Chemical Laboratory Technology

This course provides the basic concepts of chemistry. Topics include: measurements and calculations, matter and energy, composition and reaction stoichiometry, aqueous solutions, gases, thermochemistry, titration reactions and calculations, and the use of orbitals to depict the three dimensional aspects of organic chemistry.

CHEM 245 introduces kinetics and thermodynamics for ideal systems, and applies them to problems relevant to the technologist. Topics include kinetics, calorimetry, phase equilibria for one-component systems, partition and chemical equilibria, the first and second laws, Ksp and Kf calculations and galvanic and electrolytic circuits.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 240
• MATH 237

Organic Chemistry provides an overview of the principles of organic chemistry. The student will examine the structure, bonding and naming, as well as the physical and chemical properties of each of the organic functional groups. The focus of the course will be placed on studying the important organic molecules that are involved in biological processes, as well as molecules of industrial importance. The specific industrial processes examined will include: Food and beverages, petroleum recovery and processing, the mining industry, petrochemicals, polymers and pulp and paper.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 270

You will learn basic laboratory techniques and safety practices that you will be able to apply to the rest of your program and in your future career. Topics include: laboratory safety, emergency response procedures, the safe disposal of chemicals, identifying, selecting, and maintaining laboratory equipment and glassware, reading measuring devices and instruments, weighing, using volumetric glassware for the preparation of solutions and titrations, measuring physical and chemical properties such as melting point, boiling point, density, relative density including API gravity, pH, electrical conductivity, percentage transmittance, and refractive index, filtration, simple and fractional distillation, solvent extraction, crystallization, and thin layer and open column chromatography.

Analytical Chemistry involves quantitative analysis by two classical methods of analysis: gravimetric and volumetric. Preparation and standardization of required reagents are also an important part of these chemical analysis. The basic techniques developed in Semester 1 are essential to performing the required analysis.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 270
• CHEM 240

An introduction to the treatment and handling of chemical data. Data analysis and calculations, including advanced logic statements, linear regression, and derivatives, will be used to interpret analytical data and create professional reports. PivotTables will be created to organize, summarize, and report large amounts of worksheet data.

Pre-requisites:

• COMP 261

A laboratory technical project performed in an industrial, service, government or university laboratory. The projects are selected by the various outside laboratories and are supervised by personnel from industry, government or university. An instructor acts as liaison between student and industry supervisor. This course takes place during the winter semester of the last year of the program.

Pre-requisites:

• MATH 237
• CHEM 240
• CHEM 270
• COMP 261
• CHEM 253
• CHEM 275
• INST 297
• INST 296
• SFTY 201
• CHEM 303
• ENVS 301
• INST 300
• THRM 318

Corequsites:

• CHEM 351
• ENVS 320
• INST 396
• QUAL 352

An overview of unit operations as practiced by Chemical Engineers and Chemical Engineering Technologists that would be applicable to chemical technologists. It includes some basic concepts in fluid flow, heat transfer and mass transfer operations and their application in chemical and petroleum industry. The student learns to read flow sheets and recognize major process equipment such as pumps, heat exchanges, compressors and distillation towers.

You will be provided with an overview of common oil field chemicals and fluids, their properties and functions. Topics include rock types and reservoirs, drilling and completion fluids, acidizing and fracturing fluids and cementing. You will obtain practical experience in testing various fluids. An appreciation for safety and the environmental impact of petroleum production will also be discussed.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 253

This course is designed to develop technical writing and presentation skills to ensure workplace readiness. Students will learn how to evaluate communication situations, analyze documents, assess research sources and develop organizational skills to apply in their work. They will learn about and practice designing, formatting and writing a range of professional documents. Students will also develop confidence (through practice) in the development and delivery of effective and engaging presentations.

Equivalents:

• COMN 220
• COMM 1070
• COMM 260

This applied computer course provides students with critical electronic communications, data and file management skills, along with a strong focus on using common productivity applications to format, calculate, analyze, visualize, and present or report data and information.

Equivalents:

• COMP 264

An introduction to water treatment that includes water quality considerations, chemical and physical parameters, natural sources, oil patch, petrochemical, municipal, domestic uses and swimming pools. Scale deposition is mathematically predicted and cost effective control measures are considered. Water treatment processes of subsidence, coagulation, filtration, aeration, dearation, chlorination, water softening, reverse osmosis, boiler scale control and cooling water treatment are studied. Results are calculated, reports issued and recommendations are given by students. Bench scale jar testing, Imhoff cone testing, chlorine demand studies. OLI Software for the computer modelling of water chemistry will be introduced. Results are calculated, reports issued and scale up recommendations are made.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 240
• CHEM 270

The Environmental Science/Ecology course will provide you with a general overview of environmental science. It includes discussion on pollution resulting from natural and man-made sources with an emphasis on the chemical analysis of specific contributing compounds. The relationship between ecology and the environment to contamination, pollution, and other current environmental concerns is covered. Selected laboratory analyses offer you the opportunity to examine surface water, industrial wastewater, ambient air, and soil samples.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 270

The Chemical Instrumentation course will provide you with the necessary foundation required for more advanced instrumentation courses. You will explore the theory behind electrochemical, spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques and examine the design and operation of the required instrumentation. Topics include: conductivity, pH, electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter, absorption and emission spectrophotometry, gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and radiochemistry.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 240

Corequsites:

• INST 297

The Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory course will provide you with the necessary foundation required for more advanced instrumentation courses. You will gain hands-on experience with visible UV and IR spectrophotometry, fluorometry, ICP-AES, AA spectrophotometry, GC, IC, HPLC, GC/MSD and X-Ray fluorescence.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 240
• CHEM 270

Corequsites:

• INST 296

You will examine the theory, applications, and limitations of a series of analytical techniques. The course provides the knowledge and practical experience to evaluate and recommend analytical techniques. Quality control in the laboratory is practiced. Experience in using computer software operated chemical instruments for sample analysis is also provided.

Pre-requisites:

• INST 297
• INST 296

Applied Analytical Instrumentation II will equip you with the knowledge and practical experience to evaluate and recommend analytical techniques. Emphasis will be placed on designing an analytical experiment, sample preparation, and troubleshooting of instrumentation. You will examine the theory, applications, and limitations of a series of analytical techniques.

Pre-requisites:

• INST 300

Mathematics for Technologists will provide learners with concepts in algebra, trigonometry, arithmetic of complex numbers, linear algebra, exponential and logarithmic functions, rates of change and statistics. This course provides foundational mathematics skills for engineering technologists. It covers a variety of mathematical models for solving application problems.

You will gain a strong understanding of the quality assurance and quality control protocols currently practiced in today's laboratories. The QA/QC course offers you the opportunity to participate in an industrial round robin program. Topics covered include sampling, statistical analysis, method development, charting, documentation, audits and accreditation, QA planning, and corrective actions.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 303
• MATH 237

In this course, students will learn about the many potential hazards encountered when working with chemicals. Course topics include proper handling and storage practices, incident prevention measures, and the care and use of personal protective equipment. The course also addresses the related Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation, emphasizing the Working with Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and waste disposal. Students will learn about the toxic nature of various chemicals and their environmental effects, effective emergency response strategies and the legal consequences of failure to comply with legislation.

Equivalents:

• SAFE 280

THRM 318 consists of both Theory and Lab components. The Theory portion includes a study of bonding, equilibria and kinetics for ideal and real systems. Topics covered include heterogeneous redox reactions as they apply both to corrosion control and to various analytical techniques; equilibrium calculations with acids, bases and buffers; phase equilibria of ideal and real two component systems, and a macroscopic study of liquids, crystals, surfaces, and colloidal suspensions; The course ends with a kinetic and thermodynamic study of nuclear chemistry. The lab portion of the course covers corrosion control and monitoring, and electro-analytical techniques.

Pre-requisites:

• CHEM 240
• CHEM 245

Students will gain practical experience through a temporary work placement with a member of industry. The work placement includes full-time paid employment.

Pre-requisites:

Manual Prerequisite

One of:

• CHEM 240, CHEM 270, COMM 238, COMP 261, MATH 237, SFTY 201, CHEM 245, CHEM 253, CHEM 275, INST 296, and INST 297
• COMM 256, MNGT 204, MNGT 206, WATR 203, WATR 206, DATA 200, PROJ 210, TECH 200, WATR 204, and WATR 205

Equivalents:

• PRAC 303