BS132-4-AP-CO:
General and Organic Chemistry
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn & Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 22 March 2024
15
04 August 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C700 Biochemistry,
BSC C701 Biochemistry (Including Placement Year),
BSC C703 Biochemistry (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CR00 Biochemistry (Including Foundation Year),
BSC B990 Biomedical Science,
BSC B991 Applied Biomedical Science (NHS placement),
BSC B995 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC B999 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC BD00 Biomedical Science (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIB099 Biomedical Science,
MSCIBA99 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB99 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC CK00 Genetics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C110 Biotechnology,
BSC C111 Biotechnology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C112 Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C113 Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C200 Human Biology,
BSC C201 Human Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C202 Human Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C220 Human Biology (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC098 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIC099 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
MSCICZ99 Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
BSC C555 Microbiology,
BSC C556 Microbiology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C557 Microbiology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C558 Microbiology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIC559 Microbiology and Biotechnology
This module will examine, in detail, fundamental concepts including chemical bonding, electronegativity, acidity, basicity, hydrogen bonding, the range of common organic functional groups and different types of isomerism.
This module will then examine, in mechanistic detail, a range of reactions that model those commonly occurring in biological systems.
The aim of this module is:
- To provide a grounding in chemistry suitable for students of the molecular life sciences.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Describe basic chemical principles including the structure of the atom, chemical bonding and layout of the periodic table, and also apply the concept of orbital hybridisation.
- Demonstrate how 3 dimensional molecules are represented in 2 dimensions.
- Describe the concept of functional groups and how these groups give rise to characteristic properties including biological activity.
- Describe the nature of stereoisomers and their implications for biological systems.
- Draw mechanisms for a range of organic reactions.
- Describe how the fundamental principles of electronegativity and polarity underpin organic reactions.
- Describe how the reactivity of organic compounds can be related to Lewis and hybridisation models for bonding.
- Demonstrate competence in experimental practice, written communication, and data analysis & interpretation.
Skills for your professional life (Transferable Skills)
By the end of this module, students will be expected to have developed the following transferable skills:
- Preparative and analytical chemistry.
- Retrieval, evaluation and selection of scientific information.
- Problem solving.
- Numeracy.
- Data analysis and interpretation.
Autumn Term
In order to fully appreciate the roles of biological molecules it is first necessary to understand how they are formed from individual atoms, and moreover how the properties of these constituent atoms influence molecular structure and reactivity.
Spring Term
In order to fully understand the complex molecular processes involved in the cell it is first necessary to gain an appreciation of the reactivity of simple organic compounds.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour lecture per week.
- Two MCQ revisions classes.
- One revision class before the summer exam.
- Four 3-hour practical sessions or equivalent.
The lectures will include on lecture on directed learning material.
The MCQ revision classes will be at the end of the autumn and spring terms.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Worksheet 1 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Worksheet 2 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Worksheet 3 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Worksheet 4 |
|
25% |
| Exam |
MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during January
|
| Exam |
MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during Early Exams
|
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 60 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 100 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Paul Dobbin, email: pdobbin@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Paul Dobbin
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
No
No
No
Prof Jacqueline McCormack
Institute Technology Sligo
Vice President
Available via Moodle
Of 101 hours, 29 (28.7%) hours available to students:
72 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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