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 1B (CHEM08023)

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 structural characterization and the key physical chemistry driving many biological processes. The main themes addressed by the course are bioenergetics, equilibria, biological catalysis, bio-electrochemistry and structural characterization.

It is the required 1st year course (with Biological Chemistry 1A) 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 1B (CHEM08017) OR Chemistry for Chemical Engineers 1B (CHEM08029)
Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  501
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 32, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15, Online Activities 2, Summative Assessment Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 126 )
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 S2 (April/May)Biological Chemistry 1B2:180
Resit Exam Diet (August)Biological Chemistry 1B2:180
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 key physical chemistry driving many biological processes, bioenergetics, equilibria, biological catalysis, bio-electrochemistry and structural characterisation.
  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 0900-1000, Wed 0900-1000 and Fri 0900-1000 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 1000-1300 or Wed 1000-1300 or Fri 1000-1300 in the Chemistry Lab, Nucleus Building.
KeywordsBC1B
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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