Laboratory Program

The laboratory work component of each unit consists of a series of ten 3-hour sessions, one per week for selected weeks throughout the semester. Your first laboratory session occurs in week 1 or 2 of the semester (depending on your unit) and includes an introductory talk on laboratory procedure and safety. During this session you will also be allocated a work-space and locker. You will need to know your laboratory work-space allocation to register properly for the on-line pre-work.

The laboratory work is in three parts:

On-line pre-work, which gives background information about each experiment and incorporates a short quiz. This is to be completed in your own time before you come into the lab.
The experimental part, conducted in the lab under the guidance of a demonstrator who will help you in all aspects of the practical work and its underlying theory, and will check your results and answers at regular intervals during the session.
The post-work which is a short follow up exercise, often using the results you have obtained.

Assessment of Laboratory Skills

15% of your final mark for each Unit of Study comes from the practical course. In addition, you must pass the practical course to pass the unit of study. Students must attends a minimum of 90% of the scheduled practical sessions. Attendance records are kept. If you fail to wear adequate eye protection and footwear and a laboratory coat, you will be marked absent. Students missing more than one laboratory class may be given an AF ("Absent Fail") grade in their unit of study.

You must pass the laboratory course (50% or greater) in order to pass the unit.
Please read the information on what to do if you are unable to attend a lab session.

For CHEM1002, CHEM1102, CHEM1902, CHEM1109 and CHEM1612, the breakdown of marks is:

On-line pre-work and quiz (4%)
Attitude / attendance / post-work (3%)
Practical exercise (3%)
Write up of an experiment (2%)
Quantitative analysis task (2%)
Research exercise (1%)

For CHEM1101, the breakdown of marks is:

Continual laboratory assessment - including attendance, attitude and attendance at the group discussion (3%)
Logbook (9%):
- Overall presentation (2%)
- 2 exercises to be marked on clarity and completeness (2 x 3.5%):
  - - Clarity – the exercise is clear and well laid out. It is legible.
  - - Completeness – all data, observations, graphs, discussion and any lab samples etc. have been included.
Quantitative analysis task (2%)
Research exercise (1%)

Chemistry 1 Laboratory Handbook

This is a compulsory purchase for all students, except those doing CHEM1903 and CHEM1904 and 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

during the second week of lectures during laboratory registration
from Monday 16 March onwards from the First Year Enquiry Office.

The Handbook contains all the information you require for the laboratory sessions and provides space for the recording of your results.

The experiments are not necessarily done in numerical order - to make sure you know which experiments are programmed for each week, you need to consult the timetable in the information and assignment booklet issued in your first lecture.

Links to pdf files of the content of the laboratory handbook are given here:

Safety Regulations,
W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7,
E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6,
E10, E11, E12, E13, E14, E15, E16, E17, E18, E19,
E20, E21, E22, E23, E24, E25, E26, E27, E28, E29,
E30, E31, E32, E35 E37, E39
Appendix A1, A2, A3, A4, A5.

Note that standard laboratory practice requires the handbook you use in the laboratory to be held together by some sort of binder. Loose pages are not acceptable.

What you need to bring each week

All chemical apparatus necessary for the practical course will be provided by the School of Chemistry. You need to bring:

A copy of the experiment(s): preferably the Laboratory Handbook
Eye Protection - a pair of safety glasses (obtainable when you buy your laboratory book or from the Union for about $5.00).
The wearing of eye protection is compulsory at all times whilst you are in the laboratory. If you fail to wear adequate eye protection, you will be asked to leave and will receive a fail for that laboratory session. There are no exceptions.
A limited number of spare pairs of safety glasses will be available for hire from the Service Room for a non-refundable fee of $2.00. You will only be allowed to hire safety glasses a maximum of two times. After that, you will be asked to leave and will receive a fail for that session.

At the discretion of the Laboratory Supervisor, normal spectacles, not sunglasses, may be an acceptable alternative but only if they are of an adequate size - see lab notice board for minimum dimensions.
Footwear - covered footware must be worn during all lab classes. Students wearing open sandals, thongs and those with bare feet will not be permitted in the laboratory.
If you fail to wear adequate footwear, you will be asked to leave and will receive a fail for that laboratory session. There are no exceptions.

Laboratory Coat - wearing of a laboratory coat is compulsory. This must meet Australian Safety Standards: it must be white, long-sleeved, be made of cotton or a cotton/polyester mix and be long enough to offer adequate protection.

If you fail to wear a laboratory coat, have it unbuttoned or have the sleeves rolled up, you will be asked to leave and will receive a fail for that laboratory session. There are no exceptions.

Laboratory coats and glasses are available on campus in the Co-Op Bookshop and in the Wentworth Newsagency, as well as in many hardware stores. Alternatively, you can purchase a 'Faculty of Science' branded coat as well as lab glasses online via the eStore.

A hair band - if you have long hair, you must tie it back
A calculator.

Laboratory on-line pre-work

CHEM1903 and CHEM1904 students do not need to complete on-line pre-work.

You must complete the on-line pre-work for the relevant experiments before the laboratory session. The on-line pre-work can be accessed via the Internet, either from one of the Uni Access Centres or from home. To enter the web site:

Log on to USYD eLearning (WebCT) (help with using USYD eLearning)
Follow the link to your Chemistry Unit
Follow the link to 'Laboratory material'.

This will be explained fully in your introductory lab session. Information essential to your understanding of the experiment can be found in both the on-line pre-work and in the introduction to the experiment in the Laboratory Handbook.

Completing the on-line pre-works and associated quizzes forms part of your overall assessment for the semester.

Exemption From the Laboratory Program

There are no automatic exemptions from the practical course for any students.

This page contains information on laboratory exemption in the normal semester units. For information on laboratory exemption for the Summer School units, see the 'Laboratory Exemption in Summer School' page.

If you have previously taken and passed* a relevant laboratory course at The University of Sydney, you may be able to claim exemption from the laboratory course. If this is granted, you will carry the laboratory mark from your previous unit and will not be able to improve it. To be granted exemption, you must apply by filling out a form from the First Year Enquiry Office.

Note that exemption from the laboratory does not effect course fees, in Summer School or in normal semester.

Consult the laboratory page on your unit web area for information on which previous laboratory courses are relevant for your unit.

Please contact the First Year Enquiry Office if you require further information - if you lost your laboratory mark, for example.

Note: You will have been informed of your laboratory mark by email at the end of your previous course. If you have lost this information, please contact us.

Laboratory program

A list of the experiments for your unit, with links to the relevent pre-lab information, is available on your unit web area:

Arrangements for students on the Special Studies Program(CHEM1903 and CHEM1904) will be announced in lectures.

What happens if I am unable to attend a lab session?

Students who are unable to attend a laboratory session should do ONE of the following:

Catch up the missed work by attending one of the other laboratory sessions that week. To ensure that your attendance is officially recorded you must complete an OUT-OF-SESSION LABORATORY ATTENDANCE form at the First Year Enquiry Office, before the commencement of that session.
You may apply for Special Consideration (which is not granted routinely and requires supporting documentation) if you miss a laboratory session because of illness or misadventure. To apply for Special Consideration, go to the Faculty of Science website, and follow the procedures outlined. Applications must be submitted within seven (7) days of the assessment affected.

Any students who have more than one unexplained laboratory absence during the semester may be failed. Those students who arrive after 10.15 a.m. or 2.15 p.m. or who leave before 12.45 p.m. or 4.45 p.m. may be marked absent.

Laboratory Exemptions