Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has/can:

• General knowledge of safety when using equipment and chemicals in the laboratory.

• Knowledge of the relevant regulations applicable to hazardous substances that are produced, used or sold in Norway.
• Knowledge of the use of safety data sheets and chemical databases.
• Understanding of basic experimental methods for analysing specific samples.

• Understanding of what can affect results in experimental analyses.
• Explain the spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, and their operation.
• Conduct a safe job analysis.
• Knowledge of how accuracy and precision in measurement results are affected by errors and uncertainties in instrumentation, procedures and working techniques.

Skills

The candidate can/has:

• Focus on safety while working in the laboratory.
• Insight into the importance of good planning, precision, order and cleanliness in a lab.
• Evaluate data and sources of error during chemical analysis.
• Document the analysis results in laboratory records and write reports based on standardized methods.
• Knowledge of what methods may be used to analyse specific samples.
• Work in teams.
• Handle chemicals with safety in mind, use safety data sheets and has knowledge of the online catalogue of substances (ECO online).
• Conduct quantitative analyses in accordance with stated procedures.

• Carry out chemical analysis.
• Use appropriate laboratory equipment correctly.

General competence

The candidate can/has:

• Communicate and discuss with other professionals in the field.

• Understanding of environmental matters in relation to handling/emission of chemicals.
• Handle chemicals according to regulations and use safety data.

• Basic understanding of quality requirements in a chemical laboratory.

Course Description

• Quantitative and qualitative analysis, separation techniques, chemical handling and safety.
• Spectroscopic techniques such as AAS, UV-Vis spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy.
• Chromatographic techniques such as gas and liquid chromatography.
• Laboratory exercises in inorganic and organic analysis techniques

Students will undertake a group project in which they will carry out an inorganic or an organic synthesis and document the work in a technical report.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, laboratory exercises, project.

Project: The project will be carried out in groups under supervision. The project will involve carrying out organic synthesis. The project group must first document a safe job analysis before carrying out the synthesis. The work should be documented in a technical report. The project must be approved before a passing mark for the course can be given.

8 to 10 laboratory exercises will be carried out during the course. Laboratory reports must be submitted. The exercises must be approved in order to pass the course.

If students do not complete the course requirements on time (unless documented valid reasons for this are presented), they will not be permitted to sit the final examination and will consequently not receive a final grade for the course. A record that is not approved on first submission may be corrected and submitted again. If a record is not approved after the 3rd submission, the exercise will be assessed as being incomplete, resulting in the laboratory part of the course being given a failing grade.

Assessment Methods

The assessment will determine whether the candidate has achieved learning outcomes in terms of knowledge and skills. The assessment consists of:

• Project report which will be awarded a group grade (30%).
• Three of the lab exercises will be awarded a grade (A-F) that will provide a basis for setting the grade for this component. Information concerning which exercises will be graded will be given before the start of the course. This counts for 20% of the course grade.
• Individual written examination consisting of theory based on the lectures (30%) and theoretical questions about the laboratory module and project (20%).

The course may be subject to minor changes.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean