KE535: Chemistry for biologists (10 ECTS)

STADS: 10012501

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: ugn@sdu.dk

Additional teachers
mckenzie@sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:


Course introduction
The course is intended to give students the necessary background in chemistry for studies in biology. This includes the ability to solve chemical problems and familiarity with chemical nomenclature and terms. It provides an elementary understanding of the chemical aspects, which are part of e.g. Økologi (BB510), Mikrobiologi (BB509) og Zoofysiologi (BB511).

In relation to the study program, the course focusses on:

• The ability to solve chemical problems including pH, chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, kinetics and thermodynamics with emphasis on application in biology:
• Experimental analytical chemistry including data analysis and interpretation
• The chemical structure and functional groups in organic compounds
• Basic inorganic chemistry including properties
• Chemical nomenclature and terminology

Expected learning outcome
The course aims to provide the students with the necessary skills in the subjects below, which require the ability to:

• Explain and distinguish different types of chemical bonding
• Identify simple molecules and ions including their Lewis structure and geometry
• Balance chemical reactions including acid-base and redox as well as stoichiometry
• Apply Le Chatelier’s principle on chemical equilibria and perform calculations of e.g. pH, acid-base, solubility and gas equilibria
• Identify reactions of zeroth, first, and second order as well as understand activation energy
• Identify and use the concepts of enthalpy, entropy, heat capacity, Gibbs free energy, and solubility products in simple systems
• Calculate concentrations, electrochemical potential and equilibrium constants from the Nernst equation
• Interpret and construct the structure formula well as recognize the carbon skeleton and functional groups of organic compounds
• Determine the systematic name of simple organic molecules and recognize the most non-systematic names.
• Recognize functional groups in selected biomolecules and their function
• Name simple inorganic compounds and know the common name for selected compoiunds
• Use the periodic table to explain the properties of selected elements
• Use the chemical structure to explain reactivity and physical properties

Subject overview
Main topics:

• The relationship between atomic structure and the periodic table
• Chemical bonding and the geometry of molecules
• Examples of chemical elements and their properties with a view to biology
• Carbonhydrides, functional groups, stereochemistry and nomenclature
• Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties
• Chemical equilibtrium including acid-base and solubility
• Thermodynamics including the first and second law of thermodynamics, energy, enthalpy, entropy, and Gibb’s free energy
• Electrochemistry with emphasis on speciation and redox-reactions
• Reaction kinetics
• Examples of functional groups ad their reactions in organic chemistry
• Selected biomolecular compounds including their structure, properties and function.

Literature

• Blackman et al: Chemistry, 3rd ed.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Participation in the laboratory class is a prequisite for the exam a). Pass/fail, internal assessment. (10012532).

Assessment and marking:

1. Laboratory reports. Overall rating. Pass/fail, internal evaluation by teacher. (1 ECTS). (10012522).
2. Written assignments and E-tests. Pass/fail, internal evaluation by teacher. (2 ECTS). (10012512).
3. Written exam. External censorship, Danish 7-mark scale. (7 ECTS). Exam aids allowed, a closer description of the exam rules will be posted under 'Course Information' on Blackboard. The student is required to draw the structure of both organic and inorganic molecules as well as write chemical reactions and formula as well as perform calculations during the exam. Thus, in addition to a computer. (10012502).

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 34 hours
Skills training phase: 57 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 45 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 12 hours

Educational activities

• Independent studies of the course material
• Answer written assigments and tutorial problems
• Write laboratory reports including data analysis and interpretation.

Educational form
The lectures will introduce the different aspects of the curriculum, which the students subsequently acquire the necessary skills in by solving problems and reading the course materials. The laboratory will provide knowledge in experimental chemistry including the ability to plan, perform and interpret experiments. These skill will be individually tested in the written assignments, E-test, laboratory reports, and written exam. The laboratory reports and assignment will familiarize the students with dissemination and interpretation of experimental data.

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer.

Remarks
Students who have passed FF503, FF504, FF507, KE501 or a closely related course cannot follow the course. The course is for biology students only.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.