TEACHING GUIDE

DEGREE: PHARMACY

YEAR: 2018-2019
ND
COURSE: 2

COURSE TITLE
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

ECTS TYPE Period Calendar Pre-requisites

st nd
Total Basic Mandatory Year 1 sem. 2 sem Weeks
6 X 2 X 15 BASIC CHEMISTRY

COURSE LANGUAGE
Castellano Valenciano English X

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC AREA OF KNOWLEDGE

PHARMACY Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry

Course Coordinator and other Professors

Name Mª Teresa Albelda

Office / Faculty

E-mail maria.albelda@uchceu.es
Student appointment
schedule
Appointments by email

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

For most of the pharmacist professionals, analytical techniques are a tool for their work, not an objective.
Although it is possible for pharmacist to develop his/her career in a laboratory employing different
techniques, it is much more likely that he or she will use, interpret and take decisions based on the results
provided by other analysts.

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INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Thus, the pharmacist to be must acquire a global overview of the basics of Analytical Chemistry, a general
view of the classical Analytical Techniques and the foundations and applications of modern instrumental
analytical techniques, especially those related to the health care system.

PRE-REQUISITES
It is required that the student had passed the following subjects:
 Basic Organic/Inorganic Nomenclature
 Chemical Equilibria
 Chemical Equation Balancing
 Acid/Base concepts
 Redox Chemistry
 Statistics

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this subject is to provide a basic overview, in theoretical and practical terms, of the
different analytical techniques that are currently employed (classical and instrumental) with special attention to
those used in the health care system. It is intended that, at the end of this course, the student will understand
how the analytical information is obtained, how to make a correct use of the main analytical techniques
currently in use, learn about their limitations and learn to make correct decisions based on the analytical
information available.

GENERAL AND SPECIFIC SKILLS OFFERED BY THE COURSE

Basic abilities
BA1 Basic Ability 1 (RD861):
Students must demonstrate they possess and understand the knowledge of an area of studies that has its
basis at the mandatory secondary education. The level of this knowledge is supported on advanced textbooks
but also include some aspects that imply concepts that derive from the cutting edge of this area of studies.
BA2 Basic Ability 2 (RD 861)
Students must know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional form, they must
possess the abilities that are employed in the elaboration and defense of arguments, and must know how to
solve problems within their area of study.
BA3 Basic Ability 3 (RD861)
Students must have the ability of compiling and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in
order to provide opinions that include thoughts about social, scientific or ethical topics.
BA4 Basic Ability 4 (RD861)
Students must know how to communicate information, ideas and solution to a specialized and a not specialized
audience.
BA5 Basic Ability 5 (RD861)
Studens must show they developed those learning abilities required to follow later studies with a high degree of
autonomy.
Specific abilities
This particular subject provides the student the following abilities:
 Identifying and understanding the relevance of every stage of the analytical process.
 Learning how the analytical data is acquired, which are their limitations and how it must be employed
to make the correct decisions in their area of interest.
 Acquiring a basic knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of the basic analytical techniques, the
chemical reactions and the physical principles at which they are based. Also, of the main applications
of the determination of analytes in samples with interest for health (drugs, food, water and other
samples with its origin in the environment).
 Learning the main separation techniques and instrumental techniques employed in the health sciences
field.

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GENERAL AND SPECIFIC SKILLS OFFERED BY THE COURSE

 Learning basic strategies to outline and solve problems (mainly numerical problems) related with the
studied analytical techniques.
 Learning the characteristics and the correct use of the materials employed in the analytical
laboratories, mainly the analytical scale, the volumetric and gravimetrical material, and the main
analytical instrumentation.

COURSE CONTENTS

 Introduction to analytical chemistry.

 The stages of the analytical process.
 Generalities of Classical Analytical Techniques
 Applications of Classical Analytical Techniques.
 Basic principles of the instrumental analysis.
 Applications of Intrumental analysis
 Chromatographic separation techniques.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND DESIGN

- master lectures of the theoretical contents (1.05 ECTS).

- seminars (20 students maximum) for solving of the numerical problems (0.28 ECTS).
- Laboratory sessions (10-14 students per group). Application of the analytical techniques. Calculation,
evaluation, interpretation and presentation of analytical results (0.56 ECTS).
- personal work of the student checking the bibliography and specialized web pages (2.27 ECTS).
- preparation of exams (1.72 ECTS).
- solving exams (0.12 ECTS).

ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGIES DERIVED FROM INNOVATION PROJECTS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS
Title of the project:
Year:
Derived Activities and / or Methodologies:

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ESTIMATION OF STUDENT WORKLOAD

CREDITS: 6
Breakdown of Student Work Hours
Formative Activity Contact Hours Independent Study Total Work Hours.
(A) (B) (C)
C=A+B
TAUGHT CLASSES
Theory Classes 31 31 62
Debates
Feedback and Review of
Assignments
PRACTICAL CLASSES
Problem Solving 20.5 20.5
Debates
Feedback and Review of
Assignments
Laboratory 16.8 8.7 25.5
Practicals in the Computer
Lab
Presentation and
discussion about
coursework assignments
Other
SEMINARS
Problem solving 8.3 7.7 16
Debates
Feedback and review of
assignments
WORKSHOP
Feedback and review of
assignments
Oral presentations
COURSEWORK
Preparation time required
EXAMS AND
ASSESSMENTS
Exam preparation time 51.5 51.5
Exams and Tests 3.5 3.5
TOTAL 60.1 119.9 180
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK HOURS AND ECTS CREDITS 180/6 = 30 hours
(el resultado de la relación horas de trabajo / ECTS deberá ser igual a 30 horas, que son
las horas que conforman 1 ECTS en la CEU-UCH)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The evaluation of the knowledge acquired in this subject will be computed from the qualifications obtained in
the seminars (20%), practical sessions (20%) and a written exam (ordinary or extraordinary calls) (60%).
Since this is a subject whose concepts are primarily practical, it is mandatory to assist to all the practical
sessions, where the students develop their abilities and work skills in the laboratory that allow them to obtain
analytical information of a good quality. Every three laboratory sessions (at the beginning of session 4 and at
the end of session 5), the student will carry out an exam (test type). The qualification obtained in these tests
together with the evaluation of the teacher about the academic progress of the student is taken into account for
the qualification of this part. (20%)
The student will carry out a final exam (ordinary call) about the contents of the subject, both theoretical and
practical. (60%). It will be mandatory to obtain a minimum of 4 (in a 10 points scale) in order to score in this

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
category.
The course grade will be the sum of all the grades multiplied by their respective relative weights, divided by the
total sum of the weights.
Extraordinary Exam: it will be mandatory to obtain a minimum of 4 (in a 10 points scale) in this exam to be
applicable to the sum of all items. If this requirement is fulfilled, the final qualification will be computed as a
weighted average of the extraordinary exam mark (60%) and the continuous evaluation mark (40%).
The continuous evaluation is mandatory for the first year registration students.
Students who enroll for this subject for the second time, or students that do not achieve the required pass mark
for this subject in the first examination session, will NOT be evaluated via the continuous assessment system
unless they request this of the Professor IN WRITING before the start of the course. In this case, the final
course mark will be based purely on the final exam. Nevertheless, to pass the subject it is mandatory to carry
out all the practical sessions and demonstrate a good academic progress.

COURSE PROGRAM

THEORETICAL PROGRAM
Lesson 1. Introduction to analytical chemistry.
Lesson 2. Classic analytical tecniques: volumetries.
Lesson 3. Applications of acid-base, precipitation, complex and redox titrations.
Lesson 4. Basic principles of instrumental analysis.
Lesson 5. Molecular absorption and emission tecniques.
Lesson 6. Atomic absorption and emission tecniques.
Lesson 7. Introduction to chromatography.

SEMINAR PROGRAM
Seminar 1. Lineal titration plots.
Seminar 2. Logarithmic titration plots.
Seminar 3. Applications of volumetric titrations.
Seminar 4. Introduction to instrumental analysis.
Seminar 5. UV-Vis molecular absorption spectroscopy.
Seminar 6. Fluorescence.

PRACTICAL PROGRAM
Practice 1. Redox titration. Iron quantification by dicromatometry.
Practice 2. Acid-base titration by potentiometry. Quantification of acetic acid in a commercial vinegar sample.
Practice 3. Spectrophotometric quantification of Iron in a sample.
Practice 4. Spectrofluorimetry quantification of quinine.
Practice 5. Fast analysis methods. Quantification of cations and anions in water: implications for potability.

DETAILED COURSE CONTENTS

LESSON 1. INTRODUCTION TO ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. 3 hours.

- Introduction to Analytical Chemistry.
- The language of Analytical Chemistry.
- Working techniques in Analytical Chemistry.
- Common stages in analytical techniques: the analytical process.
LESSON 2. CLASSIC ANALYTICAL TECNIQUES: VOLUMETRIES. 4 hours.
- Introduction. The titration mechanism.
- Standards and titrants. Standard solutions.
- Equivalent and end point in a titration.
- Instrumental and chemical indicators.
- Theoretical titration plots: lineal and logarithmic.
LESSON 3. APPLICATIONS OF ACID-BASE, PRECIPITATION, COMPLEX AND REDOX TITRATIONS. 8hr.
- Introduction.
- Standard solutions. Standarization and primary standard substances.

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DETAILED COURSE CONTENTS
- The applications of acid-base titrations. Quantification of inorganic and organic compounds.
- Precipitation titrations: The Mohr and Volhard methods.
- Complexing titrations. Employment of EDTA.
- Redox titrations: Uses in Analytical Chemistry.
LESSON 4. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS. 4 hours.
- Introduction to instrumental analytical techniques. Classification.
- Components of instruments.
- The calibration of the the analytical process.
- Quality parameters.
LESSON 5. MOLECULAR ABSORPTION AND EMISSION TECNIQUES. 4 hours.
- Fundamentals.
- UV-VIS spectrophotometry.
- Spectrofluorimetry.
- Applications.
LESSON 6. ATOMIC ABSORPTION AND EMISSION TECNIQUES. 3 hours.
- Fundamentals
- Flame photometry. Inductively coupled plasma.
- Atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
- Applications.
LESSON 7. INTRODUCTION TO CHROMATOGRAPHY. 4 hours.
- Separation techniques in Chemical Analysis
- Historical introduction of chromatographic separations.
- Definition and principles of chromatographic separations.
- Classification of chromatographic methods.
- The chromatogram: characteristic parameters, the chromatographic peak.
- Chromatographic techniques: paper chromatography, thin layer and column.
- High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- Gas chromatography (GC).
- Hybrid techniques: HPLC-MS, GC-MS.

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY

KELLNER, R., Analytical Chemistry. Wiley-VCH. Weinheim, 2004

HARVEY, D., Analytical Chemistry, McGraw-Hill, 2002
DANIEL C. HARRIS, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 7th ed, Ed. Reverté.

ADDITIONAL READING

OTHER SUPPORT MATERIALS

The teacher will provide students with PowerPoint slides used in the lectures. Additionally, the library has been
requested to supply the basic bibliography above.

Analytical Chemistry 2.0

Electronic format of the basic bibliography reference HARVEY
http://acad.depauw.edu/harvey_web/eText%20Project/AnalyticalChemistry2.0.html
Analytical Chemistry Springboard from Umea University
http://www.anachem.umu.se/jumpstation.htm
This is an attempt to present a comprenhensive list of analytical chemistry resources on the Internet.
IUPAC database
http://biochemlinks.com
Chemical Separation
http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/chemsep/
Website developed by the Hardy Reseca Group, Chemistry Department, University of Akron
Chemical Calculations http://www.shef.ac.uk/chemistry
Developed by the Universidad de Sheffield (UK). Database of the University of Oxford, relative to security data

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OTHER SUPPORT MATERIALS
of the chemical substances
http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS

RECOMMENDATIONS TO STUDENTS TAKING THIS COURSE

It is strongly recommended to attend all lectures. Assistance to practical sessions is mandatory and will be
monitored.
It is also necessary the active participation of the student and the study of the contents of the subject in a
regular basis. As general advice, students should dedicate at least 3 hours of work every week, to familiarize
themselves with the lecture notes and recommended reading assignments. It is also advisable to review the
notes on the subject previous the master lecture, and to solve individually the proposed problems.

LINKS TO ONGOING RESEARCH

LINKS TO THE PHARMACY PROFESSION

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