6 ECTS credits
155 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1015508ANR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.
Ch8 Properties of (aqueous) solutions
Ch9 Acid-base equilibria in aqueous solutions
Ch10 Solubility and precipitation reactions in aqueous medium
Ch11 Chemical thermodynamics
Ch12 Electrochemistry.
Seminars: problem solving sessions about all chapters.
Lab sessions: Kinetics, Electrical conductance of aqueous solutions, acid-base, and precipitation titrations. Qualitative analysis of anions and cations.
A complete text including the exercises (problems, numerical results and detailed solutions of selected problems) has been edited by the Dienst Uitgaven V.U.B. : P. GEERLINGS : Chemie:bouw van de materie en chemische reacties en Aanvullingen van Chemie (3 volumes). Further references are cited in this text.
A basic reference is:
P.W. Atkins, L. Jones & L. Laverman: "Chemical Priciples.The Quest for Insight" 7th Edition, W.H. Freeman and Co, New York, 2016.
Handouts of the slides used during the lectures are available in electronic version through the Canvas platform.
Learning Aims
The basic knowledge which has been built up during the first part of the chemistry course "Chemie: bouw van de materie en chemische reacties I", the physical chemistry, is gradually applied in the study of inorganic compounds and their reactions (acid-base, redox reactions in aqueous medium). Thermodynamics focuses on the endo/exotherm and spontaneous character of reactions and reinforces the study of chemical equilibrium in Chemie I. Throughout the course a systematic, rational approach has been pursued. Understanding is far more important than encyclopeadical knowledge; by far the most importance is paid to the structuring of the data. Memorizing the course is clearly not the object; it should be minimalized. During the "seminars" (guided problem sessions) and the lab sessions, the concepts that were introduced during the theoretical course are practised and illustrated. In the lab sessions the phenomena discussed in the lectures are "observed" and their characteristics are measured. Particular attention is devoted to critical analysis of the results and to adequately reporting them. Working in the lab taking care of safety rules is an evident point of interest. Theory and practice - lectures, seminars and the lab course are maximally integrated.
Competences
Having a basic knowledge of and insight into the relation between the atomic/molecular world and the macrosopic properties of matter and the most important reaction types in inorganic chemistry.
Having the ability to apply the basics of thermodynamics in estimating the exo/endothermicity and the spontaneity of reactions.
Showing a critical attitude towards the models used.
Solving simple problems using in a correct way concepts and laws, with correct numerical computations and a critical attitude towards the results.
Work is performed both as an individual or as a group member.
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 final mark for this course is composed out of two partial scores, a score on “theory” (70% of the overall mark) and a partial score on “laboratory” (30% of the overall mark).
If, for the part on “theory” or the part on “laboratory”, a score of 7/20 or less was obtained, the final score for the course will not be higher than 07/20.
Theory
The score for the part on “theory” is composed of the partial scores of the student for the written and oral examination.
In a written exam paper (accounting for 2/3 or 66.6% of the mark on “theory”), identical for all students, it is attempted to obtain a global view of knowledge and insight in the subject by means of a lot of small open questions (theory as well as problems). During the oral examination (accounting for 1/3 or 33.3% of the mark on “theory”), a few days later, this view is refined through a discussion concerning theoretical questions after the student has had the occasion for a written preparation. Synthetic, analytic and problem solving skills are assessed in this way.
If a score of 7/20 or less was obtained on either the written or oral exam of the “theory” part, the score of the “theory” part will not be higher than 7/20.
Labsessions
The mark for “laboratory” (30% of the overall mark) is based for 1/3 (33.3%) on permanent evaluation (mark on preparation of the labs, lab attitude and execution, written lab reports), 1/3 (33.3%) on an exam titration and 1/3 (33.3%) on specific questions in the written exam.
Participation in the lab sessions is obligatory. Incomplete participation to these sessions will give rise to a reduction of the mark for this part depending on the percentage of incomplete participations.
Unauthorized absences amounting to 30% or more will automatically give rise to a mark of 0/20 for the permanent evaluation part and 0/20 for the total mark for “laboratory”.
For the lab sessions, there is no possibility for a second examination session; only the theory part which was included in the written examination can be retaken in the second examination session. The mark for the permanent evaluation is automatically taken over from the first examination session.
The mark for the permanent evaluation, which is obtained during the academic year, is automatically taken over from the first examination session.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Chemistry: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Cell and Gene Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Initial 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)