Chemical Reactivity: change in biological systems - BIO00021C

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Module summary

“Reactivity” runs through Spring and summer terms and builds on autumn term teaching, with a stronger emphasis on mechanisms in organic and inorganic chemistry. The module also introduces students to animal, plant and microbial metabolism, enzymology, kinetics and bioenergetics.  

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 2 2025-26

Module aims

This module builds on chemical concepts taught in Autumn term with a greater focus on mechanisms in organic and inorganic chemistry. The module builds on this to introduce students to the dynamic nature of biological systems in particular around animal, plant and microbial metabolism, enzymology, kinetics and bioenergetics.  

Module learning outcomes

To describe and explain the mechanisms of organic chemical reactions

To describe the structure and properties in transition metal chemistry

To discuss centrally important metabolic processes in animal plants and microbes, with particular reference to both carbon and energy

To explain the behaviour of enzymes in the context of their structure and function, and the underlying chemical kinetics

To conduct and record experimental laboratory work

Module content

Teaching covered in this module will include:

aromatics / carbonyls

Alkenes / alkynes

Metabolism (mammalian)

Metabolism (plant/microbial)

Enzyme kinetics

Transition metals

Bioenergetics

Enzyme kinetics

Mitochondrial Respiration

Chem tutorials

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)	80.0
Essay/coursework	20.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)	80.0
Essay/coursework	20.0

Module feedback

Through supported learning in tutorials. Through specimen questions and answer on the VLE. Through return of marked scripts after the assessment.

Indicative reading

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