Module manager: Prof Steve Marsden
Email: s.p.marsden@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in engineering, environmental science, physical science or mathematics discipline
| CHEM5012M | Foundations of Chemistry - Coursework |
This module is not approved as an Elective
The aim of this module is to provide students with basic and practical knowledge of the principles of Green Chemistry, and how they apply to different sectors of the chemical industry, from commodity to specialty and high value chemical manufacturing. Students will have opportunities to practice and develop their understanding of the topics through workshops and case studies.
The module will provide students with an understanding of:
• the twelve principles of green chemistry
• common green/sustainability metrics and their context/limitations
• current sustainability limitations of chemical manufacturing and chemical feedstock
• environmental and regulatory aspects of chemical manufacturing
• the role of catalysis in green chemistry
• sustainable chemical processes from a holistic point of view
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Explain the principles of green chemistry, through examples in different chemical sectors
2.Use environmental and regulatory databases to assess safety of chemical raw materials, products and processes
3. Calculate green metrics to compare the sustainability of chemical processes
4. Scrutinise a chemical process and critique the carbon footprint of feedstocks, efficiency of workup/purification and its environmental impact.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have:
5. Applied system thinking when assessing the sustainability of chemical processes.
6. Applied critical thinking to analyse and evaluate published chemical processes in group.
7. Practiced presentation skills in a video-captured group presentation.
Students will be introduced to topics underpinning Green Chemistry including:
1) principles of Green Chemistry;
2) sustainable chemical feedstocks;
3) regulatory legislation e.g. REACH;
4) sustainable catalysis;
5) green solvents;
6) green metrics for chemical processes, and;
7) holistic approaches to sustainable chemical process design.
Methods of Assessment
Assessment for this module will consist of;
1 x Coursework
1 x Group Presentation
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 12 | 2 | 24 |
| Seminar | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Independent online learning hours | 16 | ||
| Private study hours | 106 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 28 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Written formative feedback will be provided on a short written exercise early in the course which will form the foundation of part of the written project report that forms 70% of the summative marks. They will also be provided with verbal feedback during the two workshops.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Group exercise resulting in individual reports | 70 |
| Coursework | Group presentation | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 22/01/2026
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