CHM3952 - Analytical and forensic chemistry

Leader: Dr Chris Thompson

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

Future advances in analytical science will involve the development and exploitation of advanced mass spectrometric, molecular spectroscopic and separation techniques. This unit concentrates on these three approaches, and provides examples of how they can be applied in areas such as forensic and environmental science, genomics and forensic imaging. The remainder of the unit focuses on the use of spectroscopic and separation techniques in automated monitoring and process analysis in a variety of industrial, clinical and environmental applications.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students will have developed an understanding of the fundamentals of mass spectrometry, will have gained a conceptual understanding of chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic separations, will have a theoretical understanding of rotational and vibrational spectroscopy, will have developed an understanding of the principles of flow injection and the advantages of this approach in hyphenated analytical techniques, will have gained an appreciation of the advantages of hybrid analytical techniques based on flow analysis, chromatography and mass spectrometry, will have gained an understanding of how these techniques can be applied in forensic and environmental science, genomics and forensic imaging, and will have developed practical competencies in analytical measurements involving chromatographic/other separation techniques, flow related techniques, and quantitative molecular spectroscopy

Assessment

One 3-hour examination: 60%
Assignments and computer testing: 10%
Laboratory work and laboratory reports: 30%
Students must achieve a pass mark in their laboratory work to achieve and overall pass grade.

Contact hours

Two 1-hour lectures, one 1-hour tutorial and the equivalent of 3 hours laboratory activity per week

Prerequisites

6 points of level 1 chemistry and normally CHM2922. Students without these should consult the co-ordinator

Prohibitions

CHM3951