The overall goals of this course are to:
- describe the practice of analytical chemistry
- teach the proper use and importance of measurement statistics
- teach proper solution handling and standards preparation
- reinforce the principles of good laboratory practice
- provide a basic understanding of common analytical techniques
- provide guidance on the appropriate choice of technique for a given size & type of sample
This will be achieved through a mixture of highly integrated lectures, tutorials, and laboratory experiments. By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate the following core competencies:
- correctly identify absolute and relative errors, and use significant figures
- identify random and systematic errors, and calculate uncertainties and confidence intervals
- present results correctly, and test for precision and accuracy
- correctly prepare standard solutions and use appropriate calibration methods
- correctly understand and use regression coefficients and the method of “least squares”
- use appropriate software to perform scientific calculations and produce graphs
- be familiar with the correct use of volumetric glassware to prepare solutions and perform titrations
- be familiar with the correct use and operationf of pH and ion-selective electrodes
- be familiar with the correct use and operationf of spectrometers, including UV/visible, FTIR, and flame atomic absoprtion/emission
- be familiar with basic chromatographic theory, and the operation of ion chromatographs for water analysis
- be familiar with good laboratory practice (GLP) and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs)
General Requirements & Expectations
Given the scope of the material and integration of lectures, labs, and tutorials, it is essential that you employ good study habits from the outset in this course. All students are expected to read ahead for both lectures and labs, and to complete all required preparation for the latter. Please read the information and instructions presented in the laboratory manual completely and carefully, answering any pre-lab questions. You will often find yourself working with one or more partners in your demonstrator group; all students are expected to do their fair share of the work (including cleaning up), to take turns using the instruments, and to share all experimental data before leaving the laboratory. You are also expected to be familiar and comply with all relevant safety procedures and policies – these are set out in the lab manual, and further information is available from the Department of Chemistry web site. As a matter of courtesy, you are expected to notify the laboratory instructor and your partner(s) as soon as possible should you be late or absent from the lab for any reason.