Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in pharmacy | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Pharmaceutical analytical chemistry deals with the separation identification, and quantification of the components of a given sample. It provides indispensable tools to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of medicines.
At its core, this discipline seeks to answer a fundamental question in the pharmaceutical sciences: What does a sample truly contain, and in what quantity?
For this reason, the study of pharmaceutical analytical chemistry forms a cornerstone of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences curriculum.
Through this course, we will explore the life cycle of an analytical method, focusing on problem-solving throughout the entire analytical pathway followed by a sample, from its source to the final result.
This perspective will enable us to understand how to select and implement an appropriate analytical technique to address a specific problem within the pharmaceutical field.
Our focus, in this first part, will be directed toward titrimetry and selected techniques of electronic and vibrational spectroscopy. Analytical training, both theoretical and practical, will continue in the second part of the course during Q4 (CHIM9332), as well as through the laboratory activities in Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry scheduled in Q3 and Q4 (CHIM0321 and CHIM9333).
The contents of this first part of the course are organized as follows:
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Life cycle of analytical methods
1.2 Types of error
1.3 Mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and confidence interval
1.4 Relationship between the response and the result
Chapter 2: General principles and solution chemistry
2.1 Expression of concentration units
2.2 Acid-base titration
2.3 Complexometric titration
2.4 Redox titration
Chapter 3: Electroanalysis
3.1 Electrodes
3.2 Potentiometry
3.3 Conductimetry
Chapter 4: Electronic spectroscopy
4.1 UV-visible spectroscopy
4.2 Fluorimetry
4.3 Atomic absorption and emission spectrophotometry
Chapter 5: Vibrational spectroscopy
5.1 Near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometry
5.2 Mid-infrared (MIR) spectrophotometry
5.3 Raman spectrophotometry
Chapter 6: Hyperspectral imaging
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The general objectives of this course have been defined in accordance with the competency framework of the Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Upon completion of this course unit, students will be able to:
Pharmaceutical Expertise
- Understand the importance of pharmaceutical analytical chemistry in the quality control of raw materials.
- Understand the operating principles of the analytical techniques covered in the course.
- Identify the physicochemical properties of a pharmaceutical molecule that influence the selection of an analytical technique for analysis.
- Perform calculations required for the preparation of solutions at a specified concentration (mass to be weighed according to the volume to be prepared, dilutions, buffers, etc.).
- Understand the sensitivity (limit of detection) of the analytical techniques covered in the course.
- Generate quantitative results from titration data, specific absorbance measurements, or calibration data obtained through external standardization.
- Know the definitions of terms related to the types of errors associated with a result (random error, systematic error and total error).
- Develop critical analytical thinking.
- Appropriately communicate the results of exercises in the field of pharmaceutical analytical chemistry (reasoning, significant figures).
- Understand the "green" aspect of an analytical method.
- Understand the importance of a blank sample in reducing sources of error (risk management).
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- Preparatory Chemistry for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Physical and Mathematical Foundations of Biomedical Sciences.
Whenever possible, and in order to ensure consistency with the intended pedagogical design of the programme, students are strongly advised to enroll in both the theoretical lectures and the practical sessions of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry within the same Individual Study Plan (ISP).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures are ex-cathedra.
Short video sequences and demonstrations will illustrate the theoretical concepts and their understanding will be directly evaluated using the interactive Wooclap platform.
Lectures during Q3.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Condensed notes and PowerPoint slides are available on the eCampus platform.
General works (Recommended readings): "Chimie analytique"; Skoog, West, Holler, Crouch (French edition, 3rd edition) Ed. De Boeck, 2023. "Analyse Chimique. Méthodes et techniques instrumentales modernes" (10th edition); Rouessac, Ed. Dunod, 2025. "Analytical Chemistry", Christian, Dasgupta, Schug (7th Edition) Ed. Wiley, 2013.
The acquisition of these textbooks is not compulsory. Active participation in the course, together with the notes available on the platform, will be sufficient. However, these works may provide additional explanations, often presented from a different perspective. They are available at the "Sciences de la vie" Library (CHU, Sart-Tilman).
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam AND oral exam
- Remote
written exam AND oral exam
Additional information:
A remedial oral examination (in first session only) is organized for students who obtain a grade equal to or greater than 8.00/20 and lower than 10.00/20 on the written examination. Prior registration is required in order to take this remedial oral examination.
Work placement(s)
Internship opportunity.
Student assistant: opportunities are given to students interested in teaching Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry. The work mainly consists of supervising practical exercises.
Research: outside class and exam periods (from the end of the second year of the Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences), students interested in Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry can participate in an internship in the laboratory (student-researchers). PhD degrees can subsequently be prepared in the laboratory.
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The assistants are available to answer to the questions of the students, but they have to take an appointement by email.
Contacts
Eric Ziemons, Chargé de cours
Service 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
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 4 366.43.18
e-mail : cdebleye@uliege.be
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
Tél : +32 4 366.43.19
Eline Payon, Assistante
Service de Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Département de Pharmacie, CHU Bât. B36, Quartier Hôpital,avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège 1
e-mail : eline.payon@uliege.be
Tél : +32 4 366.43.19
Secrétariat
Murielle Bihain, Service de Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Département de Pharmacie, CHU Bât. B36, Quartier Hôpital,avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège 1
Tél : 04/366.43.16
e-mail: mbihain@uliege.be