This foundational chemistry course provides students with essential chemical principles and their applications in healthcare and biological systems. Beginning with an introduction to basic chemical concepts, the course establishes a framework for understanding matter, atomic structure, and chemical bonding. Students will explore ionic chemistry, examining the formation of ionic compounds, electrolyte balance, and the critical role of ions in physiological processes. The medical chemistry component bridges theoretical concepts with clinical applications, focusing on acid-base balance, buffer systems, pharmaceutical principles, and the chemistry of diagnostic testing relevant to healthcare practice.
The organic chemistry section introduces students to carbon-based compounds central to biological processes, including functional groups, stereochemistry, and reaction mechanisms fundamental to understanding biomolecules and drug action. Students will develop analytical thinking skills and gain a practical understanding of how chemical principles underpin physiological functions, disease processes, and therapeutic interventions.
Learning objectives
After the completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain fundamental chemical principles including atomic structure, periodic trends, and types of chemical bonding as they relate to biological systems.
- Analyze ionic compounds and electrolyte chemistry, demonstrating understanding of their significance in fluid and electrolyte balance in the human body.
- Calculate and prepare solutions of specified concentrations and pH values relevant to medical applications.
- Interpret acid-base chemistry and buffer systems as they relate to homeostasis and acid-base disorders.
- Explain the chemical basis of common diagnostic tests and laboratory procedures used in healthcare settings.
- Identify major classes of organic compounds and their functional groups found in biological molecules and pharmaceutical agents.
- Analyze organic reaction mechanisms relevant to metabolic processes and drug metabolism.
- Evaluate the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity in pharmaceuticals and nutrients.
- Apply principles of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics to physiological processes and drug actions.
Course outline
- Chemistry: Introduction
- Ionic Chemistry
- Medical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
