Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

The Australian National University

A basic understanding of chemistry is critically important for anyone planning a career in science, medicine or engineering. Chemistry impacts on all of our lives from the safe handling of common household chemicals to understanding the chemical effects of compounds on our health from dietary intake including foodstuffs and medicines, the air we breathe, the fuels we burn, the chemicals we manufacture and use, and their environmental consequences.The major in Chemistry will provide students with a depth and breadth of understanding of chemical knowledge that is essential for anyone contemplating further study in chemistry or a career in the chemical or pharmaceutical industries. In combination with a major in Biology it forms an ideal background for further study in biological or medicinal research. The highly transferable lab-based skills in the manipulation of glassware, the safe handling and use of chemicals, the application of techniques and instrumentation, and experimental process will stand students in excellent stead in a variety of disciplinary contexts.Learning OutcomesCombine depth and breadth of understanding of chemical knowledge to discern the structure, bonding, properties, characterisation and reactivity of molecular and macromolecular compounds and solid state materials.Integrate chemical concepts and ideas to solve problems of a chemical nature.Use well developed laboratory based skills to perform qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis.Prepare, isolate, purify and characterise chemical compounds and design a synthetic pathway to them based on literature precedents.

000335K