Science
Enriched Chemistry II
Winter 2007 (Information may apply for Winter 2008, please contact Dr. Jeff Freeman for more information)
Students taking CHE NYB–General Chemistry II– during the Winter semester have the opportunity to enrich their course with an option of assessed reading and research that places their NYB course-work in an industrial, environmental, agricultural and physiological perspective. This is enrichment work (non-mathematical) for both Pure & Applied and Health Science students.
Who can enroll for the NYB –Enriched option?
Any student in any of the CHE-NYB sections for winter term who attained 85% or more in their CHE-NYA course.
What is the gain from this extra option?
Students who succeed in gaining 75% or more in the end-of-option assessment will receive a letter of attestation showing that their Chem-NYB course has been enriched. In addition, those following Honours Science may include this enriched option as credit for the Honours Science Certificate.
What is involved?
The option consists of reading and studying four units from a choice of seven and then following up this reading by some research and further reading on the topic from given sites on the Internet. Assessment will be by a short, multiple choice exam.
What are the Units?
These are assigned readings on seven topics closely involving the material studied in the general Chem-NYB course. The main sections covered are thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium and electrochemistry. At the end of each unit there are some ungraded questions, to help consolidate the material, and links for further reading and study.
The topics available for 2007 are:
A1 The Nitrogen Cycle
A look at the natural nitrogen cycle and the reliance of agriculture on artificial fertilizers to feed city populations. The Unit focuses on the Ostwald process for the manufacture of nitric acid and the production of nitrate fertilizers.
E1 The Ozone Hole
Atmospheric chemistry of the stratosphere is studied with this concise look at the chemistry of ozone and the free radical reactions that lead to its destruction. The importance of the role of CFCs as catalysts in ozone depletion is looked at in detail.
E2 Acid Rain
Despite the decline of this topic as an environmental issue in the face of global warming, acid rain continues to be a serious problem. The role of sulphur and nitrogen oxides in the atmospheric chemistry of acid rain is discussed together with the environmentally damaging consequences of the acidification of inland waters, soils and the ways in which acid erosion can be treated.
P1 Blood pH and Buffers
This Unit looks at the importance of maintaining a constant blood pH and the way in which chemical buffers control the changes in physiological pH.
P2 Enzyme Kinetics
The chemical kinetics studied in the Chem-NYB course is taken further by looking at biochemical catalysts. The rate of enzyme reactions is studied through the Mechaelis-Menten model and the main factors that effect the rate of enzyme catalysis are compared.
I1 The Nitrogen Problem
The first of two industrial units looks at the vitally important manufacture of ammonia via the Haber-Bosch process. This unit looks at the role of heterocatalysis and thermochemistry as well as rate considerations in the production of hydrogen from methane by following the industrial process to combine nitrogen and hydrogen in an energy efficient process.
I2 Winning Metals
Both copper and aluminium are important metals in modern society and the ways in which these two metals are won from their ores by electrolysis are compared.
What is the assessment?
The week before "Dead-Week" there will be a multiple-choice test of 15 questions per topic studied – 60 questions in all. The questions will test the following, where relevant:
- comprehension of the unit studied (including the given extra reading for each unit)
- knowledge and understanding of the chemistry involved.
- an understanding of the environmental problems associated with industrial and atmospheric chemistry.
- the physical chemistry aspects of physiological chemistry and chemical processing industry.
- some calculation work and data manipulation using information from the units studied as well as the general Chem-NYB course-work.
The pass mark for the test, and for the enriched option, will be 45 correct questions on the test (75%). No other written or oral work will be required.
How long will I be expected to spend on the enriched option?
This work is in addition to the normal work given by your teacher for the CHE-NYB course. The units are reasonably short but extra reading and study will be expected from given links to the Internet. It is expected that the enriched NYB option will take a minimum of 5 hours per unit = 20 hours (equivalent to 16 lectures) over 10 weeks.
Can I study more than four units?
Of course you are free to study all of the seven units available, though this will take considerably more study time than is either envisaged or required for the enriched option and would be entirely the student’s responsibility. However, in the test at the end of the option, you will only be graded on four of the units and if more than four sets of questions are attempted in any way, only the first four sets of answers will be graded.
How do I enrol for the CHE-NYB Enriched option?
In the first week the semester, your teacher will hand out this information sheet. Students are then asked to return the enrollment form by 2pm January 26th 2007 at the latest. They will then be informed if they are enrolled and the exact way in which they can access the units for study.
When do I have to complete the work?
The test date will be announced but is provisionally set to be sometime in the week April 16th – April 20th 2007.
What happens if I pass the enriched option but fail the Chem-NYB course?
The award of “enriched” is dependent upon passing the regular CHE-NYB course.
Once enrolled, do I have to complete the enriched option?
We would like you to, of course, but if your circumstances change, you can drop out at any time. After all, this is your time and your effort that is being put into enhancing your CHE-NYB course-work.
What if I have any questions about the option?
See Dr Jeff Freeman, who is co-ordinating the enriched CHE-NYB option.
