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  2. Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry [SCC1226]

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

  • Unit Code

    SCC1226

  • Year

    2020

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Mary Christine BOYCE

Description

This unit provides an introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry. It covers the structure and reactions of important classes of organic compounds and biomolecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids. Various important applications will be described, including polymers, medicinals, soaps, detergents.

Prerequisite Rule

(Scaled Score in CHE3A/3B > 49.99 OR Students must pass 1 unit from SCC1111, SCC1123)

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SCC1124

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate laboratory skills relevant to organic chemistry and biochemistry including handling and disposal of chemical reagents with respect to personal safety and sustainable practice.
  2. Describe and relate the structure and properties of medicinals, polymers and soaps to their uses in society.
  3. Explain and apply fundamental concepts and principles in organic chemistry and biochemistry and recognise applications of these concepts and principles.
  4. Identify important functional groups and classes of organic and biomolecules, describe their structure, and predict outcomes of typical reactions.

Unit Content

  1. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Nomenclature, bonding, structure, preparation, physical properties, typical chemical reactions. Example of fermentation and production of alcoholic beverages.
  2. Aldehydes, Ketones and Amines Nomenclature, bonding, structure, preparation, physical properties, typical chemical reactions. Comparison of aldehydes and ketones.
  3. Analysis of biomolecules Introduction to spectroscopy and chromatography and their application to biological, nutritional and forensic analysis.
  4. Carbohydrates Structure of monosaccharides (especially glucose, fructose, galactose), disaccharides (maltose, lactose, sucrose), polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose), including stereoisomerism. Identification tests for carbohydrates as reducing sugars. Formation and hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages.
  5. Carboxylic Acids, Esters and Amides Nomenclature, bonding, structure, preparation, physical properties, typical chemical reactions. Examples of fruit essences and flavourings, cosmetics, vitamins, medicinals, soaps and detergents.
  6. General Overview of organic and biological chemistry and the applications in many fields of science across international contexts, such as biochemistry, nutrition and forensics.
  7. Hydrocarbons Nomenclature, bonding, structure, physical and chemical properties of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic compounds. Applications as fuels, chemical feedstocks.
  8. Lipids Classification system for lipids. Triglycerides, degree of unsaturation, hydrolysis and saponification. Phospholipids and application as biological membranes. Steroids, prostaglandins, waxes as categories of lipid.
  9. Metals in biological systems Metals in important biological molecules such as haemoglobin and chlorophyll, metals in the environment, trace metals.
  10. Nucleic Acids Components and structure of nucleic acids, formation of double helix, DNA and RNA exemplars, role and function of nucleic acids.
  11. Proteins Structure of amino acids, importance of side chain structure, existence as zwitterions. Formation of peptide bonds. Proteins and their primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures. Enzymes and biological catalysts, dependence on temperature and pH, models of enzyme function (lock and key model, induced fit model).
  12. Synthetic Polymers Addition and condensation polymerisation reactions. Poly(ethylene) and its derivatives, polyesters and polyamides.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and laboratory work. During laboratory work, students will work in teams, and develop time-management and communications skills required to complete multiple activities simultaneously.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Exerciseworksheets, continuous assessment25%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination50%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory reports25%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCC1226|1|1

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

  • Unit Code

    SCC1226

  • Year

    2020

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Mary Christine BOYCE

Description

This unit provides an introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry. It covers the structure and reactions of important classes of organic compounds and biomolecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids. Various important applications will be described, including polymers, medicinals, soaps, detergents.

Prerequisite Rule

(Scaled Score in CHE3A/3B > 49.99 OR Students must pass 1 unit from SCC1111, SCC1123)

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SCC1124

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain and apply fundamental concepts and principles in organic chemistry and biochemistry and recognise applications of these concepts and principles.
  2. Identify important functional groups and classes of organic and biomolecules, describe their structure, and predict outcomes of typical reactions.
  3. Describe and relate the structure and properties of medicinals, polymers and soaps to their uses in society.
  4. Demonstrate laboratory skills relevant to organic chemistry and biochemistry including handling and disposal of chemical reagents with respect to personal safety and sustainable practice.

Unit Content

  1. Introduction to organic chemistry.
  2. Key Functional groups: hydrocarbons, haloalkanes, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, amines, aromatics.
  3. Biomolecules: proteins, amino acids, enzymes, lipids, carbohydrates.
  4. Applied organic chemistry: polymers, soaps, detergents, medicinals.
  5. Key functional groups: nomenclature, bonding, structure, preparation, physical and chemical properties, typical chemical reactions.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and laboratory work. During laboratory work, students will work in teams, and develop time-management and communications skills required to complete multiple activities simultaneously.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseContinuous assessment25%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory write-ups25%
AssignmentEnd of Semester Assessment50%

Core Reading(s)

  • Seager, S., & Slabaugh, M. (2013). Organic and Biochemistry for Today. Cengage. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ecu/detail.action?docID=5845933
  • Seager, S. L., & Slabaugh, M. R. (2013). Organic and biochemistry for today. Belmont, CA.: Brooks/Cole CENGAGE Learning. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/857112962?databaseList=638

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCC1226|1|2