6 ECTS credits
155 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1015347BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
Topics covered in the part "Chemistry" (both in the lecture and in the exercises) are : crystal structure and the Born-Haber cycle (ionic compounds), bonding in transition metal complexes, Radioactive series, Eyring's "Transition State" theory, phase equilibria for systems with two components and studied on the basis of the Gibbs phase rule, transport numbers, a chapter on 'Light and Chemistry'...
In the practical course, attention is paid on the one hand to phase equilibria (azeotropy, eutexia, ebullioscopy) and on the other hand to more analytical-chemical topics (iodometry, complexometry, gravimetry,
As far as the section "Communication and computer skills in chemistry" is concerned, the content is :
I. Communication skills : Introduction - "scientific writing" (General aspects - The scientific text (the essay - The scientific article - The scientific literature) - Oral presentations (Introduction - Planning your presentation - Contents - Some practical tips for your presentation)
II. Computer skills : basic concepts, software (Presentation of information - Analysis of data - Calculations), Molecular modeling (The steric energy - Force fields - Computational aspects - A case study : heat of formation of cyclohexane)
WPO :
In an initial series of sessions, students make their oral presentations in front of the entire group of students. After each presentation there is a discussion during which feedback is given on the presentation. Aspects that are taken into account are: how did they find their own presentation? Did the message come across to the audience? What was the degree of difficulty of the subject ? How was it approached?
In the continuation of the WPO (exercises with computer) we try to give the students experience in solving scientific problems with the help of the computer, with a strong emphasis on applications with which the future chemists have a high affinity. Students are taught to develop a logical sequence of thinking steps when solving a problem. This section largely includes the study of the basic concepts of mathematical operations, performed with a spreadsheet, and scientific programming, using the program Matlab.
The lecture notes are incorporated in P. Geerlings, "Chemistry: construction of matter and chemical reactions and Complements of Chemistry" - VUB (3 volumes).
Basic references: B.M. Mahan and R.J. Myers, "University Chemistry", Fourth Edition, Benjamin Cummings Co, Menlo Park, 1987 together with the references for the Basic Course .
Course notes are provided for the "Communication and Computer Skills in Chemistry" section.
The practical exercises dealing with the spreadsheet are inspired by B. V. Liengme, "A Guide to Microsoft Excel 2016 for Scientists and Engineers," Butterworth Heineman, Oxford, 2019. A practical guide to using a spreadsheet will be made available through the learning platform.
The programming exercises will use the program Matlab and are partly inspired by B. D. Hahn, "Essential Matlab for Scientists and Engineers," Butterworth Heineman, Oxford, 2019.
The transparencies and presentation used during the lecture are available electronically on the learning platform.
In the course Complements of Chemistry, select chapters from the courses
Chemistry: Construction of Matter and Chemical Reactions I and II (IDs 6435 and 6436) are explored in depth. The more quantitative aspects that are more strongly emphasized here provide optimal preparation for the more diversified chemistry courses in the senior years. Great care is taken in the way these additions are incorporated into the basic course, so that both courses ultimately come across as a whole. In fact, only one lecture dictation is issued for both course sections. The chapters are spread over the two semesters, but care is taken to ensure that there is sufficient time to process each one before starting the extension in the Supplements and to reintroduce the basic problem of the chapter concerned. The rational approach and insightful teaching of the basic course are continued here.
For the seminar exercises and laboratory sessions, the same philosophy is followed as for the Basic Courses "Chemistry: construction of matter and chemical reactions I and II" .
In one part of this course section (6 hrs HOC and 13 hrs WPO) attention is given to "Communication and computer skills in chemistry". The overall aim of this component is to actively introduce students to the various aspects of computer use in a chemistry context, so that they become familiar with its use in data processing and reporting during the remainder of their training.
Both during chemistry training and during professional practice, transferring information to others is of great importance. This transfer usually takes place via reports and publications but also via oral presentations supported by a computer slide show. Optimal transfer of information required a good structuring of the offered material and also a good alignment with the target group. In the first component, "Communication Skills", the aim is to familiarize the students with the display and communication of (chemical) information in a structured and well-organized manner, with special attention to oral presentations.
Scientists spend a large part of their time processing and analyzing data and information, looking for connections and representing them in different ways to better understand them. The computer plays an indisputably important role in this, and in the Bachelor's and Master's programs in Chemistry and in the professional environment of the chemist, the computer has become an indispensable tool. The second part, "Computer Skills", aims to introduce the student to the use of the computer in solving concrete chemical problems. This also includes an introduction to some numerical methods and scientific programming.
Final Competencies
In terms of theory, exercises and lab practice, these coincide with those of the Chemistry: construction of matter and chemical reactions I and II course units (IDs 6435 and 6436).
For the Communication and Computer Skills component, the final competencies are:
- The student acquires a basis for using ICT in communicating information and solving a scientific question
- The student acquires a basis for communication and reporting of scientific data, both written and oral.
- The student can search for and interpret new basic knowledge on topics related to chemistry (on "beginner's level").
- The student can translate the solution of a problem into an algorithm and then code this algorithm.
- The student is able to reflect on his/her written/global language use within an academic context.
- The student can adapt his/her written/global language use to the expected language level of academic Dutch
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The assessment consists of the following assignment categories:
Exam Other determines 100% of the final grade
Within the category Exam Other, the following assignments must be completed:
- weighted average with a weighting factor of 1 and thus 100% of the total final grade.
Explanation: see additional info concerning evaluation
Additional info concerning evaluation
The global final grade for this part of the course is composed of a sub-item for "theory" (which represents 50% of the global final grade) and a sub-item for "laboratory" (which represents 25% of the global final grade) and a sub-item for "Communication and computer skills in chemistry" (which represents 25% of the global final grade).
Theory
The partial grade for "theory" is based on the student's score for the written exam.
In a written exam, which is identical for all students, many small open-ended questions (i.e., no multiple choice) on both theory and exercises attempt to provide an overall picture of knowledge and understanding of the material.
Laboratory
The grade for "laboratory", which counts for 25% in the final assessment, is based for 50% on the continuous evaluation during the laboratory sessions (daily work: preparations, lab attitude and execution, written reporting) and seminars and for 50% on questions added to the written exam "Theory".
Participation in the laboratory sessions is mandatory. Incomplete participation in the laboratory exercises will result in a reduction of the grade for this section depending on the percentage of absences at the laboratory sessions. 30% unexcused absences or more at the laboratory sessions will automatically result in a 0/20 for the permanent evaluation grade and 0/20 for the overall "laboratory" grade.
For the laboratory sessions there is no possibility for a second sitting; only the theory part that was added to the written exam can be taken again in the second sitting. The score acquired for the permanent evaluation part, which is evaluated in the course of the academic year, is taken over from the first session.
Communication and computer skills in chemistry
For the section "Communication and computer skills in chemistry" two assignments will have to be carried out individually by each of the students during the academic year (the obtained grades on the assignments will be taken into account for 25 % of the total grade for this course unit). In the first assignment the students have to choose a chemistry-related subject, look up information on this subject themselves and give an oral presentation of about 15 min. using the computer. Extra attention will also be paid to the expected use of language during oral presentations and written reports.
In the second assignment the students have to solve a problem with the spreadsheet and report about this in writing.
Permitted failures
Check in the additional OER of your faculty whether a permitted fail is possible for this course unit.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Chemistry: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: geografie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: fysica (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: wiskunde (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: ingenieurswetenschappen (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)