unit). Health and Safety information and precautions relevant to the particular experiment are clearly explained in the Practical Manual. Having been provided with this information, it is your responsibility to read and comply with these instructions for the safety of yourself, your fellow students and staff.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 30-Apr-2012