Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y N
Course Code CHEM4241
Date2024/10/11 20:34
Enquiry for Course Details
CHEM4241 Modern chemical instrumentation and applications (6 credits) Academic Year 2024
Offering Department Chemistry Quota 50
Course Co-ordinator Prof. I K Chu, Chemistry < ivankchu@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof. H B Jiang,Chemistry)
(Prof. I K Chu,Chemistry)
Course Objectives The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of modern instrumentation, covering both fundamental principles and practical aspects of instrument design.  The course will be of particular benefit to those pursuing a higher research degree or a career in technical sales/service.
Course Contents & Topics Biological Mass spectrometry: Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Proteomics & Metabolomics.
Microscopy and analysis with light and electron beams: instrumentation and applications in physical and life sciences.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 explain the principles of the modern mass spectrometric methods for proteins and metabolites identification and quantification
CLO 2 explain how proteins are identified and sequenced experimentally and how data is generated in proteomics experiments
CLO 3 use the database searching techniques and software tools to analyze high-throughput proteomics data
CLO 4 apply LC/MS/MS method for target quantitative analysis of small molecules
CLO 5 explain the principles of optical microscopy and electron microscopy and their capabilities
CLO 6 describe the basic experimental set up and the properties of the basic components of the instruments used in the laboratory classes
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in CHEM3241
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2024 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2020 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2024 Major in Chemistry < PLO 2,4,5 >
2024 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 2,4,5 >
2023 Major in Chemistry < PLO 2,4,5 >
2023 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 2,4,5 >
2022 Major in Chemistry < PLO 2,4,5 >
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 2,4,5 >
2021 Major in Chemistry < PLO 2,4,5 >
2021 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 2,4,5 >
2020 Major in Chemistry < PLO 2,4,5 >
2020 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 2,4,5 >
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the modern chemical instrumentations and applications. Show strong ability to apply and integrate knowledge and theory, and strong ability to analyze problems related to fundamental principles and practical aspects of instrument design.
B Demonstrate substantial command of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the modern chemical instrumentations and applications. Show evidence to apply and integrate knowledge and theory, and ability to analyze problems related to fundamental principles and practical aspects of instrument design.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the modern chemical instrumentations and applications. Show evidence of some abilities to apply and integrate knowledge and theory, and to analyze problems to most familiar situations to fundamental principles and practical aspects of instrument design.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the modern chemical instrumentations and applications. Show evidence of limited abilities to apply and integrate knowledge and theory, and limited ability to analyze problems to most familiar situations related to fundamental principles and practical aspects of instrument design.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the modern chemical instrumentations and applications. Show little or no evidence of abilities to apply and integrate knowledge and theory, and little or no ability to analyze problems to most familiar situations related to fundamental principles and practical aspects of instrument design.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture with laboratory component course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Laboratory 16
Lectures 24
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 100
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 10 CLO 1,2,3,4,5,6
Examination 50 CLO 1,2,3,4,5,6
Laboratory reports (lab performance, reports) 25 CLO 6
Test 15 CLO 1,2,3,4,5,6
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Chhabil Dass: Fundamentals of contemporary mass spectrometry (Wiley-Interscience)
D.A. Skoog, F.K. Holler, S.R. Crouch: Principles of Instrumental Analysis (Thomson, latest edition)
Reference to published material will be made throughout the course.
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information Laboratory classes are mandatory.  Students must complete ALL experiments and laboratory reports to pass this course.
This course is also offered to RPg students, and the course code for RPg students is CHEM6117.
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