BSCI 451/BIOL 651 - Physical Chemistry for Biologists
Lectures by Prof. Marco Colombini
Tel: 405-6925; e-mail: colombin@umd.edu; office: BIOL/PSYC 3276 (don't be a stranger)
Text: Physical Chemistry, Principles and Applications in Biological
Sciences,
4th Edition, Tinoco,
Sauer, Wang and Puglisi, 2002, Prentice Hall ISBN:
0-13-095943-X
Course Objective: My major goal in this course is to help you learn to use the ideas and tools of Physical Chemistry to gain a deeper understanding of biological systems. Physical Chemistry is a rigorous and quantitative discipline that merges Physics and Chemistry to understand the structure, behavior and reactions of molecules. When these ideas are applied to biological molecules and macromolecules one can make sense of biological phenomenology. In addition, this discipline allows one to understand the tools used to study biological molecules, from electrophoresis to spectroscopy. Ownership of a discipline is gained by using the ideas learned and applying them. Thus, I will use problems to help you hone your skills.
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Lecture Schedule |
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Date |
Topics |
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Jan 26 |
introduction; goals of the course |
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Feb: 1st half |
chemical equilibria: buffers, DNA, redox reactions, activities |
chapt 4 |
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2nd half |
physical equilibria: partitioning, Scatchard plots, Donnan effect, surface tension, colligative properties, transport systems |
chapt 5 |
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most of March |
motion: diffusion, sedimentation, viscosity, electrophoresis |
chapt 6 |
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March-April interface |
kinetics: rate laws, reaction mechanisms, transition state, relaxation methods |
chapt 7 |
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mid April |
enzyme kinetics |
chapt 8 |
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end of April |
molecular motion and interactions |
chapt 9 pp493-517 |
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May |
spectroscopy: visible, UV, fluorescence, ORD, CD |
chapt 10 |
Assignments:
There will be frequent homework assignments. These will be graded and counted toward your final grade in the course. A few ground rules:
a) Completed homework assignments are due 1 week after assigned in class.
b) Students may work together on assignments but each must return his/her own
work.
c) Assignments must be neat, organized, and easily legible or they won't be
accepted.
Course point structure:
Problem sets . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Mid-term exam . . . . . . . . . 100
Final examination . . . . . . . 200
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TOTAL
500
Examination schedule: (open book/open notes exams)
Mid-term Wednesday, March 11 (class time) Final May 18th and
Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for making up missed work and returning assignments on time....believe me, this is the most efficient way to learn.
Note: The deadlines for assignments will be extended and make-up exams will be given ONLY in the following cases:
a) University activities at the request of University authorities
b) illness backed up by a verifiable written excuse from a physician indicating
the nature of the illness
c) attending national or international scientific meetings
Words of Advice: If you want to get an A in the class then come to
all the lectures, don't be afraid to ask questions, do the assignments right
away and ask for clarification when you get stuck before submitting the
assignments, generate a sheet summarizing key concepts and associated equations
as you proceed, and
DO NOT fall behind.
Web site for evaluation of the course: https://www.courseevalum.umd.edu/
Please do take the time to evaluate this course. I also welcome any comments and suggestions you may wish to give me.
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