Course Title: Concepts in Chemistry
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Concepts in Chemistry
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
CHEM1039 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
135H Applied Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016 |
CHEM1039 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
171H School of Science |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023 |
Course Coordinator: Professor Sylvia Urban
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3376
Course Coordinator Email: sylvia.urban@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 3.2.14
Course Coordinator Availability: By email
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
You should have a background in basic University-level theoretical and practical chemistry and have completed at least 24 credit points of year 1 level study. Recommended prerequisite courses are CHEM1030 Chemistry of Materials 1 and CHEM1031 Chemistry of Materials 2 [12 credit points each]. Alternatively, you should have completed equivalent courses or be able to provide evidence of equivalent capabilities.
Course Description
This course builds on the basic knowledge of chemistry gained in first year University-level Chemistry.
The course will extend and deepen fundamental principles and chemical language, as well introduce many important new concepts in Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry.
The course will allow you to develop an advanced level of critical thinking and problem solving in Inorganic, Organic and Physical chemistry. These skills are required of professional scientists in solving structural, energetic and kinetic problems associated with chemical, biological and physical processes.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to School of Science Program Learning Outcomes at AQF level:
• PLO-2 Scientific Knowledge (Specifically PLO-2.1)
• PLO-3 Inquiry, Problem Solving and Critical Thinking (Specifically PLO-3.1)
On completion of the course you should be able to:
- Relate bonding principles introduced in first year to discriminate the structure, bonding and properties of simple transition metal complexes;
- Apply basic stereochemical and functional group principles to more complex organic molecules such as alicyclic compounds, carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins and examine reactions and reactivity of carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes, ketones and their derivatives;
- Explain and apply basic principles of thermodynamics and apply these to the operation of chemical systems;
- Identify how properties of real solutions are determined and show how they differ from ideality.
Overview of Learning Activities
This is a theory-based course, with a combination of on-line lectures, lectorial problem-solving sessions, supported by online material available through Canvas. Across all units, you will be expected to undertake tutorial problems to assist with the development of logical thinking and problem-solving skills. This activity will guide you with the accumulation of a suitable body of knowledge in the topic area and provide you with an indication of your understanding of the lecture material.
Recorded lectures and related references/resources will present you with the key concepts and information relevant to the understanding across the three units of Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. You will be expected to participate in online lectorial sessions that will largely consist of problem-based activities and complete the assessments across the three units.
The learning activities specific to this course are:
- participate by listening to on-line recordings of lectures, where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the course will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
- completion of revision tutorial questions/work tasks designed to give further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to provide feedback on student progress and understanding;
- completion of quizzes requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter;
- private study, working through the course and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical problems
Self-directed learning: You are expected to undertake self-directed learning activities to develop and consolidate your knowledge across the two units. The activities associated with this course are designed to enable you to better develop independent learning skills to support your commitment to lifelong learning as a science professional and a university graduate. The self-directed learning activities will also support your knowledge of the material covered in the formal learning program and enhance the consolidation and application of that knowledge.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with additional resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems accessed via your myRMIT site. You will be able to access all learning resources (recorded lectures), all course information and additional learning materials through the Learning Management System (LMS) Canvas for this course. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible internet sites are also provided.
Overview of Assessment
This is a theory-based course and assessment will be across the three chemistry units which will assess your ability to solve higher level problems in chemistry.
Note that:
This course has no hurdle requirements.
Each of the three topic areas (Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry) contributes to the total mark for the course.
Assessment Task 1: Timed problem-based assessments
Weighting: 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 and 2
Assessment Task 2: Physical Chemistry Assignment
Weighting: 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 3 and 4
Assessment Task 3: On-line Quizzes
Weighting: 35%
This assessment task supports CLOs 3 and 4