Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Analytical Methods lays a foundation of knowledge for the analytical identification and quantitation of chemical entities used in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries (eg. polymers, cosmetics & paints). The subject provides the participant with basic principles and concepts of atomic and molecular spectroscopy (spectrochemical methods of analysis), separation (chromatographic) methodologies, compositions of solutions & chemical equilibria, classical (titrimetric) methods of analysis and electroanalytical methods of analysis.

This will involve:

• Chemical Equilibria
• Classical Methods of Analysis
• Analytical Separations
• Spectrochemical Methods of Analysis
• Electrochemical Methods of Analysis

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe the chemical compositions of aqueous solutions, the effects of electrolytes on chemical equilibria and solve equilibrium calculations for simple and complex systems.
2. Describe the basic principles underlying gravimetric and titrimetric methods of analysis (including precipitation titrations, neutralization titrations, complex acid/base systems, complexation reactions and titrations and non-aqueous titrations) and perform simple calculations to determine the concentrations of species of interest.
3. Develop an understanding of basic separations and chromatographic theory and apply this knowledge in predicting the separation, identification and quantitation of compounds.
4. Acquire knowledge of commonly used instrumental techniques for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of compounds, namely GLC and HPLC.
5. Explain the basic properties of electromagnetic radiation and the interactions between radiation and matter on an atomic and molecular level and calculate specific spectrochemical descriptors (energy, frequency, wavelength, % transmittance and absorbance).
6. Describe the functions of instrumental components used in optical spectrometry.
7. Describe the basic principles and applications of molecular absorption, molecular fluorescence and atomic absorption/emission spectroscopy.
8. Describe the fundamental principles of electrochemistry in terms of oxidation/reduction reactions, perform simple electrochemical calculations based upon the Nernst equation and describe the application of electrochemical techniques (oxidation/reduction titrations, potentiometry and voltammetry) to the analysis of commercially significant compounds.

Assessment

Final exam (3 hour): 60%; written assessments: 10%; practical experiments: 20%; practical exam: 10%.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Ben Capuano

Contact hours

36 hours of lectures; nine 4 hour practical classes

Prerequisites

PSC1021 Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 Organic chemistry II
PSC1041 Mathematics for pharmaceutical sciences
PSC1071 Physical chemistry I
PSC1072 Physical chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/