CHEM1202 Chemistry for Life Sciences

This topic is designed to provide the fundamentals of acid/base (buffer) chemistry, electrochemistry and organic chemistry in a biological context for students of the life sciences.

The topic deals with chemical equilibrium, the pH scale, iconic equilibria, buffer solutions, redox reactions and electrochemical cells, electrolysis, organic chemistry of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds having other important functional groups, amino acids, carbohydrates and DNA and the fundamentals of biological mechanisms. The basics of analysis and chromotography are also covered.

This topic aims to provide students primarily from the life sciences with a chemistry background enough information to be able to continue studies in chemistry and to assist in other topics offered in the university.

1. Understand the concept of oxidation numbers
2. Appreciate simple concepts of electrochemistry and thus recognize and balance redox reactions
3. Know the basic nomenclature in organic chemistry
4. Distinguish different functional groups and predict their chemical reactions
5. Understand geometrical and optical isomerisms
6. Be familiar with common synthetic and biological polymers
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the chemical structure of amino acids, and polypeptides
8. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the action of enzyme catalysis
9. Demonstrate knowledge of the chemical structure of DNA and RNA
10. Predict the outcome of reactions in equilibrium
11. Have knowledge of the factors influencing the chemical equilibrium
12. Perform titrations and pH calculations
13. Understand the fundamentals of chemical analysis and separation by chromatography
14. Work in a laboratory with due regard for the occupational health and safety of themselves and others in the laboratory and of those in the community at large