Module A0.2 - PreCourse "Chemistry"
To have a good start in the M.Sc. programme basic knowledge in chemistry is very important. It will be needed for the courses Human biology I+II but also for many specialization modules in the 2nd and 3rd semester.
Please, take advantage of our self-assessment test to see if you should participate in this course. The test can be found here. The password will be provided in the orientation meeting. If you have difficulties in answering the questions, please, participate in this course, which will provide you with the necessary basics.
If you are not in Jena, when the precourse begins, or if have no time to attend the precourse, please try to go through one of the online courses (click here for an overview) to get some help to the topics discussed in the lectures.
Be aware that during the semester there will be no time to fill gaps you might have!
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Christoph Biskup
Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Christoph Biskup, Dr. Birgit Hoffmann
Schedule
- Lectures: daily from October 4th to October 12th, 9.30 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.
October 13 th, 10.30 - 1.00 p.m.
Location: Lecture hall "Humangenetik", Kollegiengasse 10 - Exercises: daily from October 4th to October 13th, 3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Location: Lecture hall "Humangenetik", Kollegiengasse 10
- Course materials: see the table below. Use the login and password you got at the beginning of the course.
Contents
| Lecture | Topics | Downloads |
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Self assesment test |
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1 |
Introduction
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2 |
Chemical structure / Acids and bases
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3 |
Redox reactions
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4 |
Understanding organic reactions I
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5 |
Understanding organic reactions II
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6 |
Aromatic compounds
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7 |
Functional groups I
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8 Please note: |
Functional groups II
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Recommended literature + additional resources
Books
General chemistry + introductory texts
- Jonathon Crowe, Tony Bradshaw
Chemistry for the Biosciences: The Essential Concepts. 3rd edition.
Oxford University Press, Oxford 2014.
ISBN: 978-0199662883, Price: ~ 40 €
Chemistry for the Biosciences gives a good introduction into the essential concepts in chemistry that are central to understanding biological systems.
- Richard E. Dickerson, Irvon Geis
Chemistry, matter, and the universe.
W.A. Benjamin Inc, Menlo Park / CA / USA, 1976.
Chemistry, matter, and the universe gives an excellent, easy to understand introduction into inorganic chemistry (chapter 1-10), physical chemistry (chapter 11-17), the basics of organic chemistry (chapter 18-21) and biochemistry (chapter 22-26). Dickerson explains topics succinctly and clearly. Irving Geis did an excellent job as scientific artis in creating images that help to understand the topic. Unfortunately this book is out of print. Only used copies are available on the market. - Peter W. Atkins, Loretta Jones.
Chemical Principles: The Quest for Insight. 7th ed.
Macmillan, 2016.
e-Book: ISBN:978-1319075125, Price: ~ 80 €
Organic chemistry
- David Klein
Organic Chemistry. 3rd ed.
John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2017.
David Klein's Organic Chemistry is well structured and easily readable introduction into the world of organic chemistry. Many exercises help to understand the topics discussed in the book. The first chapter of the book ("A review of general chemistry.") can be downloaded from the Wiley website. (Link: pdf)
The book, however, is written for students of chemistry. Many topics are beyond the scope of the introductory course of our M.Sc. programme.
- David Klein
Organic Chemistry as a second language. First semester topics. 4 th ed.
John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2017.
- David Klein
Organic Chemistry as a second language. Second semester topics. 4 th ed.
John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2016.
Online resources
- ChemGuide - Helping you to understand chemistry
Link: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/ - Oxford Pre-University Chemistry Course
Link: http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/vrchemistry/foundation.html
Online lectures
- Catherine Drennan,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare
5.111SC Principles of Chemical Science. Fall 2014.
Link: https://ocw.mit.edu/