Syllabus for Chemistry for Biomedicine

Decisions and guidelines

Part of the Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding 

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• account for the structure and properties of atoms and molecules and be able to apply this knowledge for problem-solving concerning biological relevant molecules.
• account for basic thermodynamics concerning chemical reactions and processes and be able to apply this knowledge for problem-solving and in calculations.
• account for the importance of chemical equilibria for the development, control and transport of drugs and be able to apply this knowledge for problem-solving and in calculations.
• account for basic physico-chemical principles of intermolecular forces, phase equilibria and properties of solutions and be able to apply this knowledge for problem-solving and in calculations.
• account for basic physico-chemical principles of reaction kinetics and apply this knowledge for problem-solving and in calculations.
• account for basic physico-chemical principles of surface and colloid chemistry, self-assembly and molecular spectroscopy and be able to apply this knowledge for problem-solving and in calculations.
• translate rational chemical names to structure and construct rational names of simple organic molecules.
• predict the acid/base strength and the reactivity of molecules guided by inductive effects and resonance.
• account for the basic reactions of organic molecules and their reaction mechanisms and be able to apply this on simple biologically relevant molecules.
• account for and apply the safety directions that are essential in chemistry laboratory work.

Skills and abilities 

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• carry out and present basic practical laboratory work within chemistry.
• plan for and carry out synthesis of simple pharmaceutical substances, keep adequate records of their laboratory work, and make correct risk analyses.

Content

The course treats the basic and preparatory chemistry that is required for further studies within biomedicine. The course consists of three equally large parts of general-, physical- and organic chemistry with special focus on biomolecules and drugs and chemical methods and areas within chemistry that are of biomedical interest.

During the course, chemical binding, intermolecular interactions, phase equilibria, properties solutions, chemical reaction kinetics, chemical thermodynamics, surface and colloid chemistry, self-assembly and molecular spectroscopy are treated and applied on biologically relevant systems. Further, chemical equilibria are treated, acid/base-, solubility- and connected equilibria, buffers and titrimetry and the equilibria importance for drugs fate in the body - dissolution, absorption and transport. Furthermore, the most important classes of organic compounds in a biological context are treated and their chemical properties such as acidity/basicity, intermolecular forces, isomerism, aromaticity and reactivity.

In addition, organic-chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms are treated including applications of chemical thermodynamics and reaction kinetics, stereochemistry and organic-chemical nomenclature.

Laboratory sessions are included in each course module and contain the following parts.

1. Laboratory safety and general chemical laboratory technology.
2. Properties of solutions.
3. Organic synthesis of pharmaceutical substance and purifying and identification by means of chromatography and melting point.

A continuous evaluation of the course design is ongoing and may result in some changes in the structure and content of the course.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, group exercises, seminars, demonstrations and laboratory sessions. Compulsory parts are course introduction and all parts in connection with laboratory sessions.

Beside the teaching methods specified in the syllabus other ways of teaching may be used during the course.

Assessment

For a Pass grade in the course, both passed results of all compulsory parts of the course and passed results in the written individual examination are required.

The laboratory sessions are examined in writing in groups and orally individually.

Participation in the laboratory course requires passed results in the written individual examination of laboratory safety directions. A chance to finalise a failed part of the laboratory course can be given only at the next course occasion and only in case of a vacancy.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.