[CHE 250] Review and Updates in Chemistry and Biochemistry

Introduction

CHE 250 is a survey of chemistry and biochemistry designed for nursing majors, specifically for those in the nursing consortium, and is to be taken primarily by RNs already accepted into their BSN degree completion program.

The course will present an overview of how biological systems work at the molecular level. To understand these systems, students will begin with a review of several general chemistry topics, such as atomic and molecular structure, properties of gases, liquids and solids, and types of chemical reactions. Students will then narrow their scope by focusing on the chemistry of carbon. Carbon can combine with itself and other non-metals to produce more types of molecules than all the other elements on the periodic table combined. These carbon-based compounds are called organic compounds because many were derived from compounds that were made by living organisms. Students will spend time surveying major types, structures and properties of organic compounds, and then they will focus on organic compounds found in living systems, or biochemistry. During their study they will look at the chemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, vitamins, metabolism and nutrition. It is important to remember that a student majoring in chemistry or biochemistry will take at least 4 chemistry courses before beginning an in-depth biochemistry course. Students are going to tackle the topic of biochemistry with their introductory chemistry knowledge.

For this journey, students will focus on four goals

• understanding the basic concepts of atomic and molecular structure and how these structural features are related to the chemical and physical properties of substances;
• being able to recognize, name and predict the properties of organic molecules by building on their knowledge of molecular structure and bonding;
• being able to predict the properties of biological molecules by building on their knowledge of organic functional group chemistry;
• examining how biological systems work at the molecular level, especially focusing on the functions of different biological molecules and how the various molecules work together.

Description

UW Colleges Catalog Course Description for CHE 250: Review and Updates in Chemistry and Biochemistry - 3 credits. This course was designed specifically for the nursing consortium and is to be taken primarily by RNs already accepted into their BSN degree completion program. This course is not a substitute for the CHE 125/CHE 203 sequence required of students at the beginning of their academic careers, even if planning to enter the nursing profession. CHE 250 begins with a review of relevant topics in chemistry, both general and organic, and then covers topics typical of a biochemistry course such as biological molecules, metabolism, nutrition, protein function, and molecular biology. This course fulfills the UWC requirement for Natural Sciences (NS).

Proficiencies

Institutional proficiencies assigned to this course

Successful completion of this course will enhance students' ability to

• interpret and synthesize information and ideas;
• interpret graphs, tables, and diagrams.

Requirements

Software

• Adobe Acrobat Reader.

  This is freely distributed software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, please download it by visiting http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

Hardware

• Many students find the use of a scanner helpful to turn in homework assignments, but it is not necessary.

About the Instructors

• Gail Vojta
  Senior Lecturer, Chemistry
  BA, St Olaf College
  PhD, University of Minnesota