General and Organic Chemistry, 20 credits

After the course, the student should be able to:
- account for the structure of matter at atomic and molecular levels including stable and radioactive isotopes, and based on the structure be able to derive chemical and physical characteristics
- be able to use nomenclature systems for isotope labeling, constitution, conformation and configuration in organic molecules
- be able to explain processes and predict final products of simple organic-chemical reactions and be able to suggest reagents and conditions in order to convert organic compounds in one or several steps
- be able to perform simple and in organic-chemical laboratory work common operations, including work with toxic chemicals - independently, with minimised risk and good results
- be able to choose separation and analytical methods for simple chemical problems and be able to interpret simple chromatograms and analysis spectra
- be able to describe risks associated with the use of common chemicals and procedures
- be able to write a well-structured and complete report of a completed laboratory session
- be able to search and find relevant original, overview and course literature concerning organic-chemical issues, and based on this, retrieve information for problem-solving and orally presentations
- be able to account for the occurrence of and risks with hormone-disturbing and carcinogenic substances in the environment
- be able to interpret classification and labeling of chemicals, and be able to use these with benchmarks and thresholds for risk assessment of laboratory sessions
- be able to account for the relationships between structure and pharmacological effect in the most important pharmaceutical substance groups and their chemical characteristics
- be able to account for and in calculations demonstrate the influence of physico-chemical properties on drugs' bioavailability
- be able to account for and suggest applications of the principles of modern drug design, and be able to account for the situation of Swedish pharmaceutical industry in general (e.g. in poster format)

The course content is oriented towards substances and methods of special biomedical interest and provides a basis for later courses in the program. The course is divided into the following parts:

Part 1.
Basic chemistry, 2 higher education credits.

Part 2.
Carbonyl and unsaturated compounds, 3 higher education credits.

Part 3.
Organic and bioorganic chemistry, including project work, 2 higher education credits.

Part 4.
Environmental and medicinal chemistry, 1 higher education credit.

Part 5.
Organic-chemical laboratory work, 6 higher education credits.
Laboratory techniques with laboratory safety. Common methods in organic-chemical and bioorganic synthesis work. Classification and labeling of chemicals, standard values and limits. Lab reports.

Part 6.
Integration of Theory and Practice, 6 higher education credits.

Laboratory techniques with laboratory safety. Common methods in organic-chemical and bioorganic synthesis work. Classification and labeling of chemicals, standard values and limits. Lab reports.

The teaching includes lectures, laboratory sessions, group tuition (seminars), study visits and project works. It is, to a large extent, directed towards problem-solving. The project works are advanced studies in groups, with an emphasis on own work and literature studies.

Part 1 is graded Fail/Pass and is examined through a written test.

Part 2 is graded Fail/Pass and is examined through a written test.

Part 3 is graded Fail/Pass and is examined through an oral project work presentation. A written test with voluntary participation will be offered. The results of this test may be beneficial for grading of the course (bonus points). 

Part 4 is graded Fail/Pass and is examined through a poster presentation about the study visits.

Part 5 is graded Fail/Pass and is examined through a written test in laboratory safety and techniques, observations of the student's laboratory skills, and labreports. The results of 2 individually written lab reports may be beneficial for the grading of the course (bonus points).

Part 6 is graded F/Fx/E/D/C/B/A and is examined through a written examination. For participation in the written examination it is required that parts 1-2 are approved. For the mandatory tests connected to parts 1 and 2, a session providing a second chance for passing is organized before the written final examination.

The course grade is based on the grade for part 6 and the collected bonus points from parts 3 and 5.

Compulsory participation
Laboratory sessions, project work, study visits and group tuition including practical parts or demonstrations, are compulsory, as well as presentations and lectures linked to these parts. Part of the course is an examination in laboratory safety and technology that must be passed before start of the subsequent laboratory sessions. At the beginning of each laboratory session, an oral examination is performed that must be approved before the student starts experimenting. The course director determines if  and if so how the student can compensate possible absence from compulsory parts. Before the student has participated in compulsory parts, or compensated for absence in accordance with the course director's instructions, the current part is not registered in LADOK (student registry).

Students who have not passed the regular final examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student is not approved after four examinations, he/she is recommended to apply for a new admission to the next regular course and may, having taken the course a second time, participate in two more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission in the course is given. Each time the student participated in one and the same test is counted as an examination attempt. Submission of a blank exam is also counted as examination attempt. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not count as an examination.

Regardless of changes in the contents of the course and how it is examined, after each course a total of at least six opportunities are given for tests and a written final examination during a period of at least two years after the end of the course.

The teaching is given in Swedish and English.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Higher Education. Course council meetings are  held with the course coordinator and student representatives.