ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician, English
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
Areas: Analytical Chemistry
Center Faculty of Chemistry
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
It is expected that the students at the end of this course will:
1. Have a global vision of the analytical process, knowing their different stages and the strategies for the validation of analytical methods.
2. Have knowledge of the main types of chemical reaction and their main characteristics associated to classical analysis (gravimetric and volumetric analysis).
3. Know how to recognize and analyse new problems and to plan strategies to solve them.
4. Understand qualitative and quantitative aspects of chemical problems
5. Understand the data from observations and measurements in the laboratory.
-Unit 1. The analytical process. General stages. Solving of analytical problems.
-Unit 2. Introduction to gravimetric analysis. Characteristics of the reactions used in gravimetric analysis. Precipitate formation and evolution. Impurities. Techniques and operations in gravimetric analysis. Precipitation in homogeneous solution. Precipitate filtration and washing. Drying and ignition of precipitates. Calculations. Applications.
-Unit 3. Introduction to volumetric methods of analysis. Characteristics of the reactions used in volumetric titrations. Volumetric titration types. Titration modes. Primary standard. Standard Solutions. Detection of the end point of a titration. Calculations.
-Unit 4. Precipitation titrations. Titration curves. End point detection: Mohr method, Volhard method, Fajans method. Practical aspects and applications.
-Unit 5. Acid-base titrations. Titration curves. Monoprotic systems: titration of strong acids and bases, titration of weak acids and bases. Diprotic acids and bases. Acid-base indicators. Practical aspects and analytical applications.
-Unit 6. Complexometric titrations. Titration curves. Metal Ion indicators. Practical aspects and applications: complexometric titrations with polydentate ligands. Practical aspects and analytical applications.
-Unit 7. Oxidation-reduction titration. Titration curves. Redox indicators. Reagents used in redox titrations. Pre-adjustment of analyte oxidative state. Practical aspects and applications.
-Unit 8. Quality parameters of analytical methods. Error in chemical analysis. Quality assurance: development of an analytical method. Method validation
-Unit 9. The analytical sample. Sampling and the analytical problem. Sampling. Sampling errors. Sampling plan. Sample preparation for analysis.
Lab Sessions
Practice 1. Gravimetric determination of Ni in steel/Gravimetric determination of iron in a mineral.
Practice 2. Determination of chloride in water/ Determination of water hardness.
Practice 3. Analysis of a mixture of carbonate and bicarbonate in water.
Practice 4. Determination of organic matter in water/Determination of hypochlorite (active chlorine) in bleach.
1. Basic:
D.C. HARRIS, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Eight Edition.; Freeman, 2010
2. Complementary:
Holler & Crouch, Skoog and Wert Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 9th edition; Cengage, 2014
General skills
CG3.- To apply both theoretical and practical knowledge and the ability of analysis in the problems definition and approach, finding their solutions in both academic and professional contexts.
CG4.- To learn to communicate, both in writing and orally, knowledge, procedures, results and ideas in Analytical Chemistry to a general or to a specialized audience.
CG5.-To be able to learn autonomously new knowledge and to acquire skills in the scientific and technological field, planning the distribution of time and resources.
Basic skills
CB1- Students must demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge required in a specific field of study, which is initially developed on the basis of their general secondary education, and that they have both drawn on information in textbooks and on the very latest information resources to attain the level of competence required of them.
Cross-disciplinary skills
CT1- To be able to analyse and summarize information
CT2- To improve organizational and planning skills
CT3- To learn a foreign language
CT4- To be able to solve problems
CT5- To be able to make decisions
Specific skills
CE4 – To recognize main types of chemical reactions and their main characteristics.
CE14- To solve qualitative and quantitative problems with previously developed models.
CE15- To recognize and analyse new problems, and to plan strategies to solve them.
CE18- To be able to carry out standard laboratory procedures involved in analytical or synthesis works related to organic and inorganic compounds.
CE20- To be able to understand experimental data and measurements in the laboratory in terms of their significance and the theories that support it
CE24 – To be able to understand qualitative and quantitative aspects of chemical problems
Teaching of the subject is performed by:
A) Lectures that will serve to tutor the students in their personal work. Usually, these classes will follow the contents of a reference manual proposed in the syllabus of the course.
B) Seminar classes in which the teacher, in addition to solving problems of a practical nature, will solve the doubts raised by the students when solving the proposed exercises or questions, as part of the personal work to be done by the students. In addition, within these classes, the students must resolve to deliver any exercise proposed by the teacher, which will serve to assess their level of understanding and for the mark of the continuous evaluation. Attendance at these classes is mandatory, since the activities carried out in them are taken into account for continuous assessment.
C) Laboratory practical classes. For these practices, the student will have a laboratory practice manual, which will include general considerations about the work in the laboratory, as well as a guideline for each of the practices to be carried out, which will consist of a brief presentation of the fundamentals, the methodology to be followed and the indication of the calculations to be made and the results to be presented. The student must go to each practice session having carefully read the content of this manual. At the beginning of each practice session, in a classroom, the students respond for 5 or 10 minutes to some previous questions that the teacher qualifies and takes into account for the practice mark. After an explanation from the teacher, the students will carry out the experiences and calculations necessary to achieve the objectives of the practice, collecting in the laboratory notebook the development of the practice and the calculations and results that proceed, presenting the results, which will be evaluated. The delivery of a final report is an additional requirement for the evaluation. Attendance at these classes is mandatory. The absences must be justified documentary, accepting examination and health reasons, as well as those cases contemplated in the current University regulations. The practice not carried out will be recovered, if possible, according to the teacher and within the scheduled time for the subject.
D) Blackboard tutorials: Tutorials scheduled by the teacher and coordinated by the Center. In general, they will mean for each student 2 hours per semester and course. Activities such as supervising tutored works, clarifying doubts about theory and/or practices, readings, problem solving, exercises and / or other tasks are proposed, as well as the presentation, exposition, debate or comment on individual or small group works. The teachers will require the students to hand in the exercises and/or the work done in the classroom. Attendance at these classes is mandatory, since the activities carried out in them are taken into account for continuous assessment.
On-line teaching support (Virtual Campus): the virtual campus will be used to leave teaching material, propose tasks and to facilitate communication between teachers and students.The virtual campus will be used to leave teaching material, propose tasks and to facilitate communication between teachers and students.
The general evaluation criteria of the courses of the Degree in Chemistry will be followed.
1. Student assessment will have two components: continuous assessment and final exam.
a) Non-attendance to any seminars and tutorials will lead to a zero mark in all the assessment activities carried out during that sessions. Anyway, the students can sit the final exam.
b) Attendance to lab sessions is compulsory. In order to pass the course, students shall also pass the practical lessons.
2. Assessment of seminars and tutorials will be based on the results of the different assessment activities carried out during the course. Assessment of lab sessions will include: pre-lab test, tidiness in the lab, development of the practical work, and final report. The continuous assessment (N1) will have a weight of 30% in the final mark, consisting of:
- Seminars, tutorials and related assignments: 20%
- Lab lessons (pre-lab test, tidiness in the lab, development of the practical work, and final report): 10%
3. The final exam will consist of a set of questions to verify the student's skills. The final exam will include questions related to laboratory work which will represent a 20% of the exam mark (N2).
4. The student's final mark will not be lower than the final exam mark nor the mark obtained weighing the continuous assessment with the final exam. The weighted average of the continuous assessment with the final exam will be calculated according to the following formula:
Final grade= Maximum (0.30 x N1 + 0.70 x N2, N2)
N1= grade corresponding to the continuous assessment (0-10)
N2= grade corresponding to the final exam (0-10)
The students must obtain a PASS grade in the practical sessions to pass the course.
The course will not be passed if the final exam mark is less than 3.5 out of 10.
Repeaters who have been qualified as capable in laboratory practice will keep the corresponding mark during a maximum of two academic years. Therefore, they will not have to repeat the lab sessions.
Skills assessment:
Seminars: CG3, CG4, CG5, CT1, CT3, CT4, CT5, CE4, CE14, CE15, CE24
Lab sessions: CG3, CG4, CT1, CT2, CT4, CT5, CE4, CE18, CE20, CE24
Tutorials: CG4, CT1, CT2, CE4, CE14, CE15
Exam: CG3, CG4, CT1, CB1, CE14, CE4, CE15, CE20, CE24
Assignment hand-in procedure: virtual/face-to-face
Final exam: face-to-face
2nd opportunity exam: face-to-face
In case of fraud or unethical behaviour during the completion of tests or assignments, the USC regulation as regards academic performance and grading (“Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión das cualificacións”) will be considered.
Face-to-face classes:
- Large-group lectures (23 hours)
- Small-group interactive classes (Seminars) (8 hours)
- Laboratory sessions (20 hours)
- Tutorials (2 hours)
Total in-class work time (53 hours)
Student’s personal work:
- Individual or in-group self-study (49 hours)
- Problem-solving or other assignments (20 hours)
- Preparation of oral presentations and written assignments, solving exercises, library work or similar (11 hours)
- Preparation for lab sessions. (10 hours)
Total student personal work time (90 hours)
TOTAL WORK TIME: 53 + 90 = 143 h
Attendance to lectures is highly recommended.
It is important to keep the course content up to date.
Once you read a unit in the recommended literature, it is useful to summarize the important points, identifying the key points, understand both their meaning and what they can be used for.
Problem solving is essential to learn this subject. It is advisable to follow these steps: (1) make a list of all the relevant information provided, (2) make a list with the required information, (3) identify the equations to be used in order to solve the problem and apply them.
It is advisable to solve the proposed problems before the seminars. Problems wording will be uploaded in advance.
It is essential to prepare the lab sessions beforehand. Firstly, the important theoretical concepts for each experiment must be revised and, next, the lab instructions must be carefully read trying to understand the aims of the experiment and the way it should be performed. Help on any aspect of the practical sessions is always available from the assigned lecturer.
Teaching will be given in Spanish and English.
Maria Del Carmen Yebra Biurrun
Coordinador/a- Department
- Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
- Area
- Analytical Chemistry
- Phone
- 881814267
- mcarmen.yebra [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Isaac Rodriguez Pereiro
- Department
- Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
- Area
- Analytical Chemistry
- Phone
- 881814387
- isaac.rodriguez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Mª Del Carmen Casais Laiño
- Department
- Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
- Area
- Analytical Chemistry
- Phone
- 881814265
- carmela.casais [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Antonia María Carro Díaz
- Department
- Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
- Area
- Analytical Chemistry
- Phone
- 881814388
- tuchi.carro [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Maria Ramil Criado
- Department
- Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
- Area
- Analytical Chemistry
- Phone
- 881816035
- maria.ramil [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Maria Del Rosario Rodil Rodriguez
- Department
- Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology
- Area
- Analytical Chemistry
- Phone
- 881814272
- rosario.rodil [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLIS_03 | Spanish | Physical Chemistry Classroom (ground floor) |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_03 | English | Aula 3.42 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Technical Chemistry Classroom (ground floor) |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Mathematics Classroom (3rd floor) |
| Wednesday | |||
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Physical Chemistry Classroom (ground floor) |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_03 | English | Aula 3.42 |
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Analytical Chemistry Classroom (2nd floor) |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | General Chemistry Classroom (2nd floor) |
| Friday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_03 | English | Aula 3.42 |
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Analytical Chemistry Classroom (2nd floor) |
| 01.15.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Biology Classroom (3rd floor) |
| 01.15.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Physics Classroom (3rd floor) |
| 06.12.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Biology Classroom (3rd floor) |
| 06.12.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Physics Classroom (3rd floor) |