Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor Phani Rekha Potluri phani-rekha.potluri@mq.edu.au Contact via chem1001@mq.edu.au 14ER 306 Lecturer Andrew Piggott andrew.piggott@mq.edu.au Lecturer Ian Jamie ian.jamie@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status CHEX1001
Unit description	Unit description Foundations of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences 1 introduces students to the principles and practical aspects of the molecular sciences, from the smallest of chemical substances through to the molecules of life - the biomolecules. This unit does not assume prior knowledge of chemistry or biology and is ideal for any student that wants to understand the atomic and molecular world within and around them. It will commence with the language of chemistry by introducing atoms and molecules and elements and compounds and using representative inorganic and organic compounds, including biomolecules, to show how their structures, functions and reactions are described. It will build on this language to allow prediction of the reactivity, behaviour and function of different classes of compounds, with a focus on acids and bases and organic compounds including biomolecules. Contemporary applications will be highlighted to show the role of chemical and biomolecular sciences in our lives, now and in the future, including in helping to achieve a sustainable environment, understanding health and disease, and advancing new molecular technologies. Practical sessions and tutorials will reinforce learning throughout this unit.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

ULO1: Use the language and principles of chemical science to explore the composition and properties of matter and discuss how molecular sciences are important in our lives.
ULO2: Name and write (or describe) the chemical structures for representative inorganic and organic compounds, including peptides, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.
ULO3: Analyse the chemical structure of chemical compounds to predict their function, reactivity and physical properties.
ULO4: Calculate the physical quantities that characterize chemical composition, including solids and solutions, as well as chemical reactions.
ULO5: Demonstrate laboratory skills used for the preparation, separation and analysis of chemical compounds, including an understanding of general laboratory safety procedures.
ULO6: Record and analyse scientific data, as well as communicate conclusions using the basic elements of scientific report preparation.

General Assessment Information

Attendance at practical and tutorial classes:

You must attend and participate in all four practical classes to pass the unit.
You must attend and participate in all four SGTA sessions to pass the unit.
Please note that if you miss a practical class or tutorial class, we are not required to offer you a make-up class.

Tutorial Quizzes (20%):

A 1hr quiz online or on-paper will be held after each SGTA session. Note that the quiz questions will be based on the lecture material, text book and tutorial question sets available on ilearn.

Practical class exercises (20%):

Four practical classes worth 5% each. The pre-practical classes (30%), performance in the practical, the practical report (50%), and the post-practical exercises (20%) will be used to calculate the final mark for each practical class.

Mid-session test (20%):

The mid-session test will be held during the mid-session break, as this will allow failing students to withdraw without academic penalty. Note that the last day to withdraw without academic penalty is 28 September 2020.
Students that are unable to re-sit the test during the semester break (e.g. they are overseas) will be allowed to sit the test in Week 8. This option is not optimal and should be avoided, as students failing to pass the mid-semester test won't be able to withdraw without academic penalty.
The mid-semester test is a hurdle assessment and you will need to get >=40% to meet the hurdle. In the event that you make a serious first attempt at the mid-semester test, you will be provided with an opportunity to sit a new test to meet the hurdle. The faculty define a serious attempt as a mark of 10% below the hurdle, which in this instance is a mark between 30-40%. You will NOT be given a second attempt to pass the mid-semester test if you get below 30% in your first attempt.

Final Exam (40%):

The final examination will be a three-hour written examination (plus ten minutes' reading time) and will be held during the examination period.
The final exam is a hurdle assessment and you will need to get >=40% to meet the hurdle. In the event that you make a serious first attempt at the final exam, you will be provided with an opportunity to sit a new test to meet the hurdle. The faculty define a serious attempt as a mark of 10% below the hurdle, which in this instance is a mark between 30-40%. You will NOT be given a second attempt to pass the final exam if you get below 30% in your first attempt.

Information on Supplementary exams:

If you receive a special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session. By making a special consideration for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure that you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application.

Your marks will be displayed on ilearn. It is your responsibility to regularly verify that the records displayed at iLearn (Tools->Grades) are correct.

If you have difficulty attending and participating in an assessment task, please contact the Unit Convenor as soon as possible as, there may be alternatives available to make-up a missed task. If there are circumstances that mean you miss an assessment task, you can apply for a special consideration. To support your extension, you must submit a "Special Consideration Request" request via www.ask.mq.edu.au. See https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration for instructions on how to do this. Please note that evidence must be given to support your request for an extension. Note that special consideration applications must be made within five working days of the assessment task due date.

Decisions to approve/not approve a special consideration request are made by the university (and NOT the unit convenor).

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Final Examination	40%	Yes	Exam period
Practical Class Exercises	20%	No	Within one week of the schedule practical class
Mid Semester Test	20%	Yes	19/09/2020
Tutorial and Practical Participation	0%	Yes	Wk3, 4, 6, 9,10,12
Tutorial Quizzes	20%	No	Wk3, 6, 9, 12

Final Examination

Assessment Type ¹: Examination
Indicative Time on Task ²: 14 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

The final exam will be designed to address specific understanding of all topics presented within the course and to show that the knowledge obtained can be applied to new problems.