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Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Analysis Laboratory

Code: 105044
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Chemistry OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Roberto Boada Romero
Email :
roberto.boada@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Manel Alcala Bernardez
Xavier Ceto Alseda
Roberto Boada Romero
Ignacio Villarroya Antillac
Antonio Calvo Lopez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Having studied or being currently enrolled in Spectroscopic Analysis Methods and Separation Techniques.

Have passed the security test (virtual campus) and follow the established regulations. Wear the lab coat and the safety glasses.

Objectives

The main objective of the subject is that the student reaches the competences indicated in the corresponding section.

The general objectives are:

1. Apply the fundamental laws and the theoretical principles acquired by the student in the courses of the subjects referenced in Prerequisites section.

2. To familiarize the student with the use of specific instrumentation, the acquisition of data in the laboratory and its interpretation, the introduction to the methods of analysis of data.

3. To develop in the student a critical mentality that refers to the level of confidence of their measures, calculations and the interpretation of results.

Learning outcomes

  1. Communicate orally and in writing in one's own language.
  2. Manage the organisation and planning of tasks.
  3. Resolve problems and make decisions.
  4. Obtain information, including by digital means.
  5. Manage, analyse and synthesise information.
  6. Use IT to treat and present information.
  7. Have numerical calculation skills.
  8. Work in a team and show concern for interpersonal relations at work.
  9. Operate with a certain degree of autonomy and integrate quickly in the work setting.
  10. Reason in a critical manner
  11. Be ethically committed.
  12. Adapt to new situations.
  13. Propose creative ideas and solutions.
  14. Show initiative and an enterprising spirit.
  15. Show motivation for quality.
  16. Show sensitivity for environmental issues.
  17. Relate the acquired knowledge with the use of the corresponding analytical techniques in the laboratory.
  18. Recognise and interpret the stages of an analytical procedure.
  19. Use statistical methods to treat the results of analyses and obtain quality information.
  20. Recognise some of the different instruments and equipment used in spectrophotometric methods and analytical chromatography.
  21. Apply statistical methods to treat data.
  22. Apply suitable calibration methods in each case studied.
  23. Apply the acquired theoretical contents to the explanation of experimental phenomena.
  24. Critically evaluate experimental results and deduce their meaning.
  25. Develop the habits and skills of a laboratory.
  26. Observe the physical and chemical properties of different substances.
  27. Interpret the data from observations and measurements in the laboratory in terms of their meaning and of the theories sustaining the same.
  28. Follow standard laboratory procedures.
  29. Perform a synthetic and analytic study to determine chemical and physical properties using instructions supplied for a detailed procedure.
  30. Identify the main reagents in a laboratory and their commercial presentation.
  31. Manipulate the main reagents and dissolvents in a chemistry laboratory.
  32. Draft a laboratory logbook containing descriptions of the developed procedures, the observations made, the results obtained, the interpretation of the same and the conclusions.
  33. Use spectroscopy devices to confirm experimental results.
  34. Use the basic materials of a chemical laboratory.
  35. Handle instruments to record different types of spectrums.
  36. Evaluate the influences of variable parameters in measurement, such as concentration, temperature, pressure, dissolvent, etc.
  37. Handle the instruments and material used in different separation techniques.
  38. Handle laboratory instruments and materials for the determination of chemical and physical properties and the analysis of products and reagents.
  39. Use data processors to produce reports.
  40. Interpret the data obtained from experimental measurements to express a chemical structure.
  41. Interpret experimental data obtained from separation processes in the laboratory.
  42. Interpret the data on chromatographic separation processes obtained using computer tools (simulation programs).
  43. Relate experimental data with the physical and chemical properties and/or analysis of the systems that are the object of study.
  44. Relate the result obtained with the original information, including the correct interpretation of the errors associated to the value obtained.
  45. Properly use the necessary computer tools to calculate, graphically represent and interpret the data obtained, as well as its quality.
  46. Use suitable strategies for the safe elimination of reagents.
  47. Recognise potentially dangerous reagents and dissolvents.
  48. Safely handle inflammable, toxic and/or corrosive reagents.
  49. Evaluate risks in the use of chemicals and laboratory procedures.
  50. Work safely in the laboratory while following the adequate procedure.
  51. Describe basic safety regulations.
  52. Follow safety procedures in the chemistry laboratory.
  53. Use safety equipment properly.
  54. Recognise the use of each reagent in the laboratory and take appropriate safety precautions in each case (special goggles and/or gloves, extractor hood, gas mask, etc.).
  55. Safely handle the different radiations involved in each spectroscopic technique.
  56. Safely handle the electrical circuits that form part of different spectrometers.
  57. Recognise potential risks in the laboratory before they are produced.
  58. Interpret the safety notes on chemistry products.
  59. Perform correct evaluations of the health risks and environmental impact of magnetic fields.
  60. Selectively distinguish the rejection of reagents and chemical products.
  61. Use the most common English chemistry terms.
  62. Follow standard laboratory procedures described in English.
  63. Understand the labelling of chemical reagents in English.

Contents

SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS:


- Atomic absorption spectroscopy


- Atomic emission spectroscopy


- UV-Visible Spectrophotometry


- Fluorescence spectrometry


 


CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS:


- Gas chromatography


- Liquid chromatography

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Development of the laboratory practices 48 1.92 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63
Lectures in a classroom 1 0.04 17, 51, 57
Reading and study of guidelines, search for documents and complementary information, preparation of laboratory practices, writting of reports 23 0.92 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 61

There will be an initial seminar (1 hour) which will cover:

- methodology to be developed during the practice sessions

- safety rules and good practices for working in the laboratory

- interpretation and statistical treatment of the results

- relevant information on each of the experimental practices to be developed in the laboratory

- evaluation criteria

Students will be instructed in the use of spectrometry and chromatography equipment with which they will carry out different chemical analysis and/or methodologies to obtain specific analytical information for each sample or for a set of samples. There will be 12 laboratory sessions with a duration of 4 hours. The students will have the guiding notes for the practices in advance. These guiding notes will contain information about the experiment to be carried out so that the students will be able to gather the necessary information and to carry out the calculations nedeed to carry out the experimental part in a fluent manner and to be able to interpret the results critically. It is the student's obligation to prepare the practice and to perform the calculations necessary for the correct development of the experiment.

The experimental data and observations will be written in the laboratory notebook (paper or digital) during the development of the practice. Each couple of students will fill out and/or write the practice report and submit it through a task prepared for this purpose on the virtual campus or in paper format, as indicated by the teaching staff. All results obtained in the laboratory will be presented in tables and/or graphs with the uncertainties and corresponding units.

For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively in support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Personal work 10% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63
Results of the laboratory practice 20% 0 0 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 57, 62
Report of the results 30% 0 0 6, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 27, 32, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
Written exam 40% 3 0.12 3, 7, 10, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 27, 40, 41, 43, 44, 51, 58, 61

The evaluation process follows the principle of continuous evaluation. The overall score will be constituted by the weighted sum of 2 sections: laboratory (60%) and written exam (40%).

Attendance to the initial seminar and to the laboratory is mandatory. An unjustified absence involves a score equal to zero for that practice. The laboratory score will consist mainly of the qualification of the reports, but may include, with different weights, other concepts such as: prelab tests (short written test to verify that the student has adequately prepared the practice that he/she is going to perform); laboratory notebook; behavior and attitude. The concepts to be evaluated and the corresponding weighting factors will be explained in the presentation of the laboratory. If a student obtains a score <5 in the laboratory, or assistance has been less than 85% of practices, the subject will be considered \"failed\" and the score of the failed laboratory will be the global grade of the subject.

The score of the written exam must be equal to or higher than 4.0 in order to be taken into account in the calculation of the weighted average of the overall score of the subject. If this minimum score of 4.0 is not obtained, a retake exam will be available. If the retake exam does not reach 4.0, the subject will be considered “failed” and the grade of the subject will be the score of the failed exam.

There is the possibility of taking the retake exam to improve the exam grade. In this case, the final exam grade will be:

1) equal to that of the retake exam, if the retake exam grade is greater than the final exam grade.

2) equal to the average of the final exam and the retake exam, if the retake exam grade is lower than the final exam grade.

In the event that the subject is failed, but the laboratory score is higher than 6.5, it will not be mandatory to repeat the laboratory practices in the following academic year and the laboratory score will be kept, as long as 75% of laboratory practices were the same as the previous year in which the subject was suspended.

To participate in the retake exam, students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities the weight of which equals a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the subject and have reached a global grade equal or higher than 5.

In the case ofnon-compliance with safety regulations, a student may be expelled from the laboratory and suspend the practice of that day. In the case of serious or repetitive breach of safety regulations may be expulsion from the laboratory and suspend the subject.

In the event that a student has not attended more than 20% of the laboratory practices, the subject will be considered as non-evaluable.

The commission of any irregularity in an evaluation activity (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI, unless this use is expressly authorized in the teaching guide), which may lead to a significant variation in the grade, means that this act will be graded with a 0. In the event that the teaching guide provides that in order to pass the subject it is an essential requirement to have obtained a minimum grade in this evaluation activity or that several irregularities occur in the evaluation of the same subject, the final grade for this subject is 0. Apart from this, a disciplinary process may be initiated against the student who incurs any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

P.W. ATKINS.; J. DE PAULA; Atkins' Physical Chemistry. 9ª ed. Oxford University Press, 2009. (Traducción de la 8ª ed., Ed. Pananmericana, 2008)

J. Guiteras, R. Rubio, G. Fonrodona; Curso experimental de Química Analítica. Ed. Sintesis 2003.

D.A. Skoog, F.J.Holler, T.A. Nieman; Principios de Análisis Instrumental, 5ª ed Mc Graw Hil, 2001.

D.C.Harris, C.A. Lucy; Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 9th ed. Mac Millan Education, 2016.

[online versión, ed. 2006 (catalan) https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/1c3utr0/cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC5758242)]

J.N. Miller, J.C. Miller Statistics and Chemometrics for Analytical Chemistry 6th ed.

Software

Microsoft Excel will be used

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 2 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 2 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 3 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 3 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 4 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 4 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon