KE535: Chemistry for biologists

• 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
• Reactivity and physical properties of organic compounds
• Basic inorganic chemistry including properties
• Chemical nomenclature and terminology

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 bonds
• Identify simple molecules and ions including their Lewis structure and geometry
• Balance chemical reactions including acid-base, redox and 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 zero, first, and second order and 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 structural formulae recognize a carbon skeleton and the functional groups of organic compounds
• Construct the systematic name of simple organic molecules and recognize common usage non-systematic names.
• Recognize functional groups in selected biomolecules and their function
• Name simple inorganic compounds and know the common name for selected compounds
• Use chemical structure to explain reactivity and physical properties

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.

• Intro phase (lectures) -  34 hours
• Training phase: 57 hours, including 45 hours tutorials and 12 hours laboratory

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.

Study phase activities:

• Independent study of the text book
• Complete written assignments and tutorial problems
• E-tests
• Write laboratory reports including data analysis and interpretation.