Aims and Goals
This unit of study will provide students with the background necessary to understand the molecular basis of materials and transformations. It will enable students to understand the chemical interactions that underlie the properties of materials and provide a solid grounding in Physical and General Chemistry.
Syllabus
A summary of the syllabus is available. Note the order in which the topics are presented may be varied by the lecturer.
Learner Preparation
Students enrolling in this course should have a UAI of 96.4 and a HSC chemistry result in band 5 or 6.
Learning Situations
The learning situations of CHEM1901 are:
- Lectures that cover the core material of the unit.
- Background reading from the recommended text books to support the lecture material.
- Use of on-line resources including computer aided learning modules (ChemCAL), self-help problems and past exam papers.
- Completion of a weekly assignment prior to the tutorial.
- Tutorials which provide an opportunity to discuss any aspects of the preceding week's work and assignment. These will encourage group work and problem solving.
- On-line laboratory pre-work. This includes information on the theory of the experiment, the important experimental details, and an on-line quiz. The on-line quiz consists of 3 - 7 questions and tests your understanding of the theory of the experiment.
- Laboratory work, which consists of a series of experiments, is designed to teach you essential experimental techniques. Some experiments are stand alone and some are supported by the lecture material.
All Chemistry School lecturers are available for consultation by appointment.
Learning Commitments and Contact
CHEM1901 is comprised of three 1 hour lectures each week, one 1 hour tutorial each week and ten 3 hour laboratory sessions over the course of the semester. There are assignments based on problem solving and exercises relating to the practical component of the course to be completed weekly in your own time. Students are required to attend all classes. Timetable information may be found here.
A Study Program incorporating adequate time for the following tasks is strongly advised. This should allow time for:
- Completion of the laboratory pre-work. This is conducted on-line, is compulsory, and forms part of your final assessment.
- Completion of weekly assignments.
- Progressive coverage of the syllabus in step with the lecture series. It is expected that the time spent on private study should roughly match that spent in lectures/tutorials/laboratory classes.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit of study, students will:
- Possess a general knowledge of atomic theory, structure and bonding, chemical energetics, equilibrium and the processes occurring in solution.
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of fundamental processes occurring in General and Physical Chemistry.
- Have developed laboratory manipulative and glassware handling skills.
- Have been introduced to the techniques used in research laboratories.
- Be able to apply chemical principles to problem solving situations.
- Be able to progress to Chemistry 1B (Advanced), CHEM1902.
Assessment
The program of assessment is as follows (with percentage of the overall total mark in brackets):
- Laboratory work (15%) comprising:
- Continual laboratory assessment - including attendance, attitude and post-work (3%).
- On-line laboratory pre-work quizzes (4%).
- A laboratory exercise (3%).
- Write up of an experiment (2%)
- Quantitative analysis task (2%)
- Research exercise (1%)
- Three multiple-choice test papers, given during the semester and based on the material covered during the preceding lectures, tutorials and lab classes. Each contributes equally (15%).
- A short-answer written paper (3 hours, 70%).
You must pass the laboratory course (50% or greater) in order to pass the unit.The date for this examination is:
- Monday, 15 June 2009 at 9.20am (Possible Date)
Director of First Year Studies
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A/Prof Adam Bridgeman is the Director of First Year Studies in Chemistry and is the Unit of Study Coordinator for all CHEM1 units. He can advise you about Chemistry course options, methods of study, how to access chemistry resources, the exams and questions you have about the teaching. Adam is located in room 222, close to Lab C in the First Year area
and may also be contacted by email (a.bridgeman@chem.usyd.edu.au). |
Deputy Director of First Year Studies
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Dr Siggi Schmid is the Laboratory Director and has overall responsibility for the First Year Chemistry labs. If you seek advice on any aspect of the laboratory work or on-line pre-laboratory work, see Siggi in room 223, close to Lab B in the First Year area and may also be contacted by email (s.schmid@chem.usyd.edu.au). |
Chemistry 1 Laboratory HandbookThis is a compulsory purchase for all students, except those with a practical exemption. It will cost approximately $15 and will be sold by the School of Chemistry between the hours of 10.00am - 11.00am and 2.00 - 3.00pm
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TextbookThe following is a highly recommended, but not compulsory, purchase: Blackman, Bottle, Schmid, Mocerino and Wille,This textbook covers the full range of first year Chemistry and will also be extremely useful in second year units. In previous years, we have recommended purchase of both a general and an organic textbook. If you already possess these textbooks because you are repeating a unit, you probably will not need to purchase this new book. If you are a new student, however, we strongly recommended purchasing this new book rather than secondhand editions of the old books. During the year, recommendations may be made concerning reference books. In the main, copies of these books will be available from the Fisher Library - purchase is neither recommended nor required. |