Oct 07, 2024  
Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Catalog 2024-2025

CH 110 Foundations of General, Organic, and Biochemistry


Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 2
Credits: 5

Presents a one-term survey course of basic general, organic, and biochemistry designed to introduce the chemistry needed for understanding the functions of living organisms.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115  (or higher), or completion of WR 090  (or higher); and placement into MTH 111Z  (or higher), or completion of MTH 095  (or higher, except MTH 098  and MTH 105Z ); or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:
  1. Use the periodic table to determine the symbol, atomic number, atomic weight, and electron configuration of an element and to deduce general chemical properties.
  2. Predict formulas and names of ionic and covalent compounds.
  3. Determine the balanced chemical equation given the names of the reactants and products.
  4. Describe measurement and preparation of aqueous molar and percent solutions.
  5. Describe hydrogen bonding, electrolytes, and osmosis and verify their applications.
  6. Explain the common gas laws and perform calculations that apply them to life situations.
  7. Define acids and bases; explain pH, neutralization, and buffers.
  8. Describe acidosis and alkalosis and justify their development.
  9. Determine names and structures and describe properties of common organic functional groups.
  10. Express the chemical equations for common organic reactions.
  11. Distinguish between the classes of bio-organic molecules and derive names and draw structures for common representatives of each class.
  12. Differentiate between and describe the biological functions of each class of compounds.
  13. Express the chemical reactions common to each class of bio-organic molecules in equation form.
  14. Describe the structure and function of RNA and DNA in protein synthesis.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

  1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
  2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
  3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.


Content Outline
  • Periodic Table and Properties of the Elements
    • Atomic structure, electron configuration
    • Isotopes; ions
  • Formulas and Equations
    • Ionic and covalent bonds
    • Chemical formulas; Lewis dot diagrams
    • Compound shapes and polarity
    • Writing and balancing equations
    • Moles
    • Chemical equations and stoichiometry
  • Gases, Liquids, Solids
    • Kinetic Molecular Theory
    • Gas laws
    • Hydrogen bonding; surface tension
    • Vapor pressure; specific heat; heats of vaporization and fusion
    • Crystals
  • Water and Solutions
    • Solutions, suspensions, colloids
    • Electrolytes
    • Percent, ppm, molarity, equivalents
    • Dilutions
    • Colligative properties, osmosis
  • Acids, Bases, Salts and Equilibrium
    • Types of chemical reactions
    • Acid/base definitions and reactions
    • pH; buffers
    • Equilibrium
  • Organic Chemistry
    • Hydrocarbons and aromatics; structure and properties
    • Functional groups
  • Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Enzymes
    • Structure and function
    • Reactions
    • Enzyme mechanism
  • Nucleotides
  • Structure and function

 

Laboratory Outline and Objectives:

  • Lab Techniques Lab
    • Safety and Hazard procedures
    • Indoctrination
    • Selection of laboratory equipment
    • Laboratory techniques
      • Evaporation
      • Filtration
  • Flames and Atomic Spectra lab
    • Atomic fingerprints
    • Combustion reactions
    • Laboratory techniques
      • Bunsen Burner operation
  • Chemical Reactions lab
    • Stoichiometry
    • The Law of conservation of mass
    • Atomic weights
    • Avogadro’s number and the mole
  • Properties of Gases lab
    • Boyle’s Law
    • Henry’s Law
    • Charles’ Law
  • Purification of Water lab
    • Filtration
    • Distillation
    • Understanding the meaning of Hard vs. Soft water
    • Tests for determination of Hard vs. Soft water
  • Acids and Bases lab
    • Electrolytes
    • Acids and Bases
      • Meaning of pH
      • Finding pH
      • Types of indicators
    • Buffers
    • Solvent properties of water
  • Solutions and Titrations
    • Neutralization
    • Titrations
    • Standardizations
    • Solutions and Titrations
  • Organic Compounds
    • Physical and Chemical properties of organic compounds
    • Using and interpreting molecular models
  • Carbohydrates lab
    • Properties of Carbohydrates
    • Identification tests
    • Digestion and absorption
    • Alpha vs. beta D-glucose
  • Esters, Fats and Soap
    • Physical and chemical properties
    • Preparation and comparisons of soap
    • Water softening effects
    • Preparation and identification of esters
  • Proteins & Nucleic Acids
    • Isolation and identification of proteins
    • Enzyme activity
    • Isolation of DNA