Instrumental Analysis

Code:

Q4000

Acronym:

Q4000

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Biochemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BQ	22	Official study plan since 2024/2025	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The major objective of this curricular unit is to provide a thorough background in the physical and chemical principles that are particularly important to chromatographic, spectroscopic, and  electrochemical techniques. The second aim is to introduce a wide range of techniques that are useful in modern analytical chemistry (chromatography, UV/Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, circular dichroism, potentiometry, and voltammetry). Additionally, the student will develop the skills necessary to apply statistical tools that enable them to interpret analytical data. Finally, the last aim is to provide the laboratory skills that will give students confidence in their ability to obtain high quality analytical data.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

The course contents are consistent with the learning objectives, in the extent as knowledge of the principles and mode of operation of the different analytical techniques, which govern the appearance of different methods of analysis according with the specificity of chemical compounds, is provided for all topics the program

On the other hand, the knowledge of the analytical methods available to carry out chemical analysis allows students to identify the differences and similarities of these methods, as well the strategies adopted to conceal the physical and chemical interference of each. In laboratory classes will be developed technical skills fundamental to the implementation of some of the instrumental methods studied. Through the implementation of the Project, the student will develop organisational and collaborative skills.

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

It is assumed that the basic general principles of Chemistry have already been conveyed in previous curricular units. The student should have already obtained a basic training in Laboratory Chemistry through practical work involving fundamental techniques and operations.

Program

Module 1. Chromatography of biomolecules

1.1. Basic principles of chromatography
1.2. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
1.3. Ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography
1.4. Hydrophobic interaction and affinity chromatography
1.5. Reversed phase chromatography

1.6 Applications

Module 2. Spectroscopic techniques

2.1 UV/Vis Spectroscopy
2.2 Photoluminescence spectroscopy: (i) fluorescence and (ii) phosphorescence

2.3 Circular dichroism spectroscopy

2.4 Applications

 

Module 3. Electrochemical methods of analysis

3.1. Potentiometry

3.2. Chronoamperometry and chronocoulometry

3.3. Cyclic voltammetry and pulse voltammetric techniques

3.4. Applications


Module 4.  Application of statistical tools for the processing of analytical data

 

Mandatory literature

Skoog Douglas A.; Principles of instrumental analysis. ISBN: 0-03-002078-6
Harris Daniel C.; Quantitative chemical analysis. ISBN: 0-7167-1916-9
Miller James N. 1943-; Statistics and chemometrics for analytical chemistry. ISBN: 0-130-22888-5

Complementary Bibliography

Mikkelsen Susan R.; Bioanalytical chemistry. ISBN: 0-471-54447-7
Kellner R. 340; Analytical chemistry. ISBN: 3-527-30590-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

The teaching of instrumental analysis takes place through theoretical and practical classes and laboratory sessions. The theoretical and practical classes consist in detailed exposition of the content of the program, supported by the discussion of cases study, as well as by the projects performed by each individual student.

In the theorical-practical classes, it is committed to exposing the different statistical tools for the processing of analytical data, followed by the resolution of exercises applied to each of the cases. A part of the class will be dedicated to the development of the Video Class Project.

In the laboratory sessions, the students carry out experimental works illustrative of some of the analytical techiques developed in theoretical classes, whose results and main conclusions will be presented in a written report.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Instrumental analysis
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Analytical chemistry > Spectrochemistry
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Analytical chemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	15,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	9,00
Estudo autónomo	75,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho laboratorial	9,00
Elaboração de projeto	13,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Whoever misses more than 25% of the number of classes planned (theoretical-practical and practical) will not obtain frequency.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade: (0.25 x Video class project) + (0.15 x Reports) + (0.10 x individual participation) + (0.50 x Final Exam)

To obtain approval the student will have to cumulatively meet the two conditions:

i) Final Exam ≥ 9,0 val (out of 20)
ii) Final Grade ≥ 9,5 val (out of 20)

In case of condition i) is not satisfied, the student may request an oral examination, right after the appeal exam.

Internship work/project

The Project has both group and individual components and will consist of producing content on one of the taught topics. The evaluation will consider the following criteria: scientific accuracy, organization/clarity, creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative ability. The Project presentation will be conducted individually, and the grade awarded is individual.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The attendance of theoretical-practical classes and laboratory practicals complies with the provisions of the law for the specific case. The assessment is distributed according to the following formula:

Final Exam (50%) + Project (30%) + Report (20%)

Classification improvement

The student can only improve the classification to the component of Final Exam, in the appeal exam period. The distributed evaluation component cannot be improved.

Observations

The student should have obtained basic training in General Chemistry and Laboratory Chemistry.