Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CHE1350

 
TITLE Principles of Analytical Chemistry

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Chemistry

 
DESCRIPTION 1. Basic tools of analytical chemistry: laboratory notebook, analytical balances, volumetric glassware, volumetric calculations, units of measurement, introduction to metrology (measurements, accuracy, precision, tolerance and significant figures).
2. Concepts of chemical equilibrium: types of equilibria, equilibrium constant, temperature effects, common ion effect, heterogeneous equilibria.
3. Acid-base equilibria: ionization, dissociation, stability constants, pH, acid-base titrations, primary standards, indicators, titration curves, buffers, polyprotic acids.
4. Complexometry: stability of complexes, EDTA equilibria, Ca-EDTA complex, EDTA titration curves, water hardness, the effect of pH on aqueous complexes.
5. Gravimetry: quantitative precipitation, precipitating reagents, Ksp, precipitation equilibria, the effect of pH on solubility.
6. Reduction-oxidation reactions: voltaic cells, balancing equations, Nernst equation, standard potentials, the effect of pH on the standard potential.
7. Spectrometry: electromagnetic radiation, electronic transitions, Beer's Law, absorbance, transmittance, fluorescence.

Study-Unit Aims:

1. Provide an overview of the basic tools used in analytical chemistry.
2. Introduce students to the various ways of reporting analytical data.
3. Provide a theoretical overview of the concept of chemical equilibria.
4. Examine, in some detail, the four fundamental classes of volumetric and titrimetric methods in analytical chemistry: acid-base chemistry, complexometry, precipitation and redox chemistry.
5. To develop analytical and mathematical problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge and Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to demonstrate:

- an appreciation of the ways of reporting analytical data, particularly the importance of significant figures; - how to derive equilibrium equations from first principles;
- how to determine the pH and pM of a solution from available data;
- how to evaluate the pH of a solution upon addition of an acid, base or salt;
- an understanding of the fundamental theory of acid-base titrations;
- an understanding of the difference between complexation and chelation;
- an understanding of the concepts of gravimetric and precipitation analysis;
- an understanding of the fundamentals of reduction-oxidation chemistry.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- perform calculations for the preparation of aqueous solution mixtures of acids, bases, salts, complexing agents, and ligands adjusted for pH;
- perform calculations using exponents, logarithms and polynomial equations;
- balance reaction equations for both atom and charge count;
- apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to equilibrium problems related to acid-base complexometric, solubility and redox-based chemistry.

Main Texts:

Analytical Chemistry, G. D. Christian, P. K. Dasgupta and K. A. Schug, 7th ed. Wiley, Hoboken NJ, 2014. Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 8th ed. D. C. Harris, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, NY, 2010.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Qualifications: A-Level Chemistry

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Progress Test SEM1 No 15%
Progress Test SEM1 No 15%
Examination (1 Hour and 45 Minutes) SEM1 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Noel Aquilina

 

 
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Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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