Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

This course offers a focused introduction to quantitative chemical analysis, with an emphasis on modern instrumental techniques—particularly chromatography and spectroscopy. Students will learn how these methods are used to identify and quantify chemical substances in complex mixtures.

Throughout the course, students will gain practical experience in using chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic methods to perform quantitative analyses. The course also covers the theoretical foundations of these techniques.

Another component of the course is method validation. Students will learn how to evaluate analytical methods for accuracy, precision, sensitivity and selectivity.

At the end of the course, students will be equipped to perform reliable quantitative analyses and validate the performance of the analytical methods they use.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who have passed the module should be able to

• Account for the fundamental physical/chemical principles governing common instruments for chemical analysis, including chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques
• Account and compare the applicability of common chemical analysis methods
• Account for the principles of gas and liquid chromatography
• Account for the principles of atomic, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy.
• Account for the principles of mass spectrometry
• Account for the chemical processes involved in sample preparation for analysis using selected instrumental techniques
• Account for fundamental aspects of method validation

Skills

• Perform relevant statistical calculations on the results of a series of analysis on selected instruments
• Perform common instrumental chemical analysis with a reproducible result
• Perform general uncertainty calculations for measurements based on the analytical method used
• Interpret and evaluate analytical results in relation to method performance criteria such as accuracy, precision, and detection limits.

Competences

• Select an appropriate analytical approach for the chemical analysis of a sample.

Type of instruction

• Lectures, laboratory exercises and theoretical exercises

Extent and expected workload

150 hours

Exam

Exams