Food Analysis (5 cr)

Objective

The course uses the techniques of analytical chemistry, spectrometry and chromatography to study food and possibly other products. The objective is for the students to learn how to investigate the composition, quality, and properties of food products related to food fraud using analytical chemistry methods.

The student
• understands the importance of quality in laboratory work and can identify sources of error in measurements
• can distinguish between systematic and random errors and apply uncertainty propagation in calculations
• is able to use appropriate measuring instruments and recognise their associated uncertainties
• can report results with appropriate accuracy and justify the significance of measurement uncertainty in the reliability of analytical results
• is able to work individually and in a group to complete a project.

Content

The project is related to compositional and residue analysis of food and non-food products and will be carried out in project teams. In addition, students will learn about laboratory quality and measurement uncertainty, including:

• Significant figures and rounding
• Systematic and random errors
• Accuracy of measuring instruments and assessment of related uncertainties
• Combining uncertainties in calculations
• Presentation and analysis of results from the perspective of measurement uncertainty

Materials

Daniel C. Harris: Quantitative Chemical Analysis (8.-10. painos)

Teaching methods

Lectures and Moodle assignments

A food-related project work.

Exam schedules

Weekly Moodle quizzes (Measurement Uncertainty section, Mia Ruismäki)

No final exams

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student
• has actively participated in the project work
• has completed the project work and the results are reported
• recognises the fundamentals of quality in laboratory work
• can identify measurement errors and report results with the correct accuracy
• is able to use basic measuring instruments according to instructions.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

In addition to the above, the student will be able to
• prepare project plans and act as a leader or active member of a project team, and implement the plan in a goal-oriented manner
• work in a team and reorganise their work if necessary
• present their team's plans and results to stakeholders, both orally and in writing
• evaluate measurement uncertainties and apply uncertainty assessment in the interpretation of analytical results
• select appropriate measuring instruments and assess their accuracy.

The project has achieved its objectives.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

In addition to the above, the student
• is able to design a large and varied project with several sub-tasks
• can prepare for project work by consulting a wide range of sources and scheduling their work in advance
• can apply uncertainty calculation methods in more complex measurement situations
• is capable of independently planning and conducting high-quality measurements
• can assess the suitability of measuring instruments for different measurement scenarios and account for their uncertainties as part of the analysis
• has completed the project work and reported the results within the planned timeframe.

The project has achieved its objectives well.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student
• has actively participated in the project work
• has completed the project work and the results are reported
• recognises the fundamentals of quality in laboratory work
• can identify measurement errors and report results with the correct accuracy
• is able to use basic measuring instruments according to instructions.

Assessment methods and criteria

Weekly Moodle quizzes on measurement uncertainty: 20% (Mia Ruismäki)

Project work: 80% (Kari Raatikainen)

The assessment of the project work will take into account the project plan, implementation, and presentation.

The project assessment will include self- and peer evaluation:
- Self- and peer evaluation: 50%
- Teacher's evaluation: 50%

Qualifications

Fundamentals of Chemistry 1, Orientation to the Field and Studies