Credits
Credits: 4, entailing 3 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory per week.Prerequisites: None (Students should have an understanding of basic algebra).
Course Description
This course is a one-semester course in chemistry for nursing and health sciences. It consists of lecture, discussion and problem solving, and a laboratory period each week. The laboratory work is an integral part of the course and you are expected to be able to utilize the laboratory experience to answer some exam questions.
Course Objectives
The student will learn the basic principles of chemistry, including general, organic and biological chemistry. Students will also learn the application of basic chemical principles to environment and health.
Course Aims
The aim of this course is to teach you chemistry as it applies to health. It is necessary to understand some of the basic concepts of chemistry and the physical sciences in order to better understand human health and physiology. There are several health and environmental notes or discussions in each chapter of the text that help to relate the chemical concepts that you are studying to human health and the environment. You should read these boxes in the text in order to gain a greater appreciation of the chemical concepts as they apply to your chosen field or your daily life. You are expected to understand the general principles that are presented and your performance on exams should reflect your understanding of the material. If you feel the examinations do not perform this function, you should discuss this with the instructor as early as possible. If you have any physical, personal or other problems that are interfering with your studies, you should discuss them with the instructor at the earliest possible date — do not wait too long to discuss such matters. Deal with situations immediately and the instructor may be able to help you or offer some alternatives.
Textbook: "General, Organic and Biological Chemistry: An Integrated Approach", 4th Edition, by Kenneth W. Raymond, John Wiley and Sons, 2014.
Lab Manual: "Laboratory Manual for General Organic and Biological Chemistry" by Glen Lawrence.
You can download the manual from here.
There is a series of video tapes (The World of Chemistry) available in the video section of the library that may be helpful in understanding the material covered in this course. These tapes can be borrowed from the library or viewed in the media center.
Tutoring
Check special bulletins or announcements for special tutoring sessions. Office hours of faculty teaching this course are posted in the Science Division Office (Room M-804) and you should be able to get help from those instructors during their office hours. The Center for Learning and Academic Success is located on the 4th floor of the Library building and has tutors for chemistry courses. Free tutoring in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was discontinued as a cost saving measure by the university in Fall 2016. You will be notified if that service is reinstated.
Cheating and Plagiarism
You should be aware that cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you copy any material for assignments you must clearly indicate it is copied and cite the source (including material from the internet - give complete and accurate URL addresses for all internet sources). Any material submitted for credit must be your own work. This includes the laboratory reports.
Outine of Course
Lecture schedule and contents
| Week | Chapter | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Science and Measurements |
Cover the scientific method, matter and energy, units of measurement, scientific notation, the International System of units and metric units, conversion factors, density, specific gravity and specific heat, measurements in chemistry. |
| 2 | 2 Atoms and Elements | Overview of atoms and elements, atomic structure, the periodic table, the mole concept, electron configuration and chemical properties of elements, radioactivity and radioactive isotopes in medicine. |
| 3 | 3 Compounds |
Ions, ionic compounds, covalent bonds and molecules, formula weight, molecular weight and molar mass. |
| 4 | Exam 1 covering Chapters 1, 2 and 3 | |
| 5 | 4 Introduction to Organic Compounds | Structural formulas, polar covalent bonds, molecular shape and polarity, noncovalent interactions, organic functional groups. |
| 6 | 5 Chemical Reactions | Writing chemical equations, reaction types, reactions involving water, oxidation-reduction, mole and mass relationships in reactions, determining yield in reactions, free energy and reaction rates. |
| 7 | 6 Gases, Solutions, Colloids and Suspensions |
Properties of gases, the gas laws, partial pressure, solutions, precipitation reactions, solubility of gases in water, properties of some organic and biological compounds, concentration, dilution, colloids and suspensions, diffusion and osmosis. |
| 8 | Exam 2 covering Chapters 4, 5 and 6 | |
| 9 | 7 Acids, Bases and Equilibrium | Overview of acids and bases, equilibrium reactions, ionization of water, the pH scale, acid-base strength and neutralization, effect of pH on acid and conjugate base concentrations, buffers, factors affecting blood pH. |
| 10 | 8 Organic Reactions Part I | Properties and chemical reactions for hydrocarbons, properties and reactions for organic acids and phenols, preparation and properties of esters, amines as weak bases, amides. |
| 11 | 9 Organic Reactions Part II | Properties and preparation of alcohols and ethers, properties of aldehydes and ketones, oxidation of aldehydes, reduction of aldehydes and ketones, reactions of alcohols, aldehydes and ketones. |
| 12 | Exam 3 covering Chapters 7, 8 and 9 | |
| 13 | 10 Carbohydrates | Description of stereoisomerism and monosaccharides, reactions of monosaccharides and their different forms, properties of disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. |
| 13 | 11 Lipids and Membranes | Description of lipid classes: fatty acids, waxes, triglycerides, phospholipids, glycolipids, steroids and eicosanoids; description and properties of membranes. |
| 14 | 12 Peptides, Proteins and Enzymes | Description of amino acids, the peptide bond, peptides, proteins, protein structure, denaturation, enzymes and regulation of enzyme catalyzed reactions. |
| 15 | Exam 4: Chapters 10, 11, and 12 | |
Outine of Course
Laboratory
| Week | Experiment # | Experiment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check in. | |
| 2 | 1 | Measurements, Units and Conversion Factors |
| 3 | 2 | Measurements and Density of Matter |
| 4 | 3 | Energy Changes, Calorimetry and Specifi Heat |
| 5 | 4 | Covalent vs. Ionic Compounds |
| 6 | 5 | Molecular Models |
| 7 | 6 | Chemical Reactions |
| 8 | 7 | Solubility, Solutions, and Rates of Chemical Reactions |
| 9 | 8 | Acids, Bases, and Antacids |
| 10 | 9 | Preparation of Aspirin, Methyl Salicylate and Nylon |
| 11 | 10 | Reactions of Alcohols, Phenols, Aldehydes and Ketones |
| 12 | 11 | Chemistry of Carbohydrates |
| 13 | 12 | Properties of an Enzyme: Wheat Germ Acid Phosphatase |
| 14 | Check out |
Criteria for Evaluation
- In-Class Exams: 45% — There will be 4 in-class exams, with the lowest exam grade dropped. Each remaining exam is worth 15% of the final grade.
- Laboratory: Attendance will be monitored in lab. You should check
with the instructor to see if it is possible to perfomr an experiment in another
lab section during the week that you must miss a regularly scheduled lab.
- Reports: 20% — Reports will not be accepted for missed labs and penalties will be assessed for more than one absece from lab.
- Prelab: 10% — Prelab is due at the begining of each lab session
Final grades will be based on the total number of points accumulated based on a maximum of 100 points as described above:
| ≥91 | A |
| 88-90 | A- |
| 85-87 | B+ |
| 81-84 | B |
| 78-80 | B- |
| 75-77 | C+ |
| 71-74 | C |
| 68-70 | C- |
| 58-67 | D |
| <58 | F |
You should keep up to date on reading and practice problem assignments. You should be able to do the questions and problems at the end of each section within chapters and additional questions and problems at the end of each chapter. The answers to odd numbered questions and problems are given at the end of the book. You should read through the preface of the book to help you with better understanding. You should ask questions in class when you do not understand some of the material.
The experiment assigned for the day should be read before coming to lab and the prelab exercise must be handed in before beginning the lab experiment for the day. The lab report must be handed in for grading upon completing that lab experiment. Attendance will be taken in the laboratory. A lab coat is recommended. Safety glasses or goggles are mandatory and are available in the chemical stockroom, at the bookstore, or may be purchased at your local hardware store.
SAFETY GLASSES MUST BE WORN IN THE LABORATORY AT ALL TIMES
If you have any disabilities or problems with performing in the lab, you should notify the instructor during the first week. All students are required to take the laboratory component.
Useful Web Sites on Nutrition and Health
www.westonaprice.org - a valuable site for information on sensible nutrition, esp. fatswww.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp - food composition tables
www.altmedicine.com - alternative medicine information
www.eatright.org - Amer. Dietetic Assoc. supplement guidelines
www.health.harvard.edu - Harvard Univ. health publications
www.nal.usda.gov - general topics on food and nutrition