CVB210 Chemical Measurement Science
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | CVB210 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,680 |
| International unit fee | $5,760 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | CVB210 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Ziqi Sun | ziqi.sun@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The unit introduces students to the principles and methods of making quality measurements in the context of chemical analysis and calibration. Students will gain relevant 'hands-on' experience from the practical and workshop programs, which will enable them to understand the theory in the context of 'real world' examples. The practical component involves a representative examples of wet-chemical and instrumental exercises that provide an introduction to Analytical Chemistry and practical experience for students pursuing any area of Science, Health and Engineering that needs quantitative chemical measurements. Skills developed in the unit will be important for students aiming gain an understanding of the internationally-recognised quality framework for chemical testing and calibration, the ISO/IEC 17025.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Define, describe and calculate what constitutes quality in analytical laboratory measurements.
- Be familiar with, and be able to work effectively and safely, in a modern laboratory with the wet-chemical and basic instrumental apparatus and equipment.
- To be able to carry-out a range of common laboratory measurements and be able to define the quality of those measurements in terms of traceability and uncertainty.
- Develop critical analysis and interpretation skills for evaluation of the quality of your own or other's experimental measurements.
Content
Though the practical program, and associated workshops, you will learn to work effectively with laboratory equipment such as balances and volumetric glassware. The various procedures used in a modern chemical laboratory will be explored as well as the limitations that they present for the resultant quality of measurement.
Once you are familiar with the concept of quality, and procedures used, in the wet-chemical laboratory you will be introduced to basic methods of handling samples, automated and instrumental methods of analytical measurement. Automated methods of analysis will be outlined through the lectures and exemplified through a laboratory exercise. Methods of calibration will be explored through the laboratory and associated workshops. How instrumental calibration and quality are related will be investigated through class-generated laboratory results and workshop exercises.
A range of applications of analytical measurements in industrial process chemistry, and chemometrics, will be introduced through lectures and exemplified by a practical example in the laboratory.
Having exposed you to a range of analytical procedures, calibration strategies, and quality of measurement, you will be in a good position to investigate the composition of common samples using instrumental techniques such as GC (gas chromatography) and GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Lectures will introduce you to a range of instrumental methods which will be exemplified in the laboratory and in the workshops through analysis, interpretation and problem-solving made from the results collected from common samples for minor and trace-level components.
Learning Approaches
Lectures: Weekly (concept focus - as described above). New concepts will first be introduced in lectures and then exemplified in laboratory and workshop sessions.
Laboratory practicals: Six (6) 3hr laboratory practicals fortnightly throughout semester (selected to exemplify the the concepts in the lectures). In the laboratory program you will learn how to handle wet-chemical apparatus effectively and safely and become familiar with a range of instrumental methods and common methods of sample preparation.
Workshops: Six (6) 2hr workshops throughout semester (connected with analysis, interpretation and problem-solving of the results generated in the laboratory program - collaborative learning spaces). In the workshops, you will receive guidance and practice in bridging the gap between knowing and applying the theory and solving measurement problems.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
There will be extensive opportunity to assess your progress in the unit through the laboratory and workshop sessions.
You will get regular feedback on your understanding of the lectures through the quizzes and improve your understanding of key concepts. This will also provide ongoing feedback about your preparation for the final theory exam.
Written feedback on your laboratory reports, which will be annotated and returned to you. The informal atmosphere in the laboratory means that you also will have the opportunity for one-to-one feedback from your demonstrator.
The results you obtain in the practice problems and the regular review and annotation of your completed analysis and interpretation of your experimental work by the lecturer/demonstrator will help you assess your progress.
Except the final examination, assessment items will be returned to you; selected practice problem answers will be provided on Canvas. Practice examples and worked solutionswill be available to guide your learning and self-test of your progress. All staff in the unit will be available for individual or small group consultation from time to time.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment in this unit comprises both formative and summative elements. Formative assessment will take the form of regular short in-class quizzes, practice problems and worked solutions, return of your marked and annotated practical reports. Summative assessment is a combination of problem-solving tasks, written reports and submission of a portfolio of self-review of the laboratory exercises, and supervised written theory examination.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Portfolio
Laboratory/Practical, problem-solving task
1.You will be required to undertake six (6) 3-hour sessions of supervised practical work for which you will prepare written reports, comprising both laboratory and post-experiment components (part submitted at start of lab and part by end of day of the workshop in the following week). A self-review of your laboratory experiences will be part of the final report.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Quiz/Test
One (1) in-class quiz
Formative quizzes will be held in class (in or around) Week 11 on theory covered up to that point, the results of which will provide important feedback about the depth of understanding that you have developed in the first part of the unit.
Assessment: Examination (written)
The end of semester theory exam will cover content from all theory components of the unit. It will comprise multiple-choice questions and questions for which a written solution will be required.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
D. Brynn Hibbert, The article: 'Metrological traceability: I make it 42; you make it 42; but is it the same 42?' Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 2006, Volume 11, pp 543-549 (freely available online).
Gary D. Christian, Purnendu K. Dasgupta and Kevin A. Schug; Analytical Chemistry, Wiley, 7th Edition, 2014
Stephanie Bell, Measurement Good Practice Guide (A beginner's guide to uncertainty of measurement), publication of the National Physical Laboratory (UK), 2005. (freely available online)
Recommended text(s)
James N. Miller, Jane C. Miller; Statistics and chemometrics for analytical chemistry, Harlow : Prentice Hall, 2010. Edition 6th ed, 2010
Risk Assessment Statement
The professional practice of Chemistry requires the safe handling of Hazardous Substances. A practical laboratory program is an important part of this unit, so you will be required to handle such substances. The chemicals and procedures used in this unit are deemed to be appropriate for students at this level of the course. You will undertake compulsory formal pre-laboratory assessment in Health and Safety matters relevant to the laboratory and QUT buildings in general. Health and Safety information and precautions relevant to the particular experiments are clearly explained in the Practical Manual. Having been provided with this advice, it is your responsibility to comply with all instructions, for the safety of yourself, your fellow students and staff.