Biological Physical Chemistry

Code:

Q285

Acronym:

Q285

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biochemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:BQ	75	Plano de Estudos a partir de 2007	2	-	5	-	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Topics of Physical Chemistry and their applications to biological systems.
The students should acquire the notions of basic physical chemistry concepts, as well as understand their application to biology.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledgement of fundamental concepts of physical chemistry enabling the understanding of several biochemical processes and skills for solving problems related to thermodynamic, electrochemical and kinetics aspects of those processes

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Solution Thermodynamics

Partial molar quantities. Chemical potential and conditions of chemical and phase equilibria. Condition of phase equilibrium. Thermodymanics of ideal mixtures (Raoult’s law), real mixtures and ideal dilute mixtures (Henry’s law).

2.  Electrolytes solutions                                                                                        

Nature of electrolyte solutions. Arrhenius theory.  Coligative properties. Relationship between degree of ionization and van't Hoff factor. Theory of Debye-Huckel. Activity coefficient and ionic strength. Deviations to limiting Debye-Hückel law. Solvation effects and solute-solvent interactions. Influence of ionic strength in the solubility of proteins.

3. Electrical conductivity in electrolytes solutions

Definitions. Resistivity and conductivity. Dependence of molar conductivity on concentration of electrolyte solutions. Conductivity, ionic mobility and transport number. Applications of conductivity measurements. Acid-base titrations.

4. Electrochemical equilibrium through membranes         

Electrochemical potential. Influence of ionic strength on membrane potential. Active and passive transport. Electrochemical potentials in physiology. Action potential in nervous system cells. Donnan effect. Osmotic pressure and sodium pump.

5. Bioenergetics

Thermodynamics of biochemical reactions. The standard state in biochemistry. Coupled biochemical reactions. ATP and energy transfer in biological processes. como mediador da transferência de energia biológica. The oxydation of glucose.

6. Enzyme kinetics

Fundamental concepts of chemical kinetics. Properties of enzymes. Fundamental equations of enzymatic kinetics. Michaëlis-Menten's mechanism and equation. ; Lineweaver-Burk's plots. Enzymatic Inhibition. Alosteric enzymes. Effect of pH and temperature on the rate of enzymatic reactions.

7. Pharmacokinetics

Fundamental concepts – dose, dosing interval. Absorption and elimination kinetics.Time required for maximum or minimum drug’s concentration in the plasma, after succesive dose drug administration. in the plasma. concentrações máxima e mínima de droga no plasma após a administração. Ethanol metabolism.

 

Mandatory literature

Chang Raymond; Physical chemistry for the biosciences. ISBN: 1-891389-33-5
Atkins Peter; Physical chemistry for the life sciences. ISBN: 0-1992-8095-9 (Oxford)

Complementary Bibliography

Atkins Peter William, 1940-; Physical chemistry. ISBN: 0-19-850101-3

Comments from the literature

Copies of power point presentations will be available in Moodle platform

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and tutorials

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Physical chemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	65,00
Participação presencial	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	56,00

Eligibility for exams

Tutorials classes are mandatory; student can not fail more than 3 classes in order to have frequency.

Calculation formula of final grade

Practical evaluation (35%) - The score of this component (P) corresponds to home resolution of proposed problems with presentation and discussion during the tutorial lectures;
Theorical component (65%)
The score of this component (T) is calculated as the average of the scores obtained in tests, T1 and T2 or in the parts E1 and E2 of the exam (best score between E1 and T1 and best score between E2 and T2, will be considered).

T = 0.50 x (E1 ou T1) + 0.50 x (E2 ou T2)

OR

T = score of second exam period

Final score = 0.35 x P + 0.65 x T

Conditions for success in the course: T ≥ 8.5 and P ≥ 9.5 and Final score  ≥ 9.5


Oficially recognized working students that could not participate in the minimum number of tutorials may write an essay on a theme proposed by the teacher, that will be presented and discussed, that will also account for 35% of the final score.

Examinations or Special Assignments

do not exist

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

A written essay in a subject provided by the teacher , followed by presentation and discussion  (P = 35% of the final grade)

Classification improvement

Second exam period

Observations

no observations