Chemistry

• Discipline objectives
• The discipline
• Specialisation in analytical chemistry
  • First year
  • Second year
  • Third year
• Specialisation in biological chemistry
  • First year
  • Second year
  • Third year
• Specialisation in materials chemistry
  • First year
  • Second year
  • Third year
• Specialisation in theoretical chemistry
  • First year
  • Second year
  • Third year
• Examiners and advisers
• Discipline structure
  • First year
  • Second year
  • Third year
  • Fourth year

Discipline objectives

A graduate in chemistry will be trained in the principles of chemistry to a standard not less than that required for corporate membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Students will be proficient in:

• using the symbols and language of chemistry;
• understanding the concepts and models of chemistry;
• demonstrating modern diverse practical skills in a safe manner;
• collecting, classifying and interpreting data;
• communicating the results of their work by both oral and written presentation;
• performing experiments with precision and accuracy;
• handling and storing chemicals in accordance with the relevant OH&S standards;
• appreciating the interplay between chemistry and other sciences.

The discipline

The Department of Chemistry provides subjects in chemistry for students with a wide variety of interests. As well as those students who major in chemistry, there are many who need some chemistry as a prerequisite or recommended subject for their later-year study.

Each student is required to achieve balanced progress across the traditional areas of chemistry, ie organic, inorganic and physical chemisty.

Both observation and measurement are essential in chemistry. Therefore, all chemistry subjects involve laboratory work and practice in solving problems in addition to lectures, tutorials, and opportunity for cultivation of the art of self-expression.

Students may graduate with an honours BSc degree in chemistry after a fourth year of study which combines units on advanced topics in chemistry together with work on a research topic under supervision.

There are four six-point subjects in first year, one in each semester. A sequence of two of these are prerequisites for second-year chemistry, along with some mathematics subjects, and the codes are CHM1011 and CHM1022 or CHM1031 and CHM1042.

The department offers subjects which allow a level of specialisation within chemistry as summarised in the following tables:

Specialisation in analytical chemistry

A program which allows subspecialisation in analytical chemistry, applied/industrial chemistry or environmental chemistry.

First year

• CHM1011 and CHM1022 or CHM1031 and CHM1042; MAT1010 or MAT 1050; MAT1020 or MAT1060; and
• twelve additional points per semester as specified in the BSc course requirements.

Second year

• CHM2011/2022;

• CHM2031 (Chemical science) - biological or CHM2041 (Chemical science) - industrial;
• CHM2052 (Aquatic science);
• GES2130 (Soils, land and the environment).

Third year

• CHM3011/3022 (sixteen units) or CHM3031/3042 (eight units). The key units for these specialisations should be chosen from the following:
• Analysis of chemical data;
• Applied spectroscopy;
• Case study of an Australian industry;
• Chemical analysis;
• Electrochemical methods;
• Environmental chemistry;
• Industrial chemistry;
• Instrumentation in chemistry;
• Polymer chemistry;
• Separation science;
• Solid state and materials characterisation;
• Technology assessment and project evaluation.

• CHE3071/3082 (Chemical engineering science);
• MAA3111 (Atmospheric science).

Specialisation in biological chemistry

A program which allows subspecialisation in agricultural chemistry, biological chemistry, biomedical chemistry, forensic chemistry, molecular modelling or pharmaceutical chemistry.

First year

• CHM1011, CHM1022 or CHM1031 and CHM1042; BIO1011, BIO1022 and
• twelve additional points per semester as specified in the BSc course requirements.

Second year

CHM2011/2022 and one or more subjects selected from:

• CHM2031 (Chemical sciences) - biological;
• CHM2052 (Aquatic science);
• GEN2022 (Genetics);
• BCH2011/2022 (Biochemistry).

Third year

• CHM3011/3022 (sixteen units) or CHM3031/3042 (8 units). The key units for these specialisations should be chosen from the following:
• Analysis of chemical data;
• Alicyclic and carbohydrate chemistry;
• Aromatic and heterocyclic chemistry;
• Chemical analysis;
• Computer-aided visualisation;
• Electrochemical methods;
• Environmental chemistry;
• Instrumentation in chemistry;
• Modern spectroscopy;
• Solid state and materials characterisation;
• Synthetic methods.

Specialisation in materials chemistry

A program which allows subspecialisation in materials chemistry, polymer chemistry, solid state chemistry or synthetic chemistry.

First year

• CHM1011, CHM1022 or CHM1031 and CHM1042; MAT1010 or MAT1050; MAT1020 or MAT1060;
• Recommended: PHS1011, PHS1022; and six additional points per semester as specified in the BSc course requirements.

Second year

• CHM2011/2022 and one or more subjects selected from:
• CHM2041 (Chemical sciences) - applied/industrial;
• MSC2011/2022 (Materials science).

Third year

• CHM3011/3022 (sixteen units) or CHM3031/3042 (eight units). The key units for these specialisations should be chosen from the following:
• Alicyclic and carbohydrate chemistry;
• Analysis of chemical data;
• Aromatic and heterocyclic chemistry;
• Chemistry of non-metals;
• Colour, spectra and magnetic moments in inorganic chemistry;
• Organometallic chemistry;
• Organometallics and heteroatoms in organic synthesis;
• Polymer chemistry;
• Precious and rare metals;
• Reaction mechanisms;
• Reactivity of metal complexes;
• Solid state and materials characterisation;
• Synthetic methods.

• MSC3011/3022 (Materials science).

Specialisation in theoretical chemistry

A program which allows subspecialisation in chemical physics, computational chemistry, energy chemistry, mechanistic chemistry or theoretical chemistry.

First year

• CHM1011, CHM1022 or CHM1031 and CHM1042; MAT1010, MAT1020;
• Recommended: PHS1011, PHS1022; and six additional points per semester as specified in the BSc course requirements.

Second year

• CHM2011/2022 and other subjects to make a total of forty-eight points as specified in the BSc course requirements. Recommended subjects include:
• PHS2011/2022;
• MAT2010 and/or MAT2020 (Core mathematics);
• MAA2011, MAA2022, MAA2032, and/or MAA2042 (Applied mathematics).

Third year

Students may take:

• CHM3011/3022 (16 units) or CHM3031/3042 (8 units). The key topics for these specialisations should be chosen from the following:
• Analysis of chemical data;
• Applied spectroscopy;
• Colloid chemistry;
• Computer-aided visualisation;
• Instrumentation in chemistry;
• Modern spectroscopy;
• Reaction mechanisms;
• Reactivity of metal complexes.

In third year, a student may study chemistry alone in two twenty-four point subjects, one in each semester (CHM3011, CHM3022) or combine two corequisite twelve-point subjects, one in each semester, with a similar two by twelve-point sequence in another discipline, eg CHM3031 and CHM3042 with MSC3011 and MSC3022.

In second year there is also the possibility of taking part of the listed subjects as four-point subjects and in third year there is the possibility of making up a six-point subject in each semester. Details are in the subject descriptions.

Examiners and advisers

The chief examiners for chemistry subjects for 1997 are:

• CHM1011 and 1022, CHM1031 and CHM1042: Dr Ian McKinnon
• CHM2011, CHM2022, CHM2111, CHM2121, CHM2132 and CHM2142: Professor Glen Deacon
• CHM2031, CHM2041, CHM2151, CHM2161, CHM2171 and CHM2181: Mrs Nicola Williams
• CHM2052, CHM2191 and CHM2202: Professor Barry Hart
• CHM3011, CHM3022, CHM3031, CHM3042, CHM3051, CHM3062, CHM3071 and CHM3082: Professor Roy Jackson
• CHM4000: Professor Ron Dickson

• More general information about courses involving chemistry subjects in relation to other studies may be obtained from departmental course advisers:
• Dr Michael Fuller
• Dr Bryan Gatehouse
• Dr Michael Heffernan
• Dr Keith Murray
• Dr Ernest Nunn
• Dr Andrea Robinson
• Mrs Nicola Williams

Discipline structure

First year

• CHM1011 and CHM1022 or CHM1031 and CHM1042

Second year

• CHM2011
• CHM2022
• CHM2031, CHM2041, CHM2052, CHM2111, CHM2121, CHM2132, CHM2142, CHM2151, CHM2161, CHM2171, CHM2181, CHM2192, CHM2202

Third year

Third-year chemistry is offered both as twenty-four point subjects or twelve-point subjects. The following combinations of subjects are available and it is recommended that they be taken as pairs: CHM3011.24/CHM3022.24 or CHM3031.12/CHM3042.12 or CHM3051.12/CHM3062.12. The twelve-point subjects are generally selections of units offered in the twenty-four point subjects. Students are required to discuss their selection of units with the coordinator. The common prerequisite is CHM2011 and CHM2022, or equivalent four-point subjects. A six-point subject is also available in each semester.

Fourth year

• CHM4000

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