Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)

Module FOUN0147: Advanced Chemistry for the Medical Sciences

Department: Foundation Year

FOUN0147: Advanced Chemistry for the Medical Sciences

Type Open Level 0 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2015/16 Module Cap Location Queen's Campus Stockton

Prerequisites

  • Core Foundation Chemistry or Continuing Chemistry

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Advanced Chemistry

Aims

  • To encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject.
  • to develop students' learning skills.
  • to extend the fundamental knowledge base in Chemistry to include physical processes and organic chemistry and relate this to a medical sciences context.

Content

  • fundamentals of organic chemistry relating to drug design and interaction.
  • Organic chemistry (Contextualised within drug structure) – constitutes half the course and constitutes the following components:
  • Alkanes / alkenes and benzene
  • Alcohols -production - fermentation
  • Carbonyls / carboxylic acids
  • Triglycerides
  • Polymers
  • Isomerism
  • Born-haber cycles
  • Entropy – feasibility of reactions
  • Electrochemistry
  • Equilibria
  • pH and pKa

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
  • describe the structure and reactions of a range of homologous series.
  • describe different types of isomerism in organic molecules, with examples.
  • define enthalpy, entropy and free energy and their relationship.
  • understand and use pH in a range of applications.
  • Be able to apply this knowledge in medical sciences contexts
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students will have acquired the skills to be able to:
  • Deduce organic compound structure from systematic names.
  • Work confidently and effectively in a laboratory, with due attention to safety.
  • Relate observations and data to underlying theory.
  • Select and use basic lab equipment.
  • Carry out chemical calculations as detailed on the syllabus.
Key Skills:
  • By the end of the module the students will:
  • be able to communicate effectively in writing
  • be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data
  • be able to demonstrate problem solving skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Theory, initial concepts and techniques will be introduced during lectures and demonstrations.
  • Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured exercise during sessions and students own time.
  • Knowledge understanding and ability to use and apply concepts will be tested by an end of module exam. .

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 8 Weekly 2 hours 16
Seminars 8 Weekly 1 hour 8
Practicals 3 3 hours 9
Preparation and Reading 67
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
examination 2 hours 100% Resit

Formative Assessment:

Exercises and library research


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University