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CHEM10010

Academic Year 2024/2025

Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules (CHEM10010)

Subject:
Chemistry
College:
Science
School:
Chemistry
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Aniello Palma
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module initially covers the simple chemical functional groups that are found in bio-molecules, (alkane, alkene, alcohol amine, carboxylic acid, ester, amide), their systematic naming and some of their common reactions (acid/base, oxidation/reduction, condensation/hydrolysis). Then the focus will switch to the common bio-molecules themselves (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, DNA/RNA) with a description of their structure, how they are formed and their reactions with water. Later parts of the module will deal with how and why these chemical reactions occur in terms of their energetics and rates. Finally the acidity of certain of these molecules will be discussed. Students should note that they must achieve a minimum of 40% in the practical component of this Module in order to pass the module as a whole.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module the student will be able to draw the structures of simple compounds from their systematic name and name compounds from their structures; identify the reaction products from simple chemical reactions (acid/base, oxidation/reduction, condensation/hydrolysis). They will also be able to recognise and discuss the structures of the common bio-molecules (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, DNA/RNA) and know how they are formed in Nature and how they are broken down by reaction with water. They will also be able to analyse the energetics and rates of such reactions, especially the hydrolysis and acid/base reactions.

Indicative Module Content:

Basic Organic Chemistry: Structures and Reactions
Key Biological Molecules: Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Nucleic Acids
Basic Physical Chemistry: Why Biological Reactions Happen

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

10
Autonomous Student Learning

48
Lectures

24
Tutorial

5
Practical

15
Total

102

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The key approaches to teaching and learning are through the delivery of lectures, completion of tutorials and laboratories

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Leaving Certificate Chemistry Grade C Hons or Introductory Chemistry (CHEM00020 or CHEM00010)

Learning Exclusions:

CHEM10030, CHEM10050, CHEM10060, CHEM10070, CHEM10090


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
CHEM10030 - Chemistry for Engineers, CHEM10050 - Basis of Organic & Biol Chem, CHEM10060 - Phys & Inorg Chem, CHEM10070 - General & Physical Chemistry, CHEM10090 - Organic Chemistry (Med)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): Examination: Mid - Term Examination Week 6 Graded No
20
 No
Exam (Online): Examination: End of Semester Exam End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Graded No
35
 No
Report(s): Lab Report: Assessment based on laboratory practice, reports, samples and data. A minimum of 40% must be obtained in this component in order to pass the module as a whole. Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded Yes
25
 Yes
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Class Test: 5 quizzes + 5 In-tutorial test Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on Tutorial homework and tests is built into Tutorial classes Mid-Term Test class feedback via the lectures and individually to students Practicals Feedback is individually to students fortnightly during Lab classes

Name Role
Assoc Professor Michael Casey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Aniello Palma Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mall Akanksha Tutor
Uha Akola Puchakayala Tutor
Amélia Laetitia Auville Tutor
Pratik Avinash Tutor
Ms Amber Barry Tutor
Mr Lee Yang Chieng Tutor
Reid Davis Tutor
Niamh Disney Tutor
Ms Emer Doyle-Neilon Tutor
Yutong Du Tutor
Ahmad Mohammad Zuhair Faddah Tutor
Adam Gerard Fanning Tutor
Guohui Huang Tutor
Miss Sophie Kavanagh Tutor
Liufang Liao Tutor
Rachel Lynch Tutor
Ms Caoimhe Maher Tutor
Karthikeyan Manoharan Tutor
Mr Breno Moura Motta Tutor
Jordan Patrick Mulvaney Tutor
Niamh O'Dwyer Tutor
Mr Diarmuid O'Hanlon Tutor
Thomas Rabbitte Tutor
Wanyujin Wang Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 Mon 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 33 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 Mon 17:00 - 17:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 33 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 8 Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 9 Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 10 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 11 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 12 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 13 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 14 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 15 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 Tues 12:00 - 14:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 3 Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 Tues 15:00 - 17:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 5 Week(s) - 24, 26, 30, 32 Mon 15:00 - 17:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 7 Week(s) - 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 12:00 - 14:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 9 Week(s) - 24, 26, 30, 32 Tues 15:00 - 17:50
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