THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Service Courses for Biology

Undergraduate Course: Biological Chemistry 1A (CHEM08022)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe Biological Chemistry 1A and 1B 20-point courses together provide the first year course for students taking biological sciences-based degrees. These courses are designed to take students with diverse backgrounds and provide them with the thorough grounding in the fundamentals of biological chemistry and provide a basic training in the essential laboratory skills for practical chemistry.

The courses consist of lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes.
Course description The course is designed to provide an introduction to the key chemical principles underpinning many biological processes. The main themes addressed by the course are: structure, shape and bonding of covalent molecules, reactivity of singly bonded functional groups and carbonyl chemistry; primary, secondary and tertiary structure of bio-molecules and an introduction to metabolic processes.

It is the required 1st year course (with Biological Chemistry 1B) for students intending to proceed to biological degrees requiring credits in Chemistry and a pre-requisite course for Biological Chemistry 2.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Chemistry 1A (CHEM08016) OR Chemistry for Chemical Engineers 1A (CHEM08028)
Other requirements None
Additional Costs Purchase of a laboratory coat.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  489
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15, Online Activities 2, Summative Assessment Hours 12, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 127 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 65 %, Coursework 5 %, Practical Exam 30 %
Additional Information (Assessment) End of semester MCQ exam 65%; PeerWise 5%; Labs 30%
Feedback Feedback will be provided through two major channels:

Tutorials:
At the start of each tutorial week you will be asked to work through some questions. Although these are not marked, you should always attempt the questions in advance as they are a good self-check on how well you have understood the material from the lectures. Use the tutorial to ask questions and clear up any difficulties you have with the topic.

Laboratories:
Each lab has an interactive on-line prelab assignment. This will introduce you to the topic and has questions for you to complete, with instant feedback, to test your understanding.
This is followed by an on-line worksheet with you will complete using data from the lab. Whilst completing the worksheet you will get feedback on your answers.

Towards the end of the course you will also be given the opportunity to provide us with feedback regarding all aspects of the course.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Biological Chemistry 1A2:120
Resit Exam Diet (August)Biological Chemistry 1A2:120
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Appreciate how to build knowledge in chemistry through an increased awareness of the effectiveness of different modes of teaching and learning.
  2. Understand, describe and account for: the fundamental principles of the structure, shape and bonding of covalent molecules, reactivity of singly bonded functional groups and carbonyl chemistry; primary, secondary and tertiary structure of bio-molecules and basic metabolic processes.
  3. Participate in small group discussions both in a laboratory and in a tutorial setting.
  4. Use data sets using suitable software to formulate meaningful scientific arguments.
  5. Use laboratory equipment under supervision in a safe manner in order to perform simple synthetic procedures and spectroscopic characterisations.
Reading List
Chemistry for the Biosciences. Crowe and Bradshaw.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. Ability to work in teams (laboratory and tutorials)
2. Note-taking skills in lectures
Additional Class Delivery Information Lectures on Mon 09:00-10:00, Wed 09:00-10:00 and Fri 09:00-10:00 at King's Buildings.
A one hour tutorial is held on either Tue pm, Wed pm or Fri pm.
Laboratory classes will be held Mon 10:00-13:00 or Wed 10:00-13:00 or Fri 10:00-13:00 in the Chemistry Lab, Nucleus Building.
KeywordsBC1A
Contacts
Course organiserDr Peter Kirsop
Tel: (0131 6)50 4719
Email: p.kirsop@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Rob Hutchinson
Tel:
Email: robert.hutchinson@ed.ac.uk
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