Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Robert Willows robert.willows@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites CHEM1001 or CBMS107 or CBMS103 or HSC Chemistry Band 5 and above
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description Molecular sciences is the basis for the development of new medicines, new materials, new ways of monitoring and improving our environment, and many other fields. This unit will focus on the properties and reactivity of matter and is an ideal unit for any student that wants to understand the atomic and molecular world within and around them. It will introduce chemical and physical properties of solids, liquids and gases, metals and solutions. It will examine specific reactions including precipitation, acid base chemistry and oxidation/reduction processes and will explore the energetics and rates of chemical change. It will also describe methods of detection and analysis of matter. Specific biological, environmental and new materials related to real world examples will be provided, with topics such as global warming, energy production and renewable fuels. This unit will provide an understanding and appreciation of 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 workshops 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: Explain the chemical and physical properties of solids, liquids and gases, metals and solutions.
ULO2: Predict reactions of matter including precipitation, acid base chemistry, oxidation/reduction processes, and the energetics and rates of chemical change.
ULO3: Utilise chemistry and biomolecular sciences concepts covered in this unit to process and interpret relevant chemical data.
ULO4: Undertake laboratory investigations requiring basic laboratory skills related to the reactions of matter and the energetics and rates of reaction, and their detection and analysis, and demonstrate an awareness of general laboratory safety procedures.
ULO5: Record and analyse scientific data, as well as judge its reliability and significance and interpret and communicate conclusions, including using the basic elements of scientific report preparation.
ULO6: Discuss the central role and impact of the chemical and biomolecular sciences concepts covered in this unit in our lives and its modern applications.

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must:

Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%, and
Participate in a minimum of 8 Workshops and 4 practical classes, and
Achieve at least 40% in the final examination

HURDLE ASSESSMENTS:

Practice based classes:

Development of knowledge and skills requires continual practice at authentic problems. This unit has five laboratory classes and ten Workshops classes where you must demonstrate your progress in developing and communicating knowledge and skills. Participation in a minimum of 4 of the 5 practical classes and 8 of the 10 Workshops classes is thus a hurdle requirement for this unit. This is a hurdle assessment meaning that failure to meet this requirement may result in a fail grade for the unit. Students are permitted up to three absences, consisting of one practical absence and 2 Workshops absences: additional absences will require a Special Consideration to be applied for (see below).

Final exam:

Satisfactory completion of this unit requires students to demonstrate they have acquired sufficient knowledge and can apply this knowledge to answer questions in the chemical sciences. The final exam assesses whether this has been achieved. Your final grade will be based on the mark from the aggregation of the individual assessments (in-class and online quizzes, mid-semester test, practical), but you must exceed the hurdle threshold mark of 40% or greater in the final examination to be awarded an overall Pass grade or better. That is, you must meet this hurdle to be able to pass overall. If you get between 30-40% you will get a second attempt at the exam but ONLY if you can pass the unit with a grade of 40% in the final exam. The SECOND attempt is to demonstrate that you have obtained a minimum level of understanding to pass the unit and your maximum grade in the SECOND attempt will be 40% of the final exam mark. It is university policy that you cannot improve your mark more than the hurdle boundary mark if you are given a SECOND attempt.

ONLINE QUIZZES:

Due: 10 Weekly online quizzes from Weeks 2-12 (Check iLearn as any weeks without a Workshops do not have a quiz). Weighting: 15%

There will be 10 on-line quizzes. You will find that these quizzes assist you in revising the course material as the course progresses. Further specific details on the quizzes will be provided at the CHEM1002 iLearn site.

PRACTICALS:

Due: To be submitted at the conclusion of every practical class. Weighting: 20%

The pre-practical exercises, performance in the practical, the practical report, and the post-practical exercises will be used to calculate the final practical mark. The assessment tasks start off simple and build on skills and knowledge developed throughout the course.

Pre-practicals exercises for practicals 1, 3, 4 and 5 must be handed in online on iLearn prior to your scheduled practical class. See iLearn for dates for online submission prior to the practical class. These "pre-labs" represent 20% of the practical mark for these 4 lab classes and will guide you in the data analysis for the practical class. Feedback will be given.

Attendance: If you are unable to attend a practical class, exam, or hand in a form of assessment due to illness or misadventure, you must submit a Disruption to Studies notification at ask.mq.edu.au no later than five (5) working days after the assessment task date or due date. You should also immediately contact the Unit Convenor, Professor Robert Willows (robert.willows@mq.edu.au).

MID SEMESTER TEST:

Due: Wednesday 7th September during the lecture time. Weighting: 15%

Covering lectures up to and including week 6 content. This is designed to give you specific feedback on your understanding of the topics up to this stage to assist you in your further study of the unit. See iLearn for location and details.

FINAL EXAMINATION:

Due: University Examination Period Weighting: 50%

The final exam is designed to address specific understanding of all the topics presented within the course and to show that the knowledge obtained can be applied to new problems. Details of the final exam length will be made available as part of the publishing of the university exam timetable.

The final exam is a hurdle assessment and you will need to get >= 40% in the final exam 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 final exam 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 meet the exam hurdle of 40% if you get below 30% in your first attempt.

Final Examination Details: The examination timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations. You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated by the University in the Examination Timetable. This could be any day after the final week of semester and up until the final day of the official examination period. It is Macquarie University policy to not set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is, the final day of the official examination period.

The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you should apply for a Supplementary Exam at ask.mq.edu.au.

Late Assessment Submission

Late assessments are not accepted in this unit unless a Special Consideration has been submitted and approved.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Mid Semester test	15%	No	19/04/24 11:00am
Practice Based task	0%	Yes	On campus sessions
Final Examination	50%	Yes	Exam period (TBA)
Laboratory work	20%	No	Due at end of each practical session.
Online Quizzes	15%	No	Sunday following weekly workshop.

Mid Semester test

Assessment Type ¹: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task ²: 6 hours
Due: 19/04/24 11:00am
Weighting: 15%

Mid Semester Test