Organic ChemistryModule Details

Rationale

This course is designed for medical and allied health students and introduces the fundamental principles of organic chemistry and basic biochemistry. It covers the chemistry of hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids, esters, amines, and nitro compounds, including their preparation, properties, and reactions. The course also introduces β-dicarbonyl compounds, aromatic compounds, and biologically important molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, and minerals, with emphasis on their chemical behaviour and relevance to health sciences.

The aim of this course is to provide students with foundational knowledge of organic chemistry and biomolecules required for progression into undergraduate medical and health sciences programmes.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is expected to:
i. Explain the nomenclature, preparation, properties, and reactions of hydrocarbons, including alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.
ii. Describe the nomenclature, preparation, and reactions of key functional groups such as alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, amines, nitro compounds, carboxylic acids, and esters.
iii. Explain the properties and reactions of carbonyl and β-dicarbony compounds.
iv. Describe the structures, preparation, and reactions of aromatic compounds.
v. Explain the basic properties of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
vi. Distinguish between different classes of organic compounds and illustrate their reaction mechanisms.
vii. Explain the mechanisms involved in a range of organic reactions.