General Chemistry

Module title	General Chemistry
Module code	BIO1347
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Sam Stevens (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	60

Module description

Over your university career and into graduate employment or further study/research, an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of chemistry is essential for any biochemist. Therefore, following tradition, this module groups together general, mathematical, inorganic and physical chemical concepts for first years before they tackle more biological and chemical concepts requiring such knowledge in later endeavours. Where we break away from tradition is to immediately apply these concepts to practical laboratory work and further build on more practical aspects such as analysis and calculation.

This module is mandatory for all Biological & Medicinal Chemistry students and Biochemistry students.

In order to take this module, you must have an A-level (or equivalent) in Chemistry and a GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics.

Module aims - intentions of the module

We aim for all students to finish the module with considerable laboratory experience and confidence borne of a clear chemical understanding.

Through this module, you will gain the following essential skills:

Data handling skills – demonstrated use of appropriate laboratory equipment fundamental for measurements in chemistry, and the ability to interpret and analyse resulting datasets

Analytical skills – being able to understand core aspects of inorganic and physical chemistry and related mathematical concepts and apply these to solve problems and explain experimental observations.

Practical skills - conduct practicals in a safe and timely manner, making competent records of your findings.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Validate and further interpret data sets through linearisation of relationships between control and dependent variables.
2. Use dimensional analysis to aid in determination of correct calculations and suitable units.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Learn the basic concepts of physical and inorganic chemistry that underpin many biochemical models and theories.
4. Determine chemical values and relationships through calculations whilst checking for errors and quantifying confidence.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Reflect and then improve on your work (including failures) following discussion with team and supervisors.
6. Conduct laboratory work effectively by maintaining focus, professionalism, and safe standards including independent assessment of risks and timings.

Syllabus plan

The module’s precise content will vary from year to year to complement the other modules on offer by the department. The precise nature of practical assessments will also vary from year to year. However, the indicative syllabus is as follows:

Theoretical Aspects

Note that organic and biochemical chemistry concepts are directly covered in other modules at Exeter.

Inorganic chemistry

Atoms: The structure of the atom and an explanation and exploration of periodic trends in electronegativity, electron affinity, etc.
Ions: The disassociation of electron from atoms and their associated electrochemistry, an assessment of the utility of oxidation states and the nature of acidity.
Molecules: A formalised approach of bonding from a Lewis (dot-cross or octet rule) bonding and VSPER (geometry) to a molecular orbital version identifying the benefits of both regimens.
Complexes: Identification, naming and justification for the composition, geometry and reactivity of these biologically essential, transition metal centred species.

Physical chemistry

Classical mechanics - A short formal definition of fundamental concepts such as energy, mass, etc. applied to at least the macroscopic world.
Quantum mechanics - A review of twentieth century experiments leading to sufficient understanding of subatomic particles for chemical purposes.
Thermodynamics - A study of why reactions proceed due to extensive and intensive properties.
Kinetics - The measurement of reaction rates and subsequent modelling to deduce mechanistic aspects of reactions.
Spectroscopy - An explanation on how chemical structures are elucidated specifically (in this module) from the exploitation of electromagnetic radiation.

Chemical mathematics

Calculus of one variable - Differentiation and integration.
Population distributions - Normal distribution, Boltzmann, and others.
Algebra – rearrangement of equations and linearisation of formulae including handling exponents and logarithms.
Simultaneous equations - Identify the values of coefficients.

Practical Aspects

Covered, amongst others:

Health and safety: Theories on handling dangers and hazards and practical steps on laboratory preparation.
Synthesis: Complexes, small molecules, ligands, etc.
Measurement: UV-vis spectroscopy, pH, titration, calorimetry, conductivity, etc.
Analysis: Determination of chemical structure, reactivity, disassociation constant, rate constant, etc.
Data processing: tabulation, linear regression, data fitting, etc.

Accessibility Statement:

As part of this module, you will undertake regular laboratory sessions in the large teaching laboratory that are of 3 hours in duration. These sessions will be undertaken in groups and will involve fine laboratory work and chemical handling (with appropriate PPE and safety considerations). Breaks are possible and students are able to leave the laboratory for short periods.and safety considerations). Breaks are possible and students are able to leave the laboratory for short periods.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
110	190	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	44	Live lectures including formative and summative in-class tests (44x 1 hour)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	66	Practicals with taught content, assessment, and support (22 x 3 hours)
Guided Independent Study	11	Practical preparation including pre-records and note-taking (17 x ca. 40 minutes)
Guided Independent Study	132	Lecture consolidation and associated reading
Guided Independent Study	47	Assessment revision

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Formative in-class tests (5)	ca. 30 minutes (1 hour including feedback)	2-4	In-class
Practicals (17)	ca. 3 hours	1-6	Practicals

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
0	20	80

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Summative in-class tests (5x)	20	ca. 30 minutes (1 hour including feedback) (4% each)	2-4	In-class
Assessed practicals (5x)	80	ca. 3 hours (16% each)	1-6	Practicals
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Summative in-class tests	Test covering same topic(s) (20%)	2-4	Next available exam period
Assessed practicals	Assessed practicals (80%)	1-6	Next available opportunity (term 2 week 11, or term three)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

TALIS page: https://rl.talis.com/3/exeter/lists/49BCA561-2E0A-3191-43E9-C0423872B21F.html

Suggested purchase: Chemistry³, 4^th Edition, Oxford University Press

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Module-specific ELE page

Key words search

Inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, laboratory skills, spectroscopy, kinetics, thermodynamics, atoms, ions, complexes, metals, molecules, calculus, algebra, synthesis, analysis, measurement, processing.

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	4
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	28/07/2021
Last revision date	18/03/2024