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2025-2026 / CHIM0321-3

Practical exercises - Pharmaceutical analytical chemistry (Part II)

Duration

86h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor in pharmacy6 crédits 

Lecturer

Eric Ziemons

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry Practical Sessions in Q3 will help you deepen your knowledge of good analytical practices. You will learn, in particular, how to properly handle the materials commonly used in an analytical laboratory (analytical balance, volumetric glassware, etc.). These practical sessions are always designed to raise awareness of quality assurance principles, as well as the concept of error.

The Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry practical activities are organized into modules spread over Q3 and Q4 (CHIM9333-1):

Module 1: Good Practices

During the first sessions, you will be required to qualify the glassware that you will use for your experiments. These sessions, which are not graded at first, are organized in small groups to practice the correct handling of glassware and analytical balances. In this module, you will also need to complete a set of mandatory prerequisite exercises available on the course platform. Solving these exercises may require reviewing of theoretical concepts previously covered in the General Chemistry course of Bloc 1. A prerequisite manual will also be available on the platform to guide you through this work.

At the end of this training, your assessment will consist of performing a sampling with a volumetric pipette and a simple manipulation involving precise weighing and quantitative transfer.

Module 2: Analyses Using an Absolute Method

In the following practical sessions, you will carry out various quantitative analyses by titrimetry and UV-Visible spectroscopy. These practical sessions will be assessed based on the quantitative results obtained, taking into account the percentage error relative to the expected value.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The overall objective of the Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry practical sessions is to help you develop new skills in good laboratory practices, while also fostering rigor, autonomy, precision, and organizational abilities through a series of activities.

This objective is reflected in the following learning outcomes:

Quality

  • Understand a procedure for qualifying precise glassware in an analytical laboratory.
  • Explain the principle of qualification for weighing equipment.
  • Apply good practices in an analytical laboratory (using precise glassware).
    Follow and apply a protocol.
Responsibilities

  • Identify and record relevant data in a laboratory notebook.
  • Identify and record relevant data related to the qualification of glassware or an instrument.
  • Understand and apply laboratory safety instructions.

Communication

  • Collaborate with other students on the qualification of weighing equipment.
  • Work effectively as a team by distributing tasks efficiently during an analysis.

Scientific Approach

  • Understand the concept of a reference substance and its implications for solution preparation.
  • Identify the appropriate equipment to use based on protocols and the analytical context.
  • Generate a quantitative result from titration data or from a specific absorbance value.
  • Interpret the reliability of quantitative analysis results while considering potential sources of error.
Pharmaceutical Expertise

  • Perform calculations to prepare solutions at a given concentration (mass to be weighed based on the volume to be prepared, dilutions, buffer solutions, etc.).
  • Understand the pharmaceutical uses of raw materials handled during the practical sessions.
  • Apply good laboratory practices.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Before undertaking the Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry practical sessions, you are expected to have a solid background in chemistry and to have successfully completed the courses CHIM0748-3 and CHIM9326-1.

The course in Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry (Part I, CHIM0320-3) is a co-requisite.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The learning activities of these practical sessions will be organized as follows:

In addition to the laboratory work, several courses will be held in amphitheater. These sessions provide explanations tailored to the different laboratory sessions, offer the necessary clarifications for their proper execution, review the various protocols, highlight the key steps, and guide you toward obtaining the expected results.

Two exercise seminars are also scheduled.

The timetable for all these activities is available in Celcat.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Practical work are organized in the student laboratory of the Pharmacy Department (CHU, Tower 4, +4 level)

The attendance at practical work and associated activities (seminars, explanations,...) is compulsory. Any absence must be notified by a email just before the course or practical work and justified by sending an official document legally recognized in its country of issue to Dr. De Bleye (cdebleye@uliege.be) and Madam Saker (b.saker@uliege.be) in 24h. An attendance à 80% of all activities is compulsory to attend to the examen in first and second session. 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

All the course materials (manuel of practical work and powerpoint) are available in the plateform eCampus.

You can also find in this plateform:

  • A graphic syllabys to visualise the organisation of all activities.
  • A program with the different activites
  • Complementary supports (qualification sheets...)
  • Videos to illustrate some specific manipulations
  • A test
  • Template of reports
Any reference book is necessary. Some complementary explanations can be found in the Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry theoretical courses (Partim I, CHIM320-3). 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam

Written work / report

Continuous assessment

Out-of-session test(s)


Further information:

Written work / report

Out-of-session test(s)

Other : Practical test, out of session, including the writing of a report


Further information:

The assessment is distributed as follows:

Laboratory work: 50% of the overall grade

  • The first assessment focuses on simple analytical manipulations (volumetric pipetting, quantitative transfer).

  • The second assessment concerns titrations. The quality of the manipulation is evaluated based on a percentage of error (calculated with respect to the expected value) and an adapted evaluation grid.

Tests: 20% of the overall grade

  • Four tests are scheduled, directly linked to the prerequisites, the exercises carried out during the seminars, and the laboratory manipulations.

Examen: 30% of the overall grade

  • First session: The exam begins with a test similar to those given during the year. You then draw lots for a manipulation, which is evaluated according to the same criteria used during the semester. You are allowed to use your personal laboratory notebook (checked by the teaching assistant prior to the exam) and will receive a simplified protocol without equations or explanations. At the end of the exam, you must submit a handwritten report comparable to those produced during the semester, with particular attention to the preparation of the solutions required for the manipulation (calculation of masses to be weighed based on the equation and concentrations, reference substance, calibration). Any calculation error in the report is not corrected by the assistant; your result is directly used for evaluation.
Second session:

  • The modalities remain the same as in the first session, but the weighting differs: the test represents 25% and the manipulation 75% of the grade. The marks obtained during the semester are not carried over; the final grade is based solely on the second session exam
Attendance at practical work and associated activities (seminar and explanation session in the lecture theatre) is compulsory. Any absence must be notified by email on the same day at the latest and then justified with an official document legally recognized in its country of issue which must be sent to the assistant responsible for organising the practical work, Madam Saker (s.saker@uliege.be) and Madam De Bleye  (cdebleye@uliege.be) within 24 hours of the session concerned. Participation in 80% of the activities is compulsory in order to be able to take part in the examination relating to the practical work during the first and second session.


 

Work placement(s)

n/a

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

A graphical syllabus enabling to visualize the global organisation of the practical works is available in the eCampus plateform. 

Contacts

Charlotte De Bleye, 1ère Assistante
Service de Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Département de Pharmacie, CHU Bât. B36, Quartier Hôpital,avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège 1 
Tél : +32 4 366.43.16
e-mail : cdebleye@uliege.be

The following link is available if you are looking for more informations regarding the research activities of the Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. 

 https://www.uliege.be/cms/c_9054334/fr/repertoire?uid=U209658

You are welcome to ask questions during the practical sessions. It is also possible to schedule an appointment by contacting the teaching assistant, Madame Saker. If necessary, you may reach out to Dr. Charlotte De Bleye by email or phone to arrange a meeting.

Beyza Saker, Assistante
Service de Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Département de Pharmacie, CHU Bât. B36, Quartier Hôpital,avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège 1 
e-mail : b.saker@uliege.be


Sébastien Lhoest, Technicien 
Service de Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Département de Pharmacie, CHU Bât. B36, Quartier Hôpital,avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège 1 
e-mail: slhoest@uliege.be

Eric Ziemons, Chargé de cours
SService de Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Département de Pharmacie, CHU Bât. B36, Quartier Hôpital,avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège 1 
Tel. : 04/366.43.16
e-mail: eziemons@uliege.be

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