First Year Chemistry Practicals

1. First Year Chemistry Practicals Friday 2:00 pm Pre-Practical Talks in G1 Weeks 10-16, 19-30

2. 1st Year practical Course • 18 experiments encompassing analytical (2), inorganic (5), physical (5) and organic chemistry (6) • Makes up ~30% of final year mark • Must pass practical course to be allowed to sit the summer exam and pass the year • For any missed practical due to illness, a doctor’s certificate must be shown, otherwise marks for that experiment will be lost • An overall practical mark of <30% constitutes a fail

3. Lab Manuals • Lab manuals & molecular model kit for sale (€10) after this pre-practical talk in G31 • Manuals contain all the information you will need concerning each practical • Benches and glassware lockers/keys will be assigned today (€5 refundable) • Remember to bring the keys to your locker and your lab manual to each weeks session

4. Safety In the Laboratory • Safety glasses and lab coats must be worn at all times • Can be bought in student centre • Bags to be left in your locker – not in the lab or in the corridor • No eating or drinking in the labs (food or chemicals) • Always read safety notes for each experiment (in your manual)

5. Safety in the Laboratory • No food, drink, mobile phones • Take care with any hazardous chemicals • Any volatile/pungent chemicals to be handled in the fumehood • In the event of an accident, notify your demonstrator immediately • Be careful, and concentrate on what you are doing • Pre-practical talks held before each session

6. Experimental Reports • Reports to be written for each experiment • Reports of previous weeks experiments handed in to your demonstrator at the beginning of each session • Marks will be deducted for late submission of reports

7. Experimental Reports • Typically between 3-5 pages in length • All questions in the lab manuals must be answered • ½ page to 1 page sufficient for the introduction and for the discussion • If you are unsure of what is required, ask your demonstrator

8. Format of Reports • Title of experiment • Date • Introduction • Experimental Procedure (written in past imperfect tense eg: 0.5g of copper was weighed out) • Observations • Results • Discussion

9. Opening practical • Next practical on Friday 9th Nov • Practicals to be held each week thereafter • Read your lab manuals to familiarise yourself with the experiment before each session

10. Go to G31 to buy your lab manuals • Will also be assigned bench/glassware lockers/demonstrators • Fill out the information forms on your bench • Do Test!