CHEM 120

CHEM 120: Chemistry of Life (GE)

Credit Hours: (3) Three hours lecture

Prerequisites: none

The most basic concepts and techniques of general, organic, and biochemistry will be presented by concentrating on the chemistry necessary to understand living systems.

Note(s): General Education designated course. Credit towards a Chemistry major will not be given for CHEM 120.

Detailed Description of the Course:

Topics covered:

1. Matter and Measurements

2. Atoms and the Periodic Table

3. Ionic Compounds

4. Molecular Compounds

5. Classification and Balancing of Chemical Reactions

6. Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships

7. Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rates, and Equilibrium

8. Gases, Liquids, and Solids

9. Solutions

10. Acids and Bases

11. Nuclear Chemistry

12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes

13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds

14. Alcohols, ethers and thiols

15. Amines

16. Aldehydes and Ketones

17. Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives

18. Amino Acids and Proteins

19. Enzymes and Vitamins

20. The Generation of Biochemical Energy

21. Carbohydrates

23. Lipids

24. Lipid Metabolism

25. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

26. Chemical Messengers: Hormones, Neurotransmitters, and Drugs

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

CHEM 120 is a lecture and laboratory course. One hundred and fifty minutes each week is a lecture format, in which students are encouraged to participate and ask questions. Although this course is not as mathematical as the traditional introductory courses, the development of logical solutions to complex problems, especially living systems, will be emphasized. To help students prepare for tests, they are given weekly homework assignments and/or quizzes. The three hour laboratory period consists of a safety and laboratory introduction lecture, actual laboratory performance by the student, and completion of a laboratory report.

Student Goals and Objectives of the Course

Upon completion of this course students will:

have a greater appreciation of the chemistry of living systems
understand the basic terminology used in chemistry
be better able to solve word problems
be able to use standard laboratory equipment to perform experiments

Assessment Measures

Assessment of the student’s success in the course is based on the performance on three or four tests, the final exam, homework problems and/or quizzes, and laboratory reports. The weight of each assessment tool will be announced by the instructor of the course.

Review and Approval

DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
October 2005 Walter S. Jaronski, Department of Chemistry and Physics

March 01, 2021

Revised June 2023