CQUniversity Unit Profile
CHEM11042 Fundamentals of Chemistry
Fundamentals of Chemistry
All details in this unit profile for CHEM11042 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will provide you with the fundamental principles of chemistry that underpin the medical sciences and provide a strong foundation on which you can develop an understanding of biochemistry and molecular science. You will gain an appreciation of the nature of matter, classic atomic structure and how energy is involved in bond formation. These concepts will be developed to explain the forces between molecules that govern chemical interaction. You will be introduced to the chemistry of electrolytes, acids, bases and buffers. This study will be supported by simple calculations to assist you in relating to the pH scale. The study of organic chemistry and molecules central to the life sciences will enable you to develop an understanding of the biochemistry and molecular biology relevant to your specific discipline. The naming and classifying of chemical compounds will enable you to be conversant with accepted scientific terms. Tutorials and on-line activities will complement the theoretical knowledge gained in lectures and provide you with the basic mathematical and analytical tools required in the application of chemistry to your specific discipline.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2023

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
3. Take Home Exam
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

Some students provided feedback that the unit was well structured, and appreciated the study guide. Students suggested was that they have found the Khan Academy videos really helpful for chemistry.

Recommendation

I recommend that the chemistry teaching team work on creating extra learning resources, such as providing useful video links on the Moodle site each week. These videos can be used to provide wider learning accessibility for visual and tactile learners.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

Some students' suggested reformatting the chemistry study guide to include hyperlinks and bookmarks, allowing for easier navigation within the resource.

Recommendation

I recommend that the chemistry teaching team collaborates with the Learning Design team to explore the possibility of converting the study guide into hyperlinks or bookmarks on the Moodle site.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

A few students still thought the lectures were not helpful, that it was simple presentation from bullet points and there were no clear explanations.

Recommendation

I recommend that the chemistry teaching team maintains an ongoing process of reviewing and updating learning materials and resources, including videos and the study guide. This will ensure that the materials remain current, relevant and engaging for students.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

Some students' feedback was to make the recorded videos more interesting and less 'monotone'. Suggestions were for more examples and in depth explanations.

Recommendation

I strongly recommend that the chemistry teaching team focus on enhancing the quality of the recorded videos and incorporate additional worked examples into the lectures. Current recordings are out of date, contain technical issues, and do not reflect the high standards we strive to offer to our students. Additionally, the teaching team should aim to provide extra learning resources on a weekly basis, such as links to relevant video resources, catering to the needs of visual and tactile learners. This approach will further enrich the learning experience for students.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

Some students still do not believe that chemistry is relevant to their chosen field and need more clarity on how the content relates back to healthcare settings and scenarios and to paramedic science. This also impacted negatively on their engagement with the units learning materials.

Recommendation

I recommend that the teaching team continues to collaborate with relevant disciplines in the unit redesign process and proactively addresses any potential issues that may arise. Furthermore, the teaching team should foster collaborative learning among students and themselves by facilitating online Q&A sessions and discussion forums. These platforms will enable students to ask questions, seek clarifications, and engage in meaningful discussions, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply concepts of atomic structure to explain molecular bonding and nuclear reactivity
  2. Apply chemical concepts to healthcare situations
  3. Identify categories of organic compounds and their potential chemical interactions
  4. Perform basic chemical calculations.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Take Home Exam - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Take Home Exam - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Supplementary

Chemistry

Edition: 4th (2018)
Authors: Blackman , Bottle , Schmid , Mocerino & Wille
Wiley Australia
Brisbane Brisbane , Qld , Australia
ISBN: 9780730363286
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Microsoft Word
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Ray Marshall Unit Coordinator
r.marshall@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Introduction to Chemistry

Matter

Atoms and Molecules

The Periodic Table

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 1, 2 and 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Ion Formation

Bonding

Intermolecular Forces

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 4, 5, 6 and 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

The Mole

Mole-Mass Conversions

Solutions and Dilutions

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 8 and 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Chemical Reactions 1

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 10 and 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1 - Online Quizzes Due: Week 4 Monday (31 July 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Chemical Reactions 2

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 11 and 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Electrolytes

Acids and Bases

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 13 and 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Buffers

Introduction to Nuclear Chemistry

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 15 and 16

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 17 and 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 2 - Calculation and Short Answer Questions Due: Week 8 Wednesday (6 Sept 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Aromatic Compounds

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 19 and 20

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Alcohols

Ethers

Alkyl Halides

Thiols and Amines

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 21, 22 and 23

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Aldehydes and Ketones

Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives

Chapter

Chemistry Foundations Study Guide -

Topics 24 and 25

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

All resources

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Quiz 2 (Part A) and Quiz 3 (Part B) both due: Week 12, Monday 2 October 2023, 11:55 pm AEST.


Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 3 - Take Home Exam Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2023) 10:00 am AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Assessment Task 1 - Online Quizzes

Task Description

This Assessment Task is comprised of 3 online quizzes designed to assess your understanding of topics presented in this unit. This assessment requires you to apply concepts presented in lectures and tutorials to determine the answers for a series of multiple-choice questions.

Quiz 1 - Matter, Atoms, Ions and Molecules.

  • Quiz 1 will contribute up to 10% of your final grade - this Quiz relates to Weeks 1 & 2 Lecture and Tutorial content and Study Guide topics 1-7.

Quiz 2 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Part A and Quiz 3 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Part B

  • Quiz 2 & 3 each contribute up to 10% of your final grade - these Quizzes relate to Weeks 8-11 Lecture and Tutorial content and Study Guide topics 17-25.

Overall, Assessment Task 1 - Online Quizzes comprises 30% of the total grade for this unit.

The quizzes are not timed, and you are allowed two attempts per quiz. The highest score of the two attempts will be recorded.

Note: quiz questions are generated randomly, and you will receive different questions on subsequent attempts.



Number of Quizzes

3


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Monday (31 July 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

• Quiz 1 is due by 11:45 pm (AEST), Monday 31 July 2023 • Quiz 2 and Quiz 3 are both due by Week 12, 11:45 pm (AEST), Monday 2 October 2023


Return Date to Students

Marks will be released after the completion of each attempt. Answers to the quiz questions will be released after each quiz has closed.


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50% (Of the total marks for Assessment Task 1)

Assessment Criteria

One mark will be awarded for each correct response.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Complete each quiz by following the link on the CHEM11042 Moodle site.

Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply concepts of atomic structure to explain molecular bonding and nuclear reactivity
  • Identify categories of organic compounds and their potential chemical interactions
  • Perform basic chemical calculations.

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assessment Task 2 - Calculation and Short Answer Questions

Task Description

Assessment Task 2 - Calculations and Short Answer Questions, has been designed to assess your comprehension of the concepts presented in the unit through their application to answer a series of questions.

This assessment relates to Weeks 3-6 Lecture and Tutorial content and Study Guide topics 8-14.

All workings must be provided for answers to calculation questions.

Inclusion of correct concentration units and chemical notation is expected.

Short answer questions may require you to explain, reason, describe, analyse, or evaluate information and provide an appropriately detailed written response.

Marks will be awarded for each question as indicated in the Assessment Task 2 - Task Sheet (that will be available on the CHEM11042 Moodle site).

The task will be available from moodle on Week 5 Monday 7 August 2023 


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Wednesday (6 Sept 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

Please submit as a word document with your name and student number in the file title. this will be submitted via moodle.


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Wednesday (20 Sept 2023)

Assessment will be returned within 2 weeks of submission


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Maximum marks available for each question will be indicated in the Assessment Task 2 - Task Sheet that will become available on the CHEM11042 Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please upload your submission as a Microsoft Word document by following the instructions on the Moodle site for CHEM11042

Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply chemical concepts to healthcare situations

3 Take Home Exam

Assessment Title
Assessment Task 3 - Take Home Exam

Task Description

Assessment Task 3 - Take Home Exam, will cover content you have studied this term. This assessment will be in the form of a written assessment that will be made available via Moodle during the university's standard exam period. The assessment must be attempted and submitted within the 48 -hour time period. Please upload your completed Take Home Exam via Moodle as a Microsoft Word document.

In completing this assessment, you should note the following:

• Attempt all questions

• All submissions should be typed and saved as a Microsoft Word document

• Show all calculations and detailed workings as required

• Completed assessment is to be submitted via upload on Moodle page.

The breakdown of topics to be covered in Assessment Task 3 will be made available on Moodle prior to the Take Home Exam date.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2023) 10:00 am AEST

The take-home exam will become available for download on 10 AM Monday 9 October and Is due 10 AM Wednesday 11 October AEST


Return Date to Students

Marks will be returned via Moodle, 7-14 days after the Take-Home Exam is submitted.


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Maximum marks available for each question will be indicated in the Assessment Task 3 - Take Home Exam paper that will become available on the CHEM11042 Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please upload your submission as a Microsoft Word document or PDF file by following the instructions on the Moodle site for CHEM11042

Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply concepts of atomic structure to explain molecular bonding and nuclear reactivity
  • Identify categories of organic compounds and their potential chemical interactions
  • Perform basic chemical calculations.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?