Overview

Pre-requisites GCSE Chemistry or FXX0010 preferred or equivalent qualifications.

This course comprises of two main areas:

(1) Chemistry in the Environment - (12 lectures)
This series of lectures will examine examples of the key underlying chemistry relevant to processes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.

(2) Chemistry in Biological Systems - Bio-active Molecules - (12 lectures) An introduction to biologically active compounds: including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and secondary metabolites.

Course Team: Dr E. Harper (24 lectures)

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold (40%). Knowledge and understanding of the content covered in the course is basic; Problems of a routine nature are generally adequately solved.

-good -Good (~60%). Knowledge base covers all essential aspects of subject matter dealt with in the programme and shows good evidence of enquiry beyond this. Conceptual understanding is good. Problems of a familiar and unfamiliar nature are solved in a logical manner; solutions are generally correct and acceptable.

-excellent -Excellent (>70%). Knowledge base is extensive and extends well beyond the work covered in the programme. Conceptual understanding is outstanding. Problems of a familiar and unfamiliar nature are solved with efficiency and accuracy; problem-solving procedures are adjusted to the nature of the problem.

Learning Outcomes

• On succesful completion of the module you will be able to describe key chemical processes studies relating to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.

• On successful completion of the module, you will be able to define biologically-active compounds in relation to the concentration at which an effect is observed.

• On successful completion of the module, you will be able to draw chemical structures and representations of some of the major classes of biomolecules and explain their importance in nature.