S(X)S031 Further Laboratory Skills for Chemistry

This laboratory school will enable you to get some hands-on experience in the Open University teaching laboratories at Walton Hall. The laboratory work will enable you to develop your practical skills through experiments involving inorganic, organic, analytical and physical chemistry.

Suitability

This laboratory school builds on learning outcomes from the study of other Chemistry modules. We recommend you take this module after S(X)S021 and either alongside or after successful completion of S315. Lab coats and all other PPE will be provided. 

This laboratory school is compulsory for R59 students. It is optional for students on all other qualifications.

If you have any additional requirements (e.g. accessibility or dietary requirements), please can you highlight these at an early stage so that we can discuss the reasonable adjustments that may need to be made.

Information for 2025-26 will be added shortly

Travel and accommodation:

You will need to book and pay for your own accommodation, travel and food associated with the lab-school. The tuition fee for the course and these additional costs cannot be covered with a part time tuition fee loan. When booking accommodation please be aware of transportation requirements as the campus is several miles from the centre of Milton Keynes.

Experiments and techniques covered in the practical sessions 

This module will provide you with good laboratory practice (GLP) skills, as well as an awareness of the relevant laboratory health and safety risk assessment processes and working practices. You will be carrying out both individual and small team working activities, helping to develop team working skills - engagement with this team working aspect is essential.

There are three experiments:

• Physical chemistry: electrochemistry
• Inorganic chemistry: copper and zinc complexes as nucleases
• Organic chemistry: stilbene synthesis

There are no assignments for this practical school.  However, in order to pass and for your attendance to be included in your academic transcript on StudentHome, you will need to meet the participation requirement of attending more than 80% of the school. Whilst at the school you will record data, analysis and interpretations in your lab manual and discuss/present your data/findings, and this will be reviewed and signed off by one of the tutors.  You may then include this as evidence within your portfolio for employability purposes.