CHM3952 - Analytical and forensic chemistry

Leader: Dr Chris Thompson

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (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 subject, students will have developed both an understanding of the fundamentals of mass spectrometry and skills for interpretation of mass spectra for structural elucidation and fingerprinting purposes, will be able to describe how vibrational and UV-vis spectroscopy may be used for gas analysis, will be able to explain laser operation and relate the properties of lasers to their applications, will be familiar with multivariate statistics, will be able to detail the principles and applications of micro/nano-scale analysis using surface topographic and spectroscopic techniques, will have an understanding of different techniques in analytical separation science, will have an understanding of the principles of flow injection and its use in hyphenated analytical techniques, will have gained an understanding of how these techniques can be applied in forensic and environmental science, and will have developed practical competencies in analytical measurements involving chromatographic/other separations, flow injection 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