CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry

Academic Year 2020/2021

The module can only be taken by students without a strong background in Chemistry at second level. It is a pre-requisite for such students who plan to pursue any programme in Chemistry or Biology, but may also be taken as elective by students with an interest in learning the basic principles of chemistry. It will provide an overview of the subject, with an emphasis on fundamental principles and on understanding the structures and properties of familiar substances. Topics will include: atomic structure and the periodic table; chemical bonding; shapes of covalent compounds; Lewis structures; chemical reactions, including balancing chemical equations, calculating chemical amounts as moles; oxidation and reduction reactions and acid base reactions; the properties and structures of carbon compounds. The principles will be illustrated by examples of the chemistry of common elements including nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and the halogens.


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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Describe the nuclear and electronic structure of atoms.
Describe the bonding between atoms in polyatomic substances.
Account for the chemical and physical properties of compounds in terms of their structures.
Balance chemical equations and carry out stoichiometry calculations.
Identify simple organic compounds and predict their chemical properties.
Carry out simple laboratory procedures safely.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

5
Laboratories

6
Specified Learning Activities

24
Autonomous Student Learning

48
Total

107
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, including in-class activities such as problem solving and small-group discussions.
Problem solving in interactive tutorials.
Independent learning in advance of lectures and, particularly, laboratory classes. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Exclusions:

Students in the Science Programme with Grade H5 or above in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Higher Level, or Grade O1 in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Ordinary Level, or equivalent, are excluded from taking CHEM00010.

Learning Recommendations:

Students enrolled in Programmes other than Science who have Grade H5 or above in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Higher Level, or Grade O1 in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Ordinary Level, or equivalent, are recommended to take CHEM10040 (The Molecular World) and not CHEM00010.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
BIOC00010 - Chemistry-Biochemistry, CHEM00020 - Introductory Chemistry (Ag), CHEM10030 - Chemistry for Engineers, CHEM10040 - The Molecular World, CHEM10130 - Applied Intro. & Phys Chem

Additional Information:
Students that have completed CHEM 10050 should not register for this module.

Equivalents:
Introductory Chemistry (CHEM0901)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Homework and test for each of 5 small group tutorials plus additional short tests Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20
Examination: 2 Hour end of trimester written examination covering all of the material in the module 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

45
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: MCQ Examination on the material from the first half of the module Week 8 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

15
Lab Report: Grading of Experimental work and Laboratory Reports for practical classes. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on laboratory reports will be provided when the report is returned at the start of the next laboratory class. Feedback on tutorial assignments will be provided in the tutorials. Whole class feedback will be provided after the midterm MCQ examination.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Tony Keene Lecturer / Co-Lecturer