2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Aug 02, 2024  
2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)

CHEM& 131 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry (6 credits)



Distribution Area Fulfilled Natural Sciences with Lab; General Transfer Elective
Formerly CHEM 102-CCN

Prerequisite CHEM& 121  with a grade of at least 1.5.

Course Description
Continuation of CHEM& 121. The course includes an introduction to organic functional groups and a study of carbohydrates, optical isomerism, lipids, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, and metabolism. Lab included.

Course Content
A. Organic functional groups
B. Bonding in organic molecules
C. Carbohydrates
D. Lipids
E. Amino acids
F. Proteins
G. Enzymes
H. Nucleic acids
I. Bioenergetics

Student Outcomes
1. Recognize, name and draw the structures of the main organic functional groups.

2. Name selected organic molecules using International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) based on condensed or structural formulas.

3. Draw structural or condensed formulas from IUPAC names.

4. Describe the molecular geometry in organic molecules.

5. Relate physical properties to molar mass, polarity and functional group.

6. Describe the reactions of organic functional groups and relate them to metabolic pathways.

7. Identify and explain the reactions that form carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. 8.Describe and draw: structural isomers, geometric isomers, stereoisomers.

9. Differentiate glycosidic linkages, anomerism, metabolic value, and optical rotation between different classes of carbohydrates.

10. Classify lipids and discuss their physiological importance.

11. Relate saponification, hydrolysis and esterification to lipids.

12. Classify amino acids based on their chemical structure.

13. Relate the structure of polypeptides to the amino acids it contains and to peptide bonds.

14. Describe the interactions between amino acids as they relate to primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary protein structures and how these are affected by denaturation.

15. Relate isoelectric point of amino acids to charge, electrophoresis, and zwitterions.

16. Describe the models of enzyme activity.

17. Discuss how enzyme activity is affected by pH, temperature, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration.

18. Explain the relationship between glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the fatty acid spiral.

19. Describe Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) production.

20. Describe the structure and function of DNA and RNA, and relate them to replication, transcription and translation.

21. Explain protein synthesis and the impact of mutations on protein synthesis.

22.Design and carry out experiments.

23.Use standard laboratory equipment appropriately.

24.Practice standard laboratory safety precautions.

25.Use chemical reference materials appropriately.

26.Communicate the results of laboratory work.

Degree Outcomes
STEM: Graduates use the scientific method to analyze natural phenomena and acquire skills to evaluate authenticity of data/information relative to the natural world.

Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.

Lecture Contact Hours 50
Lab Contact Hours 20
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 70

Potential Methods
a. Conceptual questions
b. Computational questions
c. Multiple choice questions
d. Essay questions
e. Identifying unknowns
f. Classroom observation
g. Laboratory observation
h. Lab reports
i. In-class group assignments
j. Extended group assignments
k. Oral presentation
l. Individual assignments
m. Classroom participation
n. Written reports
o. Self-evaluation
p. Peer-evaluations
q. Demonstrations
r. One minute papers
s. Concept maps
t. Role playing



Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)