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CHEM10210

Academic Year 2025/2026

Aspects of Chemical and Environmental Analysis (CHEM10210)

Subject:
Chemistry
College:
Science
School:
Chemistry
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Robert Johnson
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Aspects of Chemical and Environmental Analysis is about answering two related questions. The first, is "What have we got?" and the second, "How much of it do we have?".

The first part of this module introduces some of the experimental and statistical techniques that are used in answering these two questions, with broad applicability across relevant industries, such as forensic science, environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical quality control, medical diagnostics and food safety.

The second part of this module focuses on the application of environmental analytical chemistry to detect and quantify the diverse chemical components of environmental samples, for example ambient air, river water and soil.

Throughout the module, theoretical concepts are introduced alongside relevant numerical, graphing, data interpretation and software skills to build confidence in the handling, processing and critical assessment of quantitative laboratory data relevant to all experimental scientists (chemists, biologists, environmental scientists etc.) and so will be useful for students regardless of the scientific discipline within which they intend to specialise.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will have a broader appreciation of the commonly and/or historically used analytical techniques and how to analyse and interpret data. Students will also gain more in depth-knowledge or emerging and established pollutants of concern in the aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environments and how such pollutants are monitored.

Indicative Module Content:

1. Volumetric Analysis
Reversible reactions & equilibria. The equilibrium constant. mono and multi-protic acids. Acid-base equilibria. Precipitation and and complexation equilibria. Acid-base titration. Titration curves. Precipitation and complexation titration. The Kjeldahl method, Winkler method, Mohr's method and other industrially relevant titrations.

2. Potentiometric Analysis
Electrodes, electrochemical equilibria and the Nernst equation. Liquid junctions. The pH meter and ion selective electrodes. Redox titrations with indicators. Potentiometry and ion selective electrodes. Redox titration curves. The Karl-Fisher titration and other industrially relevant redox titrations.

3. Electro- Analysis
Electrolysis and electro-gravimetric analysis. Amperometry, the Clark electrode and the blood glucose monitor. Coulometric titration. Basic principles of cyclic voltammetry. Stripping analysis. Coulter counters and nanopores for single-molecule measurement.

4. Radiometric Analysis
Isotopes and types of radiation. First order kinetics and radioactive decay. Radiation detection and quantification. Gamma spectroscopy, liquid scintillation counting. Positron Emission Tomography. Radiometric tracers.

5. Chemical Analysis of the Aquatic Environment
Water quality. Pollution of the aquatic environment. Bulk components and trace substances. Contaminants of emerging concern. Water sampling, field measurements and laboratory analysis. Spectrophotometry and colorimetry. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

6. Chemical Analysis of the Terrestrial Environment
Soil and sediment pollution. Nutrients, minerals and contaminants. Cation exchange capacity. Sample collection, preparation and extraction. Combustion analysis. X-Ray fluorescence. Inductively coupled plasma analysis.

7. Chemical Analysis of the Atmospheric Environment
Atmospheric pollution. Gaseous pollutants, particulate matter and Volatile Organic Compounds. Air sampling and remote sensing. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Infrared spectroscopy.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

16
Tutorial

8
Laboratories

9
Autonomous Student Learning

72
Total

105

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures and workshops. Laboratories.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

CHEM00010, OR Grade H5 or above in Leaving Certificate Higher Level Chemistry, OR O1 in Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level Chemistry, OR equivalent.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): An in-person online Brightspace multiple choice or paper multiple-choice final exam on all parts of the course. End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: 2 online multiple choice quizzes. Week 6, Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Report(s): Laboratory reports.

Note: Assessment time is indictive. Reports are generally due 1 week after the relevant laboratory experiment.		 Week 3, Week 5, Week 7, Week 9 Graded No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 9th Edition - Daniel C. Harris,

Analytical Chemistry 2.1 - David Harvey. (Online Text)

Name Role
Dr Liana Zoumpouli Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 23, 25 Tues 15:00 - 17:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 2 Week(s) - 24, 26 Tues 15:00 - 17:50
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