CH3PR1: Chemistry Labs and Research Skills

Module code: CH3PR1

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Chris Smith, email: c.d.smith@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Roger Bennett, email: r.a.bennett@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed to develop both the practical skills and the literature searching/writing skills in chemistry. In the 1st semester seminars will introduce the research taking place in the Department and laboratory practicals will provide advanced training in Organic, Physical and Inorganic. In the 2nd semester longer, more open-ended, investigations where students may indicate their preference for either Physical or Organic, and either Inorganic or Analytical. In addition, they will explore, in detail, a specific research topic of interest to the student in partnership with an academic member of staff and present on this to an audience of peers and experts followed by producing a research synopsis, thus demonstrating the capacity for independent and original thought. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Undertake advanced chemistry practical experiments, to work safely, to plan and execute a systematic study. 
2. Interpret and quantify results and write concise and informative reports.
3. Write at a level suitable to introduce non-specialists to an advanced topic. Present an oral overview of a research topic based on independent investigations.
4. Conduct a background study into the area through a thorough survey of the relevant literature to help inform the presentation and report.
5. Write a clear overview of an area of interest at the forefront of chemistry research which details the area of interest and the current state of the art demonstrated by researchers from across the globe.

Module content

Semester 1

Students will attend research seminars given by members of the Department to develop an overview of current topics in chemical research ongoing in the Department.

1 x 9 hour introductory practical class.

3 x 9 hours in each Organic, Inorganic and Physical discipline.

Semester 2

Students will undertake an in-depth study of one specific research topic or technique, following consultation with the academic concerned. Students will give a presentation on this topic and write a report detailing the research area they selected.

6 x 9 hours of practical classes in two disciplines out of Organic or Physical and Inorganic or Analytical.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Practical classes will help develop experimental techniques and scientific report writing. Seminars with academics will provide an appreciation of chemical research ongoing in the Department. Working with their academic mentor will develop their literature researching skills and the ability present scientific to their peers and experts. The final literature report will develop skills of longer-form writing and gaining expertise in a new topic. 

Study hours

At least 158 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

An introductory practical is used to familiarise the students with the laboratory practice, analytical equipment, safety aspects and report writing. Discussion with the academic mentor used to develop the research report and presentation.

Reassessment

Additional costs