SLE213 - The Analytical Chemist's Toolbox
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Previously coded as: | SBC211 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Damien Callahan |
| Prerequisite: | One of SLE152 or SLE155 |
| Corequisite: | SLE010 |
| Incompatible with: | SBC231 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 2 x 1 hour online lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour seminar per week, 5 x 4 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit presents a platform for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of analytical chemistry with a particular focus on spectroscopy, separation science and mass spectrometry. Chemical characterisation and measurement of analytes of interest are important for many fields and as such the unit will focus on the important junctions between analytical chemistry and application to areas such as forensic, environmental, food, biomedical and marine science. The unit will focus on the instrumentation found in an analytical chemist's 'toolbox' and will build the cohorts key skills in experimental validation, equipment calibration, practical laboratory considerations and data handling. The applications of modern spectroscopy incorporating aiding the elucidation of molecular structure and the determination of chemical concentration will be presented. The real world challenges associated with the separation of analytes form complex sample matrices will be presented with a focus on how technological approaches can be used to overcome these issues in order to empower the modern analytical chemist.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Apply separation science and spectroscopic concepts and knowledge to scientific problems and scenarios. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Document key information from the practical and apply recognised practical methods and techniques to analytical chemistry problems. Evaluate and report the outcomes to the RACI professional standards. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Evaluate scientific principles from peer reviewed literature and present the concepts in a professional poster to a lay scientific audience. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Evaluate peers and respond to feedback on a professional activity to develop skills peer review of scientific concepts. | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Online quizzes | Four 60-minute online quizzes | 20% (4 x 5%) | Week 3, 6, 9 and 11 |
| Assessment 2 Practical reports | Five pre-laboratory tasks Five written practical reports | 60% (5 x 2%, 5 x 10%) (Tasks, Reports) | Pre-lab prior to practical class Report due week following practicals |
| Assessment 3 Scientific presentation | Scientific oral presentation and peer review: Part A: Presentation slides and peer review Part B: Oral presentation (on campus) | 20% (15%, 5%) (Presentation, Review) | Part A: Week 10 Part B: Week 12 (on campus) |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
Prescribed text(s): Christian et al ( Editors ), 2013, Analytical Chemistry, 7th Ed, John Wiley & Sons.
The texts and reading list for SLE213 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.