Laboratory Methods in Chemistry

Overview

Labs:
Physical Chemistry laboratories
Inorganic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Laboratory skills / Analytical methods of characterisation
Medicinal Chemistry Computational Labs (CHM2007 Students)

This module provides a year-long practical laboratory programme for Level 2 undergraduate chemistry students. It develops competence in experimental chemistry across physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, together with instrumental and spectroscopic analysis. Students undertake experiments in thermodynamics, kinetics, chromatography, solution chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, coordination and organometallic chemistry, main-group chemistry, and atomic and molecular spectroscopy. The module also develops transferable skills in data analysis, error treatment, safe laboratory practice, scientific record keeping, interpretation of spectra, and experimental reporting in an appropriate scientific style.

Physical chemistry / analytical experiments:
Determination of solubility and activity of a strong electrolyte using UV-visible analysis
Kinetics of a simple reaction using time-resolved sampling and UV-visible spectroscopy
HPLC analysis of paracetamol and caffeine in analgesic tablets
Determination of enthalpy by calorimetry
Photochemical reaction kinetic study
These experiments support the CHM2001 lecture course and provide training in carrying out and writing up practicals in Physical Chemistry.

Organic chemistry experiments:
Grignard addition to a carbonyl: synthesis of 2-phenyl-2-butanol
Hofmann rearrangement of benzamide: synthesis of methyl N-phenylcarbamate
Aldol condensation / Claisen-Schmidt reaction: synthesis of benzylideneacetone
Fischer indole synthesis: synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole
These develop reflux, work-up, drying, rotary evaporation, reduced-pressure distillation, column chromatography, crystallisation, TLC and NMR/IR interpretation.

Inorganic / organometallic / main-group experiments:
Transition-metal complex preparation and characterisation
Dioxygen uptake by a cobalt complex
Synthesis and reactivity of ferrocene under anaerobic conditions
Five-coordinate complexes including vanadyl and chromium/copper systems
Preparation and properties of silicone-based materials and diphenylsilanediol derivatives
These experiments develop coordination chemistry, organometallic and main-group practical methods, including inert-atmosphere techniques, recrystallisation, sublimation, IR, UV-visible and magnetic/spectroscopic analysis.

Spectroscopy / laboratory methods:
Raman spectroscopy: quantitative and qualitative analysis of acetone in acetonitrile
Atomic spectroscopy of sodium emission lines and estimation of ionisation potential
Molecular spectroscopy exercises using supplied spectra and graphical analysis
These extend students’ understanding of atomic structure, molecular vibrations, calibration, data processing and interpretation of spectroscopic measurements.

QSAR/Medicinal Chemistry Workshops:
Gain hands on experience using QSAR models and ligand optimisation
Employing QSAR to analyse small molecule/protein interaction
VR for 3D QSAR.

Learning Objectives

Students will develop a broad range of subject-specific practical and analytical skills across organic, inorganic, physical, computational medicinal and spectroscopic chemistry. These include safe laboratory practice, interpretation of COSHH information, effective pre-laboratory preparation, accurate measurement and sample preparation, and competence in core experimental techniques such as reflux, filtration, recrystallisation, chromatography, rotary evaporation and distillation under reduced pressure.

Students will gain experience in the preparation, purification and characterisation of chemical compounds, including the use and interpretation of TLC, melting point, boiling point, IR, NMR, HPLC and spectroscopic data. The module also develops quantitative data-handling skills, including calibration, graphing, numerical analysis and interpretation of experimental results, together with observational, problem-solving and evaluative skills needed to judge product quality, experimental reliability and sources of error.

In addition, students will strengthen their scientific communication through pre-lab work, post-lab analysis and the presentation of experimental results in an appropriate scientific style, while also developing wider transferable skills in organisation, time management, record keeping and independent practical working.
2 workshops will guide students in data handling and interpretation of spectroscopic techniques using examples relevant to their laboratory learning, including UV, HPLC, NMR, IR, data handling.

Skills

Students will develop a broad range of subject-specific practical and analytical skills across organic, inorganic, physical, computational medicinal and spectroscopic chemistry. These include safe laboratory practice, interpretation of COSHH information, effective pre-laboratory preparation, accurate measurement and sample preparation, and competence in core experimental techniques such as reflux, filtration, recrystallisation, chromatography, rotary evaporation and distillation under reduced pressure.

Students will gain experience in the preparation, purification and characterisation of chemical compounds, including the use and interpretation of TLC, melting point, boiling point, IR, NMR, HPLC and spectroscopic data. The module also develops quantitative data-handling skills, including calibration, graphing, numerical analysis and interpretation of experimental results, together with observational, problem-solving and evaluative skills needed to judge product quality, experimental reliability and sources of error.

In addition, students will strengthen their scientific communication through pre-lab work, post-lab analysis and the presentation of experimental results in an appropriate scientific style, while also developing wider transferable skills in organisation, time management, record keeping and independent practical working.
2 workshops will guide students in data handling and interpretation of spectroscopic techniques using examples relevant to their laboratory learning, including UV, HPLC, NMR, IR, data handling.

Assessment

Course Requirements:
Practical attendance at 80%
Practical report submission 80%
Coursework elements must be passed at 40%.

Assessment Profile
Element type Element weight (%)
1. Coursework* 100%

*a blend of Pre Labs, Post Labs and Skills assessment