Fundamental Chemistry

Module 1: Introductory Chemistry (7.5 credits)

The module is divided into two parts: a theoretical component and a laboratory component.

• The periodic table and its background: periods, groups, electron configuration, Pauli exclusion principle, Hund’s rule, Aufbau principle, trends in the periodic table regarding atomic radius, ionic radius, ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, and description of the properties of the most common elements.
• Chemical bonding: Lewis structures (including resonance structures and formal charge), ionic bonding, covalent bonding, hybridization, electron sharing, LCAO-MO theory.
• Empirical formula, formula unit, dipole moment, band theory, ligand theory, crystal structure, cubic unit cell.
• Simple cubic unit cell (SCC), body-centered cubic unit cell (BCC), face-centered cubic unit cell (FCC).
• Lewis structures, determining geometry based on electron groups, bonding electron groups, lone pairs. Based on molecular geometry and possible dipole moment, determine the type of intermolecular forces between molecules: van der Waals forces and solubility.
• Safety lecture and safety test: how to work in a laboratory and identify common equipment in a chemical laboratory.
• Before a laboratory session: understand instructions and perform a safety analysis. Carry out the laboratory work practically and report the results in the prescribed manner within the given timeframe.
• Zeroth, first, second, and third laws of thermodynamics: work, heat, internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, temperature, isobaric process, isochoric process, isothermal process, adiabatic process, heat capacity, reaction heat.

Special emphasis is placed on safety concepts in the laboratory sessions. The course requires the purchase of acceptable protective equipment, which is primarily the responsibility of the student.

Module 2: Chemical Calculations (7.5 credits)

The module is divided into two parts: a theoretical component and a laboratory component.

• Significant figures, rounding, conversion between different units, unit analysis.
• The ideal gas law: pressure, volume, temperature, amount of substance, gas constant.
• Empirical formula, molecular formula.
• Chemical reactions in general, redox reactions in particular: molecular reaction equation, ionic reaction equation, net ionic equation, limiting reagent, yield in chemical reactions, simple electrolysis problems, concentration, amount of substance, mass, molar mass.
• Dynamic equilibrium: activity, activities at equilibrium, concentrations at equilibrium, acid dissociation constant (Ka), base dissociation constant (Kb), conjugate acid-base pairs, solubility product (Ksp), solubility, complex formation constant, equilibrium constant (concentration, Kc, and pressure, Kp), reaction quotient, Le Châtelier’s principle, common ion effect, autoprotolysis of water, pKa, pKb, pKw.
• pH, pOH, pH indicators, pH calculations, buffer solutions, buffer equation (Henderson–Hasselbalch equation), preparation of buffer solutions.
• Concentration, amount of substance, mass, molar mass, dilution calculations, redox titration, acid-base titration.
• Kinetics: reaction order, rate constant, half-life, Arrhenius equation, activation energy.
• Practical laboratory work based on parts of the course theory. Laboratory results are reported according to instructions.

Module 3: Biochemistry (7.5 credits)

The module is divided into two parts: a theoretical component and a laboratory component.

• Animal and plant cells, as well as prokaryotic cells.
• Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Functions of proteins as catalysts, receptors, and transporters. Inhibition of enzymatically catalysed reactions. Functions of carbohydrates and lipids in energy metabolism. Roles of lipids and proteins in membranes. DNA as the carrier of genetic information. RNA’s role in the expression of genetic information.
• Replication, transcription, and translation.
• Chromatographic methods such as gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, and affinity chromatography.
• Electrophoretic methods such as native and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, two-dimensional electrophoresis, and agarose gel electrophoresis.
• DNA technology methods including PCR, DNA cleavage with restriction enzymes, gene cloning, and DNA sequencing.
• Glycolysis, citric acid cycle, mitochondrial electron transport chain, and the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis. The chemiosmotic principle.
• Laboratory work performed according to instructions.
• Protocols and reports based on the student’s own laboratory work.

Module 4: Organic Chemistry (7.5 credits)

The module is divided into two parts: a theoretical component and a laboratory component.

• Application of bonding theory to organic molecules.
• Nomenclature of organic molecules and various forms of graphical representations of their structures.
• Properties and main reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic compounds, alkyl halides, alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and amines.
• Use of substances from the above groups for synthetic purposes, with examples of products and processes used in society.
• Reaction mechanisms for a selection of addition, substitution, elimination, and rearrangement reactions involving the above groups of substances.
• Safety regulations and protective measures.
• Simple syntheses involving unit operations such as extraction, filtration, recrystallisation, and distillation.
• Thin-layer chromatography and determination of melting point.
• Report writing and procedures for recording notes in a laboratory journal.

Attendance at scheduled laboratory sessions is mandatory.

Progressive specialisation: G1N (has only upper‐secondary level entry requirements)

Education level: Undergraduate level

Admission requirements: General admission requirements plus upper secondary level Chemistry 2 and Mathematics 4/Mathematics E, or registered for the Biomedical scientist programme, or Chemistry level 2 and Mathematics level 2, or registered for the Biomedical scientist programme, or equivalent

Selection: Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.

This course is included in the following programme

• Biomedical scientist program (studied during year 1)