Basic laboratory work in chemistry

For the students of the Bachelor's Programme in Science (in English):

"Atoms, Molecules and Interactions" (BSCH1001) and "Organic Chemistry 1" (BSCH1003) should be studied before this course. The course "Energy, Reactivity and Chemical Equilibrium" (BSCH1002) must be taken in parallel with KEK105, if not studied earlier.

The students of other bachelor programmes (i.e. chemistry minors): please consult the course pages of KEK105 in Finnish and Swedish!

Upon completing the course the student:

-recognizes the risk factors in laboratory work

• the health threatening influences, as well as the explosive and flammable properties of compounds
• risk factors of the glassware and electrical equipment

-can work safely in a laboratory

1. can find out the risk factors involved in the work to be done
2. can protect themselves against the risk factors
3. knows how to follow safe working methods
4. knows how to act in laboratory accidents

-can handle and sort chemical waste (water solutions, organic solvents, solids) correctly

-recognizes the importance of laboratory work as a part of the science, and identifies analytic and synthetic work as the main forms of laboratory work-

is able to make observations and explain them in relation to theory concepts

• electronic structures of atoms, thermochemistry, rate and rate constants of reactions, protolysis, solubility, and electrochemistry

-is able to do calculations based on experimental results and compare them with literature

• is able to consider the accuracy, reliability, and sources of error in their experimental results-

is able to carry out the basic steps of a synthesis according to instructions: synthesis – isolation – purification – analysis

• can implement the following: stirring a mixture using magnetic or mechanical stirrers, heating a solution under a condenser, distillation under normal and reduced pressure, recrystallization, filtering, extraction, sublimation
• can employ physical analysis methods such as melting point, boiling point, refraction index, and thin layer chromatography for characterizing and analyzing the quality of the synthesis product
• is able to measure and interpret an IR spectrum

Lecture notes for the laboratory safety section, a compendium of the instructions for the lab work, report template and synthesis forms.

The course is completed by mandatory laboratory exercises, including written reports.

The course is completed when all the required works (lab safety exam, lab report in the inorganic part and synthesis forms in the organic part) are properly completed and accepted. Assessment scale: Pass/fail.

Laboratory work.

The course is compulsory in the English-speaking Bachelor’s Programme in Science on the study track in chemistry.

It is compulsory also in the Bachelor’s Programme in Chemistry, and in chemistry modules in Bachelor's Programme for Teachers of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. These are taught in Finnish and Swedish.

Bachelor level course.

Available also to students from other degree programmes.

The course is offered annually in Period II (60 students, teaching in Finnish and Swedish) and in Period IV (40 students, teaching in Finnish and English).

Recommended timing in different programmes:

• the Chemistry Track of the Bachelor programme in Science: first year Spring term
• students of other degree programmes should consult the instructions of KEK105 given in Finnish or Swedish.

KEK100, KEK150, BSCH100

If a student has obtained credits from a corresponding laboratory course but the credits have expired, the number of lab works and reporting required must be discussed with the teacher in charge of the course.

Finnish, Swedish, English

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