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Unit outline_

CHEM1012: Fundamentals of Chemistry 1B

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Chemistry transforms the way we live. It provides the basis for understanding biological, geological and atmospheric processes, how medicines work, the properties of materials and substances, how beer is brewed, and for obtaining forensic evidence. This unit of study builds upon your prior knowledge of chemistry to further develop your knowledge and skills in chemistry for broad application. You will learn about organic chemistry reactions, structural determination, nitrogen chemistry, industrial processes, kinetics, electrochemistry, thermochemistry, phase behaviour, solubility equilibrium and chemistry of metals. You will further develop experimental design, conduct and analysis skills in chemistry through experiments that ask and answer questions about the chemical nature and processes occurring around you. Through enquiry, observation and measurement, you will better understand natural and physical world and will be able to apply this understanding to real-world problems and solutions. Fundamentals of Chemistry 1B is built on a satisfactory prior knowledge of Fundamentals of Chemistry 1A. Compared to the mainstream Chemistry 1B, the theory component of this unit begins with more fundamental concepts, and does not cover, or goes into less detail about some topics. Progression to intermediate chemistry from this unit requires completion of an online supplementary course.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemistry Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
CHEM1XX1
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CHEM1002 or CHEM1102 or CHEM1902 or CHEM1904 or CHEM1108 or CHEM1112 or CHEM1912 or CHEM1992
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Stephen George-Williams, stephen.george-williams@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Examination
Online exam
45% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8
Online task Pre-laboratory quizzes
Open book online Canvas quizzes covering laboratory theory and safety
4.5% Multiple weeks 15-30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO5 LO4
Small continuous assessment Laboratory Log Book
a record of observations
3% Multiple weeks 1-2 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO7 LO6
Skills-based evaluation In-laboratory assessment
3x competency (3x alternative assessments for RE)
4.5% Multiple weeks Varied
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO6
Online task Checkpoint Quiz 1
Online open book Canvas quiz
5% Week 04 25 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO2
Assignment Spectroscopy Assignment
Canvas assignment
10% Week 05 2 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Online task Checkpoint Quiz 2
Online open book Canvas quiz
5% Week 08 25 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO2
Assignment Mid-semester post-laboratory assessment
A laboratory report
4% Week 08 Varied
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO1 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8
Online task Checkpoint Quiz 3
Online open book Canvas quiz
5% Week 12 25 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO2
Assignment End of semester post-laboratory assessment
A research poster
4% Week 13 Varied
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO1 LO4 LO7 LO8
Online task Lecture Quizzes
multiple choice quizzes on Canvas based on a pre-lecture video
10% Weekly ~15 minutes each week
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO2
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Lecture quizzes: Weekly online quizzes covering the topics in the lecture course. These quizzes are designed to help you develop your understanding of key topics and to give you continuous feedback. Each quiz is available for 1 week and you will gain maximum benefit by completing each before the first lecture of the week. You can have as many attempts at each quiz as you like within the period it is available. Your highest mark will be recorded. The first assessed quiz is the week 3 lecture quiz. Your top ten quizzes will be counted towards your final grade.
  • Checkpoint quizzes: The quiz involves 10 multiple choice questions and will be held during the assigned week as an online open book Canvas quiz. A sample quiz will be made available during the previous week and this should be consulted for the topics and style of the questions in the quiz. 
  • Spectroscopy Problem Solving Assignment: An online research task based on workshops in the tutorials involving structure determination of organic molecules from IR, UV and NMR spectroscopy. The structure determination section is only assessed through this assignment: it is not re-assessed in the tutorial quizzes or examination.
  • Examination: The final examination covers the whole of the lecture course and is made up of short answer questions. No laboratory work is examinable. 
  • Pre-Laboratory Quizzes: Available under the Laboratory Program Canvas site. Note that these quizzes must be completed before you arrive to complete a given experiment.
  • Laboratory Log Book: The logbook is a record of observations and hypotheses. Your highest six logbooks will be counted towards your final grade.
  • In-laboratory assessment: Key laboratory skills completed and assessed during the laboratory sessions. Consideration should also be given to safety, cleanliness, and timeliness.
  • Post-laboratory assessment: One research poster and scientific laboratory report due in weeks 8 and 13.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Laboratory weeks 3-12, Blended online and on-campus program, see the lab canvas page for details Science laboratory (27 hr)  
Week 01 Organic chemistry 1: Introduction and arrow mechanisms Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 02 Organic chemistry 2: Substitution and elimination reactions Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 03 Organic chemistry 3: Structure determination Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 04 Organic chemistry 4: Reactions of alcohols, amines & carbonyl containing compounds Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 05 Organic chemistry wrap-up & kinetics Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 06 Nitrogen chemistry Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 07 Industrial chemistry & electrochemistry Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 08 Electrochemistry Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 09 Batteries, corrosion & intermolecular forces Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 10 The gas law, physical states & phase diagrams Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 11 Crystal structures & solubility equilibria Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 12 Coordination complexes Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 13 Revision Lecture (3 hr)  
Weekly Weekly 1 hour tutorials follow the lecture content. Tutorial (13 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the concepts, language and symbolism of organic and inorganic chemistry
  • LO2. understand organic and inorganic transformations, how they relate to structure and how they can be manipulated in nature and nanotechnology
  • LO3. perform safe laboratory manipulations and to handle glassware
  • LO4. find and analyse information and judge its reliability and significance
  • LO5. communicate scientific information appropriately both orally and through written work
  • LO6. engage in team and group work for scientific investigations and for the process of learning
  • LO7. gain a sense of responsibility and independence as a learner and as a scientist
  • LO8. demonstrate basic skills in computing, numeracy and data handling.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Altered lab program and altered weekly quizzes.

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

  • No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances 
  • A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory 
  • Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories 
  • In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door 
  • First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory 
  • As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.