CH3013:03
Instrumental Analytical Techniques
Townsville
Prerequisites: CH2012
32 lectures, 42 hours practicals. First semester.
Staff: Dr M Ridd, Dr B McCool, Assoc. Professor G Meehan.
Radiochemical techniques – instrumentation, neutron activation analysis, tracers used in biogeochemical studies. Electroanalytical techniques used in trace and microanalysis, theoretical basis of a range of voltammetric techniques, potentiometric stripping analysis. Spectrometric techniques. Mass spectrometry in organic structure elucidation, compound identification and trace metal analysis. X-ray fluorescence and diffraction, atomic spectroscopy. Separation techniques – HPLC and GC. Automated techniques – flow injection analysis. Safety and risk assessment.
Learning Objectives:
- to extend the students’ awareness of the range of techniques available to the chemist for both the qualitative and quantitative analysis of materials encountered in industry, research and environmental situations;
- to provide a suitable background in analytical techniques for students wishing to continue with further study in chemistry or wishing to pursue a career in industry or government laboratories;
- to give students an insight into the principles of operation of the analytical instruments found in research and industrial laboratories;
- to provide knowledge of the application of a range of techniques to the analysis of the constituents of chemical systems ranging from single component systems through to complex chemical matrices;
- to enable students to choose the most appropriate technique for obtaining the desired analytical information about the system under study.
Assessment by a three-hour examination at the end of semester (70%); practical reports and performance in the laboratory (30%).