Chemistry-2X and Chemistry-2Y
Class Head: Dr. A. Freer
Class Handbook
CHEMISTRY-2
Modules 2X and 2Y
Class Handbook 1996-97
Welcome back to the Department as a member of the Chemistry-2 Class. Whether you are doing just
one module or both, we hope you will find these courses stimulating and the staff friendly and
approachable.
In Chemistry-1 you received a general introduction to the foundations of the subject. During your
second year you will build on this foundation and commence a more serious study of chemistry which
you will undoubtedly find more rigorous and challenging. Nevertheless, in designing the Chemistry-2
Modules our main objective has been to produce courses which are interesting, enjoyable and useful,
not only for those who wish to proceed to Honours in Chemistry, but also for those who intend other
degree courses.
Successful completion of Chemistry-2 (2X and 2Y) will allow you to proceed to Honours, BSc in
Chemistry or the new MSci degree course. During term 2 we will give you details of the various
courses in Chemistry-3H and -4H, invite one or two representatives from industry to explain the types
of employment which are available for Chemistry Honours graduates, and describe briefly the wide
range of research being pursued within the Department. Those of you who proceed to Chemistry-4H
will have the opportunity to undertake a research project within one of the research groups.
We are sure you will find that, as you explore the subject in greater breadth and depth, you will begin
to realise how far-reaching chemistry becomes and how fascinating it can be. It is our intention to
make your second year both enjoyable and successful. If you have any problems please inform your
tutor immediately, or go to Dr. Freer, your class head, or to the appropriate lecturer so that they can
help you - that is our job and that is why we are here. But we can only successfully help those who
bring their problems to us before it is too late.
Finally, we would ask you to read the contents of this booklet and associated documentation very
carefully. All sections are important, but we should draw your attention in particular to those sections
dealing with "Course Completion" and "Absence". It is most important that Dr. Freer is kept fully
informed of any illness or other extenuating circumstances which might affect you during the year, so
that these can be taken into account in assessing your overall performance at the end of the year.
Professor J.M. Winfield
Head of Department
The following applies to both
Chem-2X and Chem-2Y modules
unless otherwise stated.
ORGANISATION:
The class is organised by Dr. Andrew Freer (Class Head), with the help of Dr. A.C. Benniston and
Dr. D.G. Morris. The class secretary is Miss Jane McAllister, who will be able to help you with many
routine administrative problems.
CLASS CERTIFICATES:
Students may only sit the degree examination if they hold a valid class certificate ("class ticket")
showing commitment to the course. To gain this, you are normally expected to:-
(a) attend lectures
(b) perform satisfactorily in the mid-session class examination
(c) have a good attendance record in laboratories and tutorials
(d) achieve a satisfactory standard in the laboratory and tutorial work.
Students who do not meet these expectations are at risk of not being awarded a class certificate. Class
certificates are valid for three years.
EXAMINATIONS:
For each module there will be one mid-session (Week 13) class examination and one final degree
examination (May/June).
The mid-session class examination is scheduled for Thursday afternoon of Week 13. It will be in the
form of one 1½ hour paper per module (i.e. 2 x 1½ hours for those doing both modules), and will
include compulsory questions on Term 1 work.
The degree examination will be in the form of one 3 hour paper per module (i.e. 2 x 3 hour for those
doing both modules). It will include compulsory questions on Term 2/3 topics, plus a choice of
questions from work across the entire year. There are no exemptions.
Important: The final degree mark/assessment is made up from three components:-
10% from assessment of laboratory performance throughout the year
40% of the mid-session class exam mark
50% of the final degree examination mark
Note in particular the importance of the class examination. This forms a major component (40%) of
your final assessment, and if you do not do your best here you will have to put in significantly more
effort for the degree exam. You don't get a second chance with the class exam. It is therefore vitally
important for you to plan your work right from the start with this in mind. Extenuating circumstances
(e.g. illness) at exam times must be reported to Dr. Freer at the time, and supported by a medical
certificate or other appropriate documentation.
LECTURES: Lectures are held daily at 11:00 a.m. in the Graham Kerr (Zoology) Building, Room
216 (LT1). Please be seated by 11:05. The lecture timetable and list of topics (8 lectures each) with
lecturers' names and room numbers are enclosed.
NOTICEBOARD: Class notices are displayed on the boards in the main ground floor corridor of the
Chemistry (Joseph Black) Building.
ABSENCE: Absences from any part of the class work should be reported and explained to Dr. Freer.
Medical certificates should be submitted to Dr. Green's office in the Boyd Orr Building.
DISABILITY: Students are invited to discuss (in confidence) with Dr. Freer any particular problem
or difficulty they may have.
TEXTBOOKS: Students should obtain their own copies of:-
1. McMurray: "Organic Chemistry"
(or Morrison & Boyd: "Organic Chemistry")
2. Atkins: "The Elements of Physical Chemistry"
3. Shriver, Atkins & Langford: "Inorganic Chemistry"
(or Cotton, Wilkinson & Gaus: "Basic Inorganic Chemistry" )
Also recommended:-
4. Webster: "Chemical Bonding Theory"
5. West: "Basic Solid State Chemistry"
6. Scott: "Beginning Mathematics for Chemistry"
7. Tebbutt: "Basic Mathematics for Chemists"
Other books held in the library will be recommended occasionally for consultation. It is also worth
buying a set of Orbit molecular models, and these may be taken into examinations if you find them
useful.
LABORATORIES:
Practical work is divided into three main laboratory periods: physical, organic, and inorganic, each of
5 weeks duration. Attendance is compulsory. For students taking both modules the class is divided
into two groups: one attending laboratories on Monday & Friday afternoons, the other on Wednesday
& Thursday afternoons. The allocation to these groups is arranged in conjunction with the organisers
of the other courses you are taking. (Intending Chemical Physics students should see Dr. Freer
regarding their laboratory arrangements.) Single module students will attend one afternoon per week,
as arranged. Normal laboratory hours are 2:00-5:00 p.m. A charge (£12) will be made to help cover
the cost of laboratory manuals, handouts, notebooks, folders, graph paper, and other course materials.
All chemical substances present a certain risk. Learning how to handle them is part of your training.
Information and safe handling procedures are provided in the laboratory manuals.
SAFETY GLASSES: These must be worn not only during practical work, but whenever you pass
through any laboratory to visit a staff member, e.g. for tutorials. In reality this means that you should
bring your safety glasses with you whenever you visit the Department. (Most students were issued
with a personal pair of safety glasses in Year 1. If yours are lost or damaged, replacements - costing
£3 - may be bought from the technicians in charge of laboratories.)
WORKSHOPS (Problem Sessions): These will be held occasionally, in place of lectures, to practise
problem solving and to seek advice. An attendance record will be kept.
TUTORIALS: Tutorials (four per year in each module) will be held regularly at times to be arranged.
You will be assigned a single staff tutor who you should contact to arrange convenient times for
meetings. There will be work to be prepared in advance, which will be assessed by the tutor and which
will form the basis for one-to-one or small group discussion. Attendance and performance records will
be kept.
CALCULATORS: Simple, unprogrammed calculators may be used in Class and Degree
examinations. The University does not provide spare calculators or batteries.
FIRE ALARM/EVACUATION PROCEDURES:
When the alarm sounds, please leave the building calmly but quickly by the nearest available
approved route. Once outside the building you should assemble at the far side of University Place.
Please move speedily away from the doors and Departmental access roads to clear the way for fire
appliances.
CHEMISTRY CAREERS: Information on Honours courses, research and employment opportunities
in chemistry and related subjects will be presented during laboratory periods in Week 18.
CLASS REPRESENTATIVES: Two members of the class will be elected to represent you on the
Staff-Student Committee and for liaison between staff and students.
INDUSTRIAL VISITS: We hope to arrange some short site visits for small groups of students to
local chemical and biotechnology companies. These will be co-ordinated via your Class
Representatives. More details will be given nearer the time.
And finally....... "Passing an exam is not a license to forget.... !" (Anon.)
We will do our utmost to help you understand and enjoy (and pass !) these courses so that you may
become professional, intellectually independent and innovative scientists in your own right. But you
must fulfil your part of the bargain too. In particular, we will be building on knowledge and skills
acquired in previous years and other courses. If we seem to be assuming too much, then please tell us.
But please also use your notes and textbooks, and talk amongst yourselves to revise previous work
where necessary.
CHEM-2 LAB GRADES: Guidance for students
Lab grades are determined by various factors, including the number of experiments completed and
marks awarded for written work recorded from each section.
There is no "minimum" number of experiments - you are expected to attend all laboratory sessions,
though you will be given credit for reasonable explained absence due to illness or other circumstance.
It is your responsibility to ensure that lab reports are submitted for marking on time - usually on
completion of each experimental exercise. Credit may not be given for work handed in late.
The overall lab grade, determined by performance in all three sections, contributes up to 10% of your
final degree examination mark (and is also taken into account when awarding class tickets). Grades
and their contribution to the degree exam marks are as follows:-
Grade Contribution (%) to degree exam
A (Excellent) 9-10
B (Very Good) 7-8
C (Satisfactory) 5-6
D (Disappointing) 3-4
E (Must Improve) 1-2
F (Class Ticket unlikely) 0
Rough guidance for the sort of typical performance required to achieve such grades are as follows:-
Number of and
Grade experiments Average
per section* Mark/10
A >8 >8 [* Half this for single
B 8 7-8 module students.]
C 6-7 6-7
D 5-6 5-6
E < 5 -
F < 3 -
Notice to Students - Summative Assessment: All feedback on coursework used in assessment,
including mid-year class exam/class test marks and laboratory grades, is strictly provisional for your
guidance only, and is subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and external examiners at the
end of the academic year. You must retain all copies of assessed work (lab notebooks, exam scripts,
etc.) and have them available for inspection by the examiners if requested at the end of the year. (You
will be given reasonable advance warning should this be required.)
CHEMISTRY-2X/Y STAFF 1995-96:
Room No.*
x1 BW Chemical Bonds Dr. B.C. Webster A5-20
x2 JW Main Group Prof. J.M. Winfield A4-08
x3 ACB Modern Molecules Dr. A.C. Benniston A4-32c
x4 GK Stereochemistry Prof. G.W. Kirby C4-04
x5 CG Kinetics Dr. C.J. Gilmore A5-27
x6 RC Transition Metals Dr. R.J. Cross A4-32d
x7 DM Reaction Pathways Dr. D.G. Morris C4-16
y1 RH Spectroscopy Dr. R.A. Hill A4-35
y2 AC Thermodynamics Dr. A. Cooper B4-20c
y3 DJR Chem. Ecology Prof. D.J. Robins C4-05
y4 JDC Aromatic Chemistry Prof. J.D. Connolly C5-19
y5 DS Elemental Chem. Dr. D. Stirling A4-38
y6 AL Biophysical Chem. Dr. A. Lapthorn A4-15
y7 RCH Organic Synthesis Dr. R.C. Hartley C4-11
Class Head: Dr. A. Freer (330 5945) A4-13
Tutorial Administration: Dr. A.C. Benniston A4-32c
Class Secretary: Miss Jane McAllister A4-42
Laboratories: Staff Senior Technician
Physical A3-06 Dr. A. Freer Mrs. M. Nutley
Organic C3-13a Dr. D. Morris Mr. A. Burns
Inorganic A3-25a Dr. D. Stirling Mrs. R. Kennedy
* All room numbers refer to the Chemistry (Joseph Black) Building.
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