CHEM 324. Analytical Chemistry
Two hours lecture; six hours laboratory. (4)
Prerequisite: CHEM 102
An introduction to statistics of data, quality assurance, experimental design, and calibration with application to volumetric methods of analysis, traditional and instrumental methods of gravimetric analysis, and spectroscopy.
Detailed Description of the Content of the Course
The topics covered in CHEM 324 lecture and practiced in the laboratory are those considered unchanging principles of analytical chemistry applied to real-world scientific problems. These include quality assurance, experimental design, experimental treatment of data, sampling, sample and standards preparation, and calibrations. These fundamentals are then applied to gravimetric analysis, both in the traditional manner (precipitations, solubility, constant mass) and the related instrumental methods (thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry). The fundamentals are also applied to volumetric methods (neutralization, precipitation, complexometric, and ocidation-reduction) in the traditional manner of titrations and by use of instrumentation (potentiometry, voltammetry).
Detailed Description of the Conduct of the Course
The course emphasizes problem solving. Lecture provides time to introduce students to the nature and theory of chemically related problems and an approach to solving these problems including organizing information, analyzing, understanding, and solving the problem. Graded homework problems are assigned to give students ample practice at solving such problems.
Concepts introduced in lecture are then reinforced with real-world problems in the laboratory. Methods and techniques commonly used in the chemical industry are practiced in the laboratory. A notebook is maintained by each student and graded at the completion of each experiment performed. The notebook simulates the legal, complete and intelligible one kept by working chemists. Technical reports are also required for a few experiments.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
After successful completion of Analytical Chemistry, the student will be able to:
- Conduct common gravimetric and volumetric methods of chemical analysis
- Understand equilibrium chemistry and how it can affect a real-world analysis
- Demonstrate good laboratory practices and skills
- Be familiar with statistically valid experimental design and quality assurance
- Utilize common practices of a professional working analytical chemist such as proper record keeping and statistics of collected data.
Assessment of the student's success in the course is based on the grades for four or five tests, the cumulative final exam, assigned homework problems, accuracy of laboratory work, laboratory notebooks, and laboratory reports. The tests, final exam, and homework are used to assess student outcomes 1., 2., and 3. from part D. Laboratory performance and reports are used to assess outcome D4.
Other Course Information
Review and Approval
DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
Reviewed by Walter S. Jaronski, Chair