Study-Unit Description

CODE

IFS0003

TITLE

Chemistry

UM LEVEL

00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus

MQF LEVEL

ECTS CREDITS

DEPARTMENT

International School for Foundation Studies

DESCRIPTION

This study-unit introduces students to three major branches of Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry. It covers the fundamental aspects of Chemistry such as the periodic table, bonding, stoichiometry and acids and bases, as well as organic chemistry nomenclature, structures and reactions. It also covers fundamental aspects of Physical Chemistry such as Equilibria, Energetics and Reaction rates.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to provide the students with a clear understanding of the major concepts of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, providing the necessary groundwork for Clinical Biochemistry study-units (IFS0703 and IFS0704) followed in the Medical, Dental and Allied Health Foundation programmes.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Identify periodic trends and use these to predict element properties;
2. Identify the different types of bonding and clearly distinguish between them in terms of bond type, bond strength and participating atoms;
3. Follow reaction stoichiometry and balance equations;
4. Use the pH scale to decipher between acidic and basic solutions, and categorize acids and bases as strong and weak;
5. Classify organic compounds according to their functional group and understand their properties;
6. Name organic compounds using the IUPAC nomenclature and draw their structure;
7. Identify the reactions of simple hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones;
8. Discuss the effect of temperature, pressure, surface area and concentration on the rate of reaction;
9. Calculate lattice enthalpies of formation and dissociation.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Define fundamental chemistry terms;
2. Use IUPAC rules to name organic compounds;
3. Draw organic compound structures;
4. Draw reaction mechanisms clearly depicting electron flow;
5. Define fundamental Physical chemistry terms;
6. Use Le Chatelier’s principle to discuss the effects of concentration, temperature and pressure on the position of equilibria;
7. Use Hess’ Law to calculate the enthalpy change of reaction;
8. Draw reaction mechanisms for oxygen and nitrogen containing organic compounds, clearly depicting electron flow.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Ramsden, E. (2014) A-Level Chemistry, Revised 4th Edition. ISBN 978-0748752997

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Pre-requisite Qualifications: As per Legal Notice 115 of Education Act (2009)

STUDY-UNIT TYPE

Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

Assessment Component/s	Assessment Due	Sept. Asst Session	Weighting
Oral and Written Exercises	YR	No	10%
Progress Test (2 Hours)	SEM1	No	30%
Examination (2 Hours)	SEM2	Yes	60%

LECTURER/S

Rosalin Bonetta
Lucienne Gatt

The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description

Study at UM