Chemistry BSc (Hons)

30 credits

You will gain a thorough grounding in mathematical, presentation, reporting and IT skills to support your scientific progress. This module will help you develop effective learning strategies and provides the foundation for your personal and career development.  

This module will introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Navigate. You will be supported by themed tutor meetings enabling students to work on tasks to develop their graduate attributes.

30 credits

Chemistry impacts many spheres of everyday life. From paints and coatings to smartphone’s electrochromic displays, small molecule drugs to the understanding of biochemical processes necessary for life.  

This module will revisit chemistry topics taught at A level and build on them to ensure you become familiar with the core chemistry concepts necessary to the chemical, pharmaceutical and biochemical sciences. There is a key focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

30 credits

This module is designed to ignite your curiosity and deepen your understanding of chemistry’s role in our world. You will dive into the fascinating world of molecular quantum mechanics with this module. You’ll explore key trends in the periodic table, focusing on select elements from groups 1, 13, and 17. You will discover the unique properties of coordination compounds.  

You’ll delve into the critical topics of atmospheric and aquatic pollution, understanding their environmental impacts. Throughout the course, you’ll also connect your learning to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, gaining a global perspective on sustainability, including the environmental consequences of the release of chemical species and potential solutions to environmental pollution.

30 credits

This module covers the basic concepts and practical skills necessary to underpin your course, including considering sustainability. You will learn about different separation methods, including classical distillation and recrystallisation, various chromatographic techniques, and small-scale analytical chromatographic techniques such as gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography.  

You will be introduced to electromagnetic radiation, the techniques of infrared spectroscopy, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. This will be developed with a set of 'combined structure problems' which simulate real-world situations where unknown organic compounds are identified solely from their spectroscopic data.

30 credits

This module contains four main strands: electrochemistry, phase equilibria, kinetics and spectroscopy.  

You will investigate the electrochemistry of ionic solutions and cells, and its applications to chemical thermodynamics. You will learn how to interpret phase diagrams.

You will explore kinetics and thermodynamics, including transition state theory of chemical reactions, complex reaction mechanisms and their kinetic analysis. You will be introduced to statistical thermodynamics and partition functions.

You will discover the quantum mechanics and the theory underlying both rotational (microwave) and vibrational (Infra-red and Raman) spectroscopies.

30 credits

You will increase your knowledge of analysis and practical procedures, with an emphasis on analytical and experimental organic chemistry.  

Your laboratory skills will be taken to a new level, as you develop the research skills required to devise experiments and then objectively assess results. The Future Skills Explore learning outcomes are delivered in this module. You will develop other important graduate attributes and skills, such as utilising statistics, preparing high-quality reports and delivering presentation, all of which improve employability.

The analytical methodologies and experimental techniques are those used routinely in academia, industry, and other laboratory research: spectroscopy, organic syntheses, molecular modelling, inorganic and physical chemistries, and the uses of applied separation technologies in common use. This module aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly those related to Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).

30 credits

You will build upon the theory and principles developed previously and apply these to second and third row transition metals, the lanthanides and Groups 14 and 15.  

You will be introduced to solid state chemistry with a consideration of defects and conductivity, the bonding and reactivity of inorganic complexes and organometallics.  

The fundamental knowledge on Main Group and Transition Metal chemistry will help you to understand concepts of modern industrial processes and materials design.  

This module meets some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), including Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).

30 credits

The module develops understanding of both Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry introducing important principles, reactions, and mechanisms in organic chemical reactivity as well as basic mechanisms of drug action.  

You will build on concepts introduced in your first year, including carbanion reactivity of carbonyl compounds, the reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds, stereochemistry and asymmetric synthesis. You will also be introduced to drug design and the role this plays in the modern pharmaceutical industry, including retrosynthesis and the use of it in identifying different synthetic routes in manufacturing generic drugs.

You will explore sustainable options for synthesis, which contributes to the UN Sustainability Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), using examples from a range of medicinal areas to illustrate these key processes.

30 credits

This module addresses some of the most current and industrially relevant areas of applied chemistry.  

Key topics include polymer chemistry, Nano materials synthesis and applications, heterogeneous catalysis, green chemistry, sustainable practices in chemistry, intellectual property and health and safety.  

You will gain a grounding in commercially and industrially relevant topics in chemistry as well as honing key employability skills.  

Several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are particularly relevant to this module, including SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

30 credits

You will enhance your knowledge of atomic and molecular electronic structure, photochemistry and spectroscopy.

You will hone your understanding of important concepts of surface chemistry through the study of various surface phenomena, such as spectroscopy and photochemistry, surface adsorption and micellisation.  

The inorganic chemistry topics focus on ligands with multiple donor atoms and their complexes, applications in supramolecular chemistry, and aspects of main group chemistry.

15 credits

Natural products have played a significant role in drug discovery, from commonly used drugs such as aspirin to potent pain relievers such as morphine and complex chemotherapy drugs like Taxol.

Understanding the role of natural products in drug discovery as well as looking at ways in which we can synthesise them is an important part of medicinal and organic chemistry. This module follows on from the second-year organic chemistry topics and will take you on a journey of discovery through the biosynthesis and synthesis as well as isolation from natural sources of some exciting naturally derived compounds.

The module aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 15: Life on Land. These goals collectively support the broader aim of sustainable development and improving global health.

30 credits

The module provides you with an opportunity to undertake a scientific project and develop skills required to plan a project, develop a methodology, analyse the data and disseminate the results.  

There are several types of projects that may be offered to you: laboratory, data projects involving acquisition of data and information from surveys, computer simulations, or a systematic review of research literature that includes the collection, analysis, and original presentation of reported research data.  

Your project will include a review and critical evaluation of qualitative and quantitative information and data to address a hypothesis or research question, and the production of a written report.

15 credits

This module gives you a dedicated opportunity to develop your Future Skills Graduate Attributes. 

At the start of the module, you will be supported to self-assess your current skills profile. You will determine which attributes and skills you need to develop to support your career ambitions. In this process, you will be supported by a dedicated career coach, helping you explore a range of options that includes self-employment/freelancing, starting your own business, higher level study, and other professional graduate-level opportunities. Throughout the module, you will be given opportunities to engage with external mentors, to support reflection and to develop a professional network.

You will undertake a tailored series of activities and projects, aligned to your goals, from a menu of development options. This could include short courses, enrichment activities and experiential learning options such as micro-placements. You will also be able to reflect on activities outside the University that develop your graduate attributes, such as work or volunteering.