CM2011 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (3.0 AU)

Taken in: AY 19/20 Sem 1
Grade: B+

Midterm CA1 (20%): 22/25 → 17.6/20
Midterm CA2 (20%): 19/20
Finals (60%)

This module is conducted by 2 professors (Dr. Webster & Dr. Zhang). Apart from theory, this module has quite a bit of calculation involved, like how to calculate PSI, electrochemistry, chromatography, etc. The first part by Dr. Webster is quite easy (except electrochem which can be slightly more difficult to grasp but if you do the exercises he gives you should be fine) and he teaches well at a good pace where we can keep up. The second prof does not teach that well, in my opinion, his slides have very little information but he elaborates a lot in lecture, the stuff he says that are not in the slides are super important too and if you happen to miss it, it can be detrimental. The second prof’s exercises comprise of questions that you cannot do even after attending all lectures and with the lecture notes. Then he will spend some lecture slots to go through the questions that require content he has not taught yet. Then what is the point of asking us to attempt the exercises before he goes through them when we obviously would not know how to do right, what a waste of my time 🙃 Anyway, try to attend his last few lectures because he will give hints that may or may not be recorded in the lecture recording because he may extend his lecture past the stipulated time.

Both midterms comprise of MCQs only. The first midterm was more tricky than the second midterm, but both are manageable. The finals, though, was a mad rush and super tricky. I did not study hard enough for it because I thought since I did quite well for the midterms the finals should be fine for me, but I was so so wrong. I spent my time focusing on other modules, not sure if that was the right move. Some of my friends found the finals manageable so if you study sufficiently, it should not be a problem.

This review was reposted with the kind permission of Awesome NTU CBC Student. Originally published at https://awesomentucbcstudent.blogspot.com/2019/12/ay1920-y2s1-review.html

Year Taken: AY 17/18, Sem 1
Grade: B

Midterm 1(20%)
Midterm 2(20%)
Final(60%)

This module is about extractions, chromatography, a bit of statistics, electrochemistry and potentiometry. I think this is the first time they included PSI in the syllabus, the topic is quite interesting as we learn things that are relevant to our daily lives. Overall the first few chapters are easy, until electrochemistry and potentiometry where the calculations became complicated and sufficient practice is required to understand the concepts. Luckily the lecturers also provided questions and answers for all topics except for the PSI. Oh and even though the calculations are easy, there are quite a lot of things to remember, like the drawing of diagrams, and comparing the properties of Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Helium as mobile phase in gas chromatography. There are blanks to be filled in the lecture notes so go for the lectures as the recordings are sometimes unclear. (learnt my lesson) One of the 2 recommended textbooks is available online so can go google~

Mid terms 1 and 2 are quite straightforward, with simple calculations using the formulas given and some memory work, and must remember the significant figures and decimal places!! Mid term 1 only had short-answer questions, while mid term 2 had 25 MCQs. Just when I thought the final would be as simple as the previous years…We got the shock of our lives. You can compare the questions between 17/18 final paper and the others and see how different they are. Or maybe it’s just me not studying enough… Actually I was surprised to even get a B since I only started studying 1 day before the final exam. (I spent the whole week studying for cm2021 and a bit of cm9081, again bad choices)

This review was reposted with the kind permission of Hairdryer. Originally published at https://ionhairdryer.blogspot.com/2018/01/ay1718-ntu-spms-cbc-y2s1.html

Number crunching mod, can pass if you good at pressing calculator. On the theory side, the part on electrochem is pretty much basic stuff, but ramps up hard when you get to selective electrodes and then the types of absorption and emission spectroscopy. Really make the effort to understand and don’t just memorise esp. for the spectroscopy part – you will need all this in future 3k mod and 2062 especially, and they’re not gonna teach you the basics again. Second half on chromatography is the same: very impt to know for lab. Also the prof for my sem doesn’t vet his MCQs, some questions for midterm all options wrong.