CHEM 7500 - M. Philosophy Chemistry (3 units)
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code CHEM 7500 Course M. Philosophy Chemistry (3 units) Coordinating Unit Chemistry Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 7 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Restrictions Available to Master of Philosophy (Chemical Science) students only Assessment Written assignments and exams Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Stephen Bell
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1. demonstrate an advanced understanding of the methods and processes of chemistry as a creative endeavour;
2. demonstrate an understanding of the close relationship between scientific research and the development of new knowledge in a global context;
3. demonstrate that current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further enquiry;
4. apply the concepts and theories of a range of advanced topics in chemistry;
5. analyse, interpret and critically evaluate research findings;
6. present information, articulate arguments and conclusions, in a variety of modes, to audiences in their field of research;
7. comply with regulatory frameworks (including OH&S) and practising professional ethics relevant to the chemistry field;
8. undertake independent research in a chemistry field.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4, 5, 6, 8 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
2, 7 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is delivered by the following means:
Internal
8 hours of lectures per module over 8 weeks (3 modules x 8 hours = 24 hours)Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
The course will cover core fundamental occupational, health and safety requirements specific to chemistry and provide training in chemical and hazard management.
Ø Occupational health and safety / chemical and hazard management training
Students will be trained in fundamental occupational, health and safety requirements specific to chemistry and chemical and hazard management.
- School safety induction (1 hour)
- Chemical management training (1 hour)
- Hazard management training (1 hour)
- Fire Extinguisher training (1 hour)
- RMSS risk assessment with practical (1 hour)
- NMR induction (1 hour)
In addition, the course content includes a selection of three of the following modules:
Ø Advanced Organo-metallic Chemistry
Advanced synthetic methods
- Use of transition metals in synthesis of new materials
- Fundamentals of interactions of transition metals with organic molecules
Stabilisation of reactive intermediates
- Activation of H2, CO, alkenes
- Catalysis
Hydrogenation, Hydroformylation - Wilkinson
Polymerisation
- Reactions of alkenes, alkynes on metal centres
- Metal carbyne and vinylidene complexes - Schrock, Grubbs
Olefin metathesis
- Palladium chemistry - Heck, Negishi
- Gold chemistry
Ø Computational Chemistry
- Electronic structure methods including molecular mechanics, ab initio, perturbation theory and density functional theory
- Using computational chemistry programs (e.g. Gaussian and GaussView) and accessing supercomputers
- The Molecular Hamiltonian
- Atomic units and the Born-Oppenheimer approximation
- The Hartree-fock method and approximations
- Linear combination of atomic orbitals, Slater deteminants, Variational principle Wavefunctions and Basis functions
- Geometry optimisation, stationary states, frequency calculations
Ø Contemporary Chemistry – A Link with the Past
- Role of protein structure in the design of enzyme inhibitors
- Link between DNA structure and anticancer agents
- Human genome project and the structure of DNA
- Cell-cell recognition and the structure of sugars
- Role of stereochemistry on the activity of bioactive agents/metabolites
Ø NMR Spectroscopy
- Basic principles
- Relaxation effects
- Nuclear Overhauser Effect
- Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy
Ø Reactive Intermediates in Organic Synthesis
- Properties of reactive intermediates in organic chemistry and evidence for their existence
- Methods of generating reactive intermediates
- Typical reactions of reactive intermediates
- Use of reactive intermediates in the synthesis of complex molecules
Ø Statistical Mechanics of Liquids
- Statistical description of liquids in terms of the classical partition function
- Correlation functions: radial distribution function, velocity autocorrelation function, mean squared displacement
- van der Waals picture of liquids
- Free energy calculations
- Simulation methods: molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo
Ø Special topic in chemistry
This module is offered by external chemistry experts and the content varies each year depending on availability of external experts (e.g. three-dimensional structure determination, advanced organic synthetic chemistry, etc.). -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes # Learning Outcome Safety management tests Formative & Summative Pass/Fail
7 Assignments Formative & Summative 0% - 100% * 1 – 8 Quiz Formative & Summative 0% - 10% * 1 – 4 Written Exams Summative 0% - 100% * 1 – 8 Assessment Detail
Safety management tests: (Pass/Fail)
Students will be trained and tested in the following fundamental safety requirements specific to chemistry: chemical management, hazard management, RMMS risk assessments and NMR induction. A short test will be taken at the end of each session to ensure students understand the content covered. An opportunity to repeat the tests will be offered if necessary.
Assignments: (0%-100% of total course grade) *
Depending on the modules selected, assignments constitute 0% to 100% of the total course grade.
Assignments are used during the semester to address understanding of and ability to use the course material and to provide students with a benchmark for their progress in the course.
Quiz: (10%) *
Depending on the modules selected, the quiz constitutes 0% to 10% of the total course grade.
The quiz is used during the semester to address understanding of and ability to use the course material and to provide students with a benchmark for their progress in the course.
Written Examination: (0%-100% of total course grade) *
Depending on the modules selected, written exams constitute 0% to 100% of the total course grade (1 exam per module, up to 3 exams in total). Written exams are used to assess the understanding of an ability to use the material covered in modules during the semester.
* Assessment item weighting depends on modules selected by students.Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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