# CHEM10010
**Source**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=CHEM10010&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026
**Parent**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=UAS1&AUDIENCE=
Academic Year 2025/2026
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#### Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules (CHEM10010)
Subject:
: Chemistry
College:
: Science
School:
: Chemistry
Level:
: 1 (Introductory)
Credits:
: 5
Module Coordinator:
: Dr Aniello Palma
Trimester:
: Spring
Mode of Delivery:
: On Campus
Internship Module:
: No
How will I be graded?
: Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
The module initially covers the simple chemical functional groups that are found in bio-molecules, (alkane, alkene, alcohol amine, carboxylic acid, ester, amide), their systematic naming and some of their common reactions (acid/base, oxidation/reduction, condensation/hydrolysis). Then the focus will switch to the common bio-molecules themselves (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, DNA/RNA) with a description of their structure, how they are formed and their reactions with water. Later parts of the module will deal with how and why these chemical reactions occur in terms of their energetics and rates. Finally the acidity of certain of these molecules will be discussed. Students should note that they must achieve a minimum of 40% in the practical component of this Module in order to pass the module as a whole.
## About this Module
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### What will I learn?
###### Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the module the student will be able to draw the structures of simple compounds from their systematic name and name compounds from their structures; identify the reaction products from simple chemical reactions (acid/base, oxidation/reduction, condensation/hydrolysis). They will also be able to recognise and discuss the structures of the common bio-molecules (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, DNA/RNA) and know how they are formed in Nature and how they are broken down by reaction with water. They will also be able to analyse the energetics and rates of such reactions, especially the hydrolysis and acid/base reactions.
###### Indicative Module Content:
Basic Organic Chemistry: Structures and Reactions\
Key Biological Molecules: Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Nucleic Acids\
Basic Physical Chemistry: Why Biological Reactions Happen
### How will I learn?
###### Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
| --- | --- |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Tutorial | 5 |
| Practical | 15 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 10 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 48 |
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 102 |
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###### Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The key approaches to teaching and learning are through the delivery of lectures, completion of tutorials and laboratories
### Am I eligible to take this module?
###### Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
**Learning Requirements:**\
Leaving Certificate Chemistry Grade C Hons or Introductory Chemistry (CHEM00020 or CHEM00010)
**Learning Exclusions:**\
CHEM10030, CHEM10050, CHEM10060, CHEM10070, CHEM10090
\
###### Module Requisites and Incompatibles
**Incompatibles:**\
CHEM10030 - *Chemistry for Engineers*, CHEM10050 - *Basis of Organic & Biol Chem*, CHEM10060 - *Phys & Inorg Chem*, CHEM10070 - *General & Physical Chemistry*, CHEM10090 - *Organic Chemistry (Med)*\
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### How will I be assessed?
###### Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exam (Online): Examination: Mid - Term Examination | Week 6 | Graded | No | 20 | No |
| Exam (Online): Examination: End of Semester Exam | End of trimester Duration: 1 hr(s) | Graded | No | 35 | No |
| Quizzes/Short Exercises: Class Test: 5 quizzes + 5 In-tutorial test | Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 | Graded | No | 20 | No |
| Report(s): Lab Report: Assessment based on laboratory practice, reports, samples and data. A minimum of 40% must be obtained in this component in order to pass the module as a whole. | Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 | Graded | Yes | 25 | Yes |
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###### Carry forward of passed components
Yes
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### What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
| --- | --- |
| Autumn | Yes - 2 Hour |
*Please see [Student Jargon Buster](https://www.ucd.ie/students/services/ucdstudentjargonbuster/) for more information about remediation types and timing.* \
### Assessment feedback
###### Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\
###### How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Feedback on Tutorial homework and tests is built into Tutorial classes
Mid-Term Test class feedback via the lectures and individually to students
Practicals Feedback is individually to students fortnightly during Lab classes
### Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
| --- | --- |
| Assoc Professor Michael Casey | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Dr Aniello Palma | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Ms Caoimhe Maher | Tutor |
| Niamh O'Dwyer | Tutor |
| Miss Ava Rogers | Tutor |
### When is this module offered?
**Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.**
| | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 33 | Mon 12:00 - 12:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Wed 11:00 - 11:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 33 | Mon 15:00 - 15:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 31 | Tues 15:00 - 15:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 2 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 33 | Mon 16:00 - 16:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 2 | Week(s) - 31 | Tues 16:00 - 16:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 3 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 33 | Mon 17:00 - 17:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 3 | Week(s) - 31 | Tues 17:00 - 17:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 4 | Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 12:00 - 12:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 5 | Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 13:00 - 13:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 6 | Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 14:00 - 14:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 7 | Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 15:00 - 15:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 8 | Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 16:00 - 16:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 9 | Week(s) - 22, 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 17:00 - 17:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 10 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 | Tues 12:00 - 12:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 11 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 | Tues 13:00 - 13:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 12 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 | Tues 14:00 - 14:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 13 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 | Tues 15:00 - 15:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 14 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 | Tues 16:00 - 16:50 |
| Spring | Tutorial | Offering 15 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31, 33 | Tues 17:00 - 17:50 |
| Spring | Laboratory | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 | Tues 12:00 - 14:50 |
| Spring | Laboratory | Offering 3 | Week(s) - 23, 25, 29, 31 | Tues 15:00 - 17:50 |
| Spring | Laboratory | Offering 5 | Week(s) - 24, 26, 30, 32 | Mon 15:00 - 17:50 |
| Spring | Laboratory | Offering 7 | Week(s) - 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 12:00 - 14:50 |
| Spring | Laboratory | Offering 9 | Week(s) - 24, 26, 30, 32 | Tues 15:00 - 17:50 |
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