Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Bachelor of Health Science (Public and Environmental Health) , Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry/Chemistry), Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology),  Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)/Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)/Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Science (Psychology/Biochemistry).

Aims & Objectives:

• To provide a thorough introduction to the basic concepts of chemistry necessary for biochemical and biotechnology studies
• To provide an understanding of the basic structure of elements and compounds and how this determines their interaction with  each other.
• To study the various reactions elements and compounds undergo.
• To establish a thorough understanding of the quantitative aspects of chemical reactions.
• To study how useful electrical energy can be obtained from chemical reactions.
• To introduce basic practical skills for the handling and analysis of chemicals.
• To establish the importance of chemical safety and precautions in the chemical laboratory and other hazardous environments.

Stoichiometry and Elementary Chemistry Skills

• Demonstrate an ability to name and write the symbols of elements, and the names and formulae of various molecular and ionic compounds.
• Use chemical equations to calculate relative amounts of reactants and products and express the result in various forms, i.e. mass or mole of a reactant or product, % purity of product, identify the limiting and excess reagents.
• Using calculations predict the solubility of salts in a given reaction
• Perform calculations associated with practical work, e.g. dilutions, back-titrations etc.
• Perform calculations with aqueous and gaseous species in terms of volumes and pressures, using equations based around the Ideal Gas Law.

Equilibria

• Express the equilibrium constant in terms of the equilibrium concentration of products and reactants and their respective stoichiometric coefficients for both homogenous and heterogeneous equilibria.
• Show the relationship between Kp and Kc and calculate the equilibrium constant given equilibrium concentration data.
• State the relationship between the reaction quotient and equilibrium constant and predict the direction a reaction will proceed to reach equilibrium.
• Use the concepts of equilibrium to determine the concentration of all species in a solution.
• Show how changing concentration, volume, pressure, or temperature will shift the reaction so that equilibrium will be maintained using Le Chatelier’s Principle.
• State the effect of a catalyst has on equilibrium concentrations.

Acids & Bases

• Define an acid or base according to the Lowry-Brönsted scheme and write the conjugate of a given acid or base and be able to identify a weak and a strong acid or base.
• Understand the concept of pH and calculate the pH of a strong acid or base of given concentration.
• Calculate the pH of a weak acid or base of given concentration and determine the concentration of all species present.    
• Show and be able to interconvert between Ka, Kb, pKa and pKb.
• Explain how a buffer works and be able to calculate the pH of a buffer.
• Understand how an acid/base indicator works and be able to choose a suitable indicator to use for a given titration.
• Predict which direction pH will change on addition of different types of chemicals and understand the common ion effect on a given system.
• Predict, using calculations, the solubility of sparingly soluble salts in aqueous solution and be familiar with the factors that increase or decrease the solubility in aqueous solution.
• Understand the effect of complex ions on equilibria and solubility

Electrochemistry

• Balance redox equations in acidic or basic solutions.
• Given an electrochemical cells (Galvanic) and the using Standard Reduction Potentials, calculate the standard cell potential

Eocell and hence determine if a cell reaction is spontaneous.

• Use Eocell to calculate equilibrium constants of reactions.
• Use the Nernst equation to calculate Ecell under non-standard conditions and hence to predict the direction of reaction.
• State the advantages of different types of battery systems.
• State one cause of corrosion and relate the methods employed to protect vulnerable materials.
  

Teaching Methods:

Lectures, tutorials, practical classes, mathematical competency, web based unit presence.

Assessment:

Practical work 15%, practical exam 5%, tutorial tests and scientific communication 20%, maths competency test 5%, end of teaching period exam 55%

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Students are expected to enhance several of their graduate attributes during this unit and should consult with your lecturer if not clear as to how this unit achieves this.  The graduate attributes which relate to this unit help to produce students who are:

Are capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas.

• Have an appreciation of areas of uncertainty within a body of knowledge.
• Have pertinent skills and abilities.
• Display attitudes appropriate to the professional area.
• Have a sense of social responsibility for knowledge and its application.
• Understand the relationship between theory and practice.

Operate effectively and ethically in work and community situations.

• Have the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Have the ability to effectively communicate using a range of media and in varied contexts.
• Have the ability to operate locally, nationally and internationally.

Are adaptable and manage change.

• Are self-motivated.
• Have multifaceted problem solving skills.
• Have a general capacity for flexibility and curiosity.

Are aware of environments in which they will be contributing.

• Have a broad understanding of the role of technology in our society.
• Are culturally sensitive and have respect for multiple points of view.
• Are able to evaluate the economic, social and environmental impact of their decisions.
• Are able to make a balanced decision taking into account all of these factors.
• Respect a plurality of viewpoints.

IEAust Generic Attributes
In addition to the Swinburne generic attributes, this subject is also expected to enhance skills recognised by the Institution of Engineers (Australia), specifically:

• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large.
• In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline.
• Ability to understand problem identification, formulation and solution.
• Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development.
• Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them.

Content:

• Elementary chemistry: structure of atom, mole concept, formulae, naming, introduction to Periodic Table and simple calculations.
• Writing and balancing molecular, ionic and redox equations.
• Stoichiometry: calculations covering all types of chemical reactions with amounts of reactants and products expressed as mass, mole, concentration and volumes of gases. Review of gas laws and relevant calculations.  Properties of gases in solution.
• Equilibria: quantitative and qualitative aspects of gaseous, heterogeneous, acid-base, solubility and complex-ion equilibria.  Major emphasis on acid-base equilibria, buffers, properties of acids and bases, pH measurement.
• Energy from chemical reactions. Galvanic cells, standard potentials and Nernst Equation.
• Practical work covers measurement and errors, a study of chemical reactions and volumetric analyses including acid-base redox and complexometric reactions.
• Safety in the laboratory and application to potentially hazardous environments.
  

Reading Materials:

HES1510 Online Resources:

• Detailed Unit Description and Information
• Academic Staff contact details
• Pre-recorded lecture material (lecture notes and video)
• Animated Problem Solving Examples
• HES1510 Practical Manual
• HES1510 Lab Reference Manual (Safety and Technique Information)
• Study Booklet for Tutorial and Lecture Problems
• Chemistry Topic Discussion Boards
• A Library tour video
• General Help sheets and Unit Information
• Troubleshooting Guide and Discussion Boards

Further information and documents are available in the HES1510 Unit Description document available on the unit website: http://www.mysubjects.swin.edu.au

Textbooks: