18 | CHEMISTRY AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
EXTERNAL EXAMINER’S QUOTE
“The learning environment is very good
indeed, with excellent support provided
by the staff involved. The continuous
assessment components, in particular, of the
modules are exemplary”
Central Science Laboratories
The new state of the art Chemistry laboratories in the CSL are an integral part of the Lennard-
Jones laboratories where Chemistry academics and researchers are located. The two new
teaching laboratories, a 35 fume hood teaching lab and a large open lab, have been designed to
complement the existing excellent teaching facilities which include our large teaching laboratory,
the spectroscopy suite, the analytical laboratory and the NMR suite. These now create an
interconnected collection of Chemistry laboratories all on one floor with a large faculty computer
teaching facility two floors above.
Chemistry by its very nature involves the
safe handling of hazardous and toxic
chemicals in a controlled environment.
An important part of the training towards
becoming a professional practicing
chemist is to learn how to behave safely
in the laboratory and understand the
risks associated with experimentation.
Therefore, all Keele students receive
comprehensive instruction in laboratory
safety and COSHH - control of
substances hazardous to health. For
keele.ac.uk/chemistry
many chemicals safe handling requires
the use of a fume cupboard to minimize
exposure to volatile vapours and toxic
substances. The new laboratories in
the CSL significantly increases the fume
cupboard provision allowing 60 students
to work simultaneously in the laboratory.
This will allow a further expansion of the
undergraduate experimental experience
with a wider range of new synthetic
procedures being possible including
reactions under inert atmospheres
which are essential for today’s modern
organometallic reagents and catalysts
which decompose in air.
Alongside the creation of the new
laboratories there has been significant
investment in new spectroscopic and
analytical equipment which over the
past 3 years has totalled over £2M.
The policy has been to equip the
laboratories with state-of-the-art research
grade instrumentation and to train our
undergraduates in its use.