CHE1010: Introductory Chemistry for medical and health sciences

Credit points: 36.4

Rationale

This course introduces the students to the basic concepts of Inorganic, organic, physical and
analytical chemistry with a focus on the study of chemical properties, interactions and
relationship to human health. Chemistry serves as the backbone and plays a critical role in
understanding chemical processes involved in a living system. It will equip the students with
basic knowledge and skills required in Chemistry and appreciate its role played in the field of
medicine. The course sets a strong foundation for students intending to pursue studies in medical
and health sciences.

Aim
The course aims to equip students with basic knowledge and skills in inorganic, organic, physical
and analytical chemistry and how they relate to human health.

Course Objectives

On the completion of the course, students should be able to:

(i) Perform mathematical manipulations with proper attention to units and significant figures
in mole concepts and various chemical reactions.
(ii) Predict the outcome of the various acid-base, precipitation reactions and oxidation-
reduction reactions.
(iii) Describe the atomic structure, predict the type of bonding and relate to physical
properties.
(iv) Perform sampling of different sample types, identify and quantify the statistical errors
associated with analytical data.
(v) Define electrode potential, calculate cell potentials and their application in biological
systems.
(vi) Explain the factors that affect the rates of chemical reactions and calculate rate and order
of reactions from experimental data.
(vii) Perform equilibrium calculations involving one component phase, homogeneous, acid-
base, solubility equilibria and solution chemistry.
(viii) Explain the importance of trace elements and recognize the application of complexes in
biological systems.
(ix) Articulate some medical applications of radioactive nuclei and apply qualitatively
physical and inorganic techniques to interpret molecular structure.
(x) Describe the types of bonds present in organic compounds, and draw structures of organic
compounds of a given molecular formula and their isomers.

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Course Learning Outcomes/Competencies
1. Applies chemical and scientific theories in inorganic, organic, physical, and analytical
chemistries.
2. Conducts scientific experiments as well as accurately record and analyze the results of
such experiments.
3. Acquires problem solving, critical thinking and analytical knowledge and skills to resolve
scientific problems.
4. Appreciates the central role of chemistry in medical and health sciences and use this as a
basis for ethical behavior and understanding of safe handling of chemicals.
5. Functions as a member of an interdisciplinary problem-solving team.

Course content

Unit 1: Stoichiometry

1.1. Measurement
1.1.1. Units of measurement, Uncertainty in measurement – Accuracy and Precision,
Dimensional analysis.
1.1.2. Relative masses of atoms and molecules, determination of relative atomic masses from
percentage composition, Empirical and molecular formula, combustion analysis.
1.1.3. The mole, Avogadro’s number
1.1.4. Quantitative information from balanced reaction, limiting reactant, theoretical yield,
percentage yield.

1.2. Solution Stoichiometry

1.2.1. Types of reaction: Precipitation reaction – metathesis, Acid-base reaction - acids, bases,
neutralisation reactions, acid-base reaction with gas formation. Oxidation - reduction
reaction- oxidation, reduction, oxidation numbers,
1.2.2. Balancing redox reaction by oxidation number method and by ion electron method in
acid and basic medium;
1.2.3. Concentrations of solutions: molarity, Percent weight-by-weight, volume-by-volume and
weight-by-volume. Parts per thousand, pairs per million, parts per billion, milligram
percent and milligram per decilitre. Density, specific gravity, formality, molality,
normality and equivalent weights.
1.2.4. Titration: simple titration, back titration and redox titration.

Unit 2: Atomic structure

2.1. Atomic structure

2.1.1. Bohr’s model of atom, idea of de Broglie matter waves
2.1.2. Heisenberg uncertainty principle, atomic orbitals, quantum numbers, Aufbau and Pauli’s
2.1.3. Exclusion principle.
2.1.4. Hund's multiplicity rule
2.1.5. Electronic configuration of elements
2.1.6. Effective nuclear charge and shielding; shapes of s and p orbitals and their characteristics.

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2.1.7. The Electronic Structure of Atoms
2.1.8. Atomic orbitals (shapes) and quantum numbers.

2.2. Introduction to periodic table and periodic trends

2.2.1. Ionization potentials, electron affinities
2.2.2. Atomic and ionic sizes
2.2.3. Effective nuclear charges and electronegativities of elements.
2.2.4. Introduction to biologically important elements.

Unit 3: Nature of Chemical Bonding

3.1. Chemical Bonding

3.1.1. Ionic bond, covalent bond and coordinate bond.
3.1.2. Lewis structure, formal charge.
3.1.3. Directional characteristics of covalent bond Hybridization (sp, sp2, sp3).
3.1.4. Shapes of simple molecules and ions by valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR)
theory.
3.1.5. Resonance structures, Molecular orbitals, bond order; bond length, bond polarities,
intermediate nature of bonds, and dipole moment.
3.1.6. The valence bond theory, hybridization and molecular shapes. Simple molecular orbital
theory and bonding in transitional metals.

Unit 4: Sampling and Treatment of Analytical Data

4.1. Sampling of Different Sample Types

4.1.1. Sampling of gas, liquid and solid samples.
4.1.2. Storage of samples, sample dissolution.
4.1.3. Elements of statistics of sampling.

4.2. Statistical Treatment of Analytical Data:

4.2.1. Types of errors (random and non-random).
4.2.2. Tests of significance (Q, F and t-tests).
4.2.3. Linear least squares method, linear regression analysis correlation coefficient and
detection limits.

Unit 5: Electrochemistry

5.1. Electron transfer and change in oxidation state

5.2. Standard electrode potentials, the redox series, cell potentials under standard and non-
standard conditions.
5.3. Concentration cells; Batteries and fuel cell.
5.4. Electrolysis, factors affecting amount of substance liberated during electrolysis, The
Faraday constant.
5.5. Oxidation and reduction, the half-cell concept,
5.6. Voltaic cells and the Nernst equation.
5.7. Redox titrations, titration curves and applications of redox titrimetry.

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Unit 6: Thermochemistry

6.1 Heats of reaction

6.2 Calorimetry
6.3 Enthalpy
6.4 Thermochemical equations
6.5 Bond Energy.

Unit 7: Chemical Kinetics (

7.1. Rate of reaction, average rate, instantaneous rate, initial rate.
7.2. Factors affecting rate – concentration, particle size, temperature, catalyst;
7.3. Rate laws, rate constant and its units;
7.4. Integrated rate law equations for zero order, first order and second order reaction;
7.5. Half-life,
7.6. Linear relations of integrated rate equations
7.7. Temperature dependence of rate constants and Arrhenius equation;
7.8. Activated complex theory (ACT) and Collision theory.

Unit 8: Equilibrium

8.1. Chemical Equilibrium

8.1.1. Homogenous equilibrium.
8.1.2. Gas-phase equilibrium.
8.1.3. Equilibrium constants; Kc and KP relationships.
8.1.4. Relationship between equilibrium constant and Gibbs energy.
8.1.5. Factors affecting chemical equilibrium; Le Chatelier Principle.
8.1.6. Solubility and solubility products,
8.1.7. Common ion effect.

8.2. Acid-base equilibrium

8.2.1. Definition of acids and bases; strong and weak acids and bases.
8.2.2. Equilibrium constants.
8.2.3. pH and pOH of acids and bases.
8.2.4. Hydrolysis of salts of weak acids and bases
8.2.5. Buffers: Buffer solutions and buffer capacity.
8.2.6. Titration curves: Acid-base titrations and indicators.
8.2.7. Acid-base Equilibria in Aqueous Solutions.
8.2.8. Acid-base theories (Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry and Lewis).
8.2.9. Strengths of acids and bases.
8.2.10. Hydrolysis.
8.2.11. Polyprotic acid-base equilibria and following the pH during acid-base titrations.
8.2.12. Applications of titrimetry.
8.2.13. Use of primary standards.

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8.3. Multiple Ion Equilibria
8.3.1. Complex ions and compounds
8.3.2. Nature, naming and bonding type.
8.3.3. Complexes formation/dissociation equilibria in aqueous media.
8.3.4. Complex stability and instability constants.
8.3.5. Chelates, metal-EDTA complexes.
8.3.6. Titrations involving EDTA.

8.4. Phase equilibrium

8.4.1. Intermolecular forces: van der Waal's forces, dipole-dipole interaction, hydrogen
bonding.
8.4.2. Bonding and physical properties – vapour pressure, boiling point, melting point,
solubility.

8.5. Solutions and their properties

8.5.1. Types of solutions: saturated, unsaturated, and supersaturated solutions.
8.5.2. Non-electrolytes and electrolytes
8.5.3. Solubility of nonvolatile solutes, solution of volatile solute and solvents.
8.5.4. Solubility of gases in liquids - Henry’s law; the v’ant Hoff equation.
8.5.5. Vapour pressure of a solution with a volatile solvent and non-volatile solute (Raoults
Law)
8.5.6. Vapour pressure of a solution of a volatile solute and volatile solvent
8.5.7. Colligative properties: vapour-pressure lowering, boiling-point elevation, freezing point
depression, and osmotic pressure.

Unit 9: Introduction to Nuclear Chemistry

9.1 Stability of atoms

9.2 Radioactive isotopes
9.3 Application of nuclear chemistry in medicine.

Unit 10: Principles and Basics of Organic Chemistry

10.1. Organic chemistry, and why study organic chemistry?

10.2. Hybridization of carbon and bonding in organic compounds.
10.3. Elemental composition and classification of organic compounds.
10.3. Hydrocarbons: Molecular and structural formulae;
10.4. Expanded (Lewis), condensed and line-bond (skeletal) presentations,
10.5. Nomenclature (IUPAC and trivial), classification of carbons and hydrogens,
10.6. Structural isomerism
10.7. Physical properties of alkanes (acyclic and cyclic), alkenes (acyclic and cyclic) and
alkynes.
10.8. Aromatic hydrocarbons: Resonance, nomenclature (IUPAC and trivial), classification of
carbons and physical properties.

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10.9. Functional groups in organic chemistry: Structure, nomenclature and priority (suffixes and
prefixes) of haloalkanes, aminoalkanes, nitroalkanes, alcohols, ethers, ketones, aldehydes,
nitriles carboxylic acids, esters, and amides.
10.10. The importance of Index of hydrogen deficiency (IHD), Degree of Unsaturation (DU); its
calculation and interpretation.
10.11. Reactions: Definition of a reaction, Substitution and addition, radicals, carbocations,
electrophiles and nucleophiles and the curly arrows and half arrows for movement of
electrons. 10.12. Reactions of alkanes: Combustion of hydrocarbons and Halogenation of
alkanes.

Unit 11: Stereoisomerism

11.1. Concept, definitions, general conditions and tests for chirality, biological importance;
11.2. Methods of representing stereochemical structures (projection formulae);
11.3. Stereoisomeric relationships in alicyclic and cyclic compounds (enantiomers,
diastereomers, meso structures);
11.4. Optical activity (Measurement of [α]D, racemates and meso compounds).

Unit 12: Conformational analysis

12.1. Concept and definitions of terminology;
12.2. Conformational isomers (conformers) and conformational analysis (Alicyclic compounds
(butane));
12.3. Sawhorse and Newman projection formulae; Cyclic compounds (3-6 membered
monocyclic alkanes) (boat and chair conformers, angle strain, and torsional strain).

Mode of delivery:
Lectures: 3 hours per week
Tutorials: 1 hour per week
Laboratory: 3-hour session per week

Assessment:
Continuous Assessment (CA): 50 %
Assignments 2%
Quizzes 3%
Tests 20%
Laboratory 15%
Laboratory Test 10%

Final Theory Examination: 50%

Total: 100%

Suggested Laboratory Experiments

1. Laboratory safety, common laboratory apparatus and techniques

2. Scale reading; calibration of the pipette accuracy and precision
3. Stoichiometry-the limiting and excess reagent in a chemical reaction

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4. Back titration - determination of percent ammonia in household ammonia
5. Redox titration - determination of molecular formula of a hydrated iron(ii) sulphate
6. Sequential reactions - estimation of a chemical formula of an ammonium salt and percent yield
of mineral acid
7. Thermochemistry: enthalpy of neutralization of acid - base reactions
8. Chemical kinetic–determining the order and effect of concentration on rate of reaction
9. Chemical kinetics-the effect of temperature on rate of reaction
10. Acid – base titration –titration curve of a weak acid with a strong base
11. The solubility curve of ammonium chloride
12. Measurement of equilibrium constant
13. Hydrolysis and pH indicators
14. Gravimetric – Determination of Fluoride as Lead Chlorofluoride
15. Properties of alkanes substitution reactions
16. Reactivity of alkenes – test for unsaturation

Prescribed Readings
1. Chemistry by Steven S. Zumdahl and Susan S Zumdahl, Tenth Edition, 2017, Brooks /
Cole, Cengage Learning. ISBN-10 : 1305957733, ISBN-13 : 978-1305957732.
2. “General, Organic and Biochemistry”, Katherine J. Denniston, Joseph J. Topping, Kim R.
Woodrum, Robert L. Caret 10th Edition, 2019. McGraw Hil. ISBN: 9781260565881.
3. Analytical Chemistry, Gary D. Christian, Purnendu (Sandy) Dasgupta, Kevin Schug, 7th
Edition, 2013. Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-0470887578 ISBN-10: 0470887575.

Recommended Readings
1. The Central Science, Brown, LeMay, Bursten and Murphy, Chemistry –13th Edition
2019 (Pearson International Edition), Pearson Education Inc. ISBN-10:
0321864409/ISBN-13: 9780321864406.
2. Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity Tenth edition, Kotz, Triechel and Townsend, 2018,
Brooks/ Cole, Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 978-1337399074 ISBN-10: 1337399078.
3. Chemistry - The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change, Silberberg, Eighth Edition,
2017, McGraw Hill. ISBN-13: 978-1259631757 ISBN-10: 1259631753.