BS133-4-SP-CO:
Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
2015/16
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
15
05 March 2007
Requisites for this module
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(none)
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(none)
BSC C700 Biochemistry,
BSC C701 Biochemistry (Including Placement Year),
BSC C703 Biochemistry (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year)
OVERALL AIM: This course addresses aspects of inorganic and physical chemistry that are fundamental to an understanding of the function of biological systems.
The INORGANIC CHEMISTRY component concentrates firstly on small biochemically pertinent molecules containing the p-block elements oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur & phosphorus. The underlying emphasis is on the importance of electron accountancy in structural representations, which leads to comprehension of the action of redox enzymes in metabolism. Also covered are properties of main-group and transition metal cations, followed by an introduction to their roles in biology.
The PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY component is partly directed towards understanding (bio)chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. Emphasis is on determining reaction rates, reaction orders (and rate constants), reaction mechanisms and activation energies from kinetic data, plus assessing to what extent a reaction may proceed based on thermodynamic parameters. Also included is an introduction to molecular spectroscopies, which is centred upon considering the effects of absorption of energy from light.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
To pass this module students will need to be able to:
1. describe the structure, bonding & biochemical importance of small molecules containing the p-block elements O, N, S & P;
2. discuss models for structure & bonding of metal ion complexes;
3. describe fundamental thermodynamics and kinetics and perform associated calculations;
4. explain how the absorption of energy by molecules is used as a basis for understanding spectroscopy;
5. demonstrate basic skills in numerical/data analysis & writing chemical formulae & equations
6. show basic practical skills in analytical and preparative chemistry
No information available.
No information available.
Exam assessment: End of module MCQ Exam and 1 hour exam paper in Summer Term; both equally weighted.
12 x 1 hour workshops; the workshops will be based on 'lectures' delivered by audio-enabled PowerPoint presentations that should be studied in advance of the workshops). 12 x 1 hour lectures including 1 on directed learning material plus 1 revision class before MCQ and 1 revision class before summer exam; 4 x 3 hour practicals or equivalent
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
worksheet 1 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
worksheet 2 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
worksheet 3 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Worksheet 4 |
|
25% |
| Exam |
Main exam: 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Additional coursework information
MCQ Exam: wk 30, Summer Exam: wks 33-36
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Paul Dobbin, Dr Dima Svistunenko
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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