CHEM 109; Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry

CHEM 109 is a foundational course designed for students in health-related and applied medical science programs. The course introduces the fundamental principles of organic chemistry with an emphasis on carbon-based compounds and their relevance to biological and medical fields. It builds essential chemical understanding needed for advanced studies in health sciences.

The course content is organized into six integrated chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Organic Chemistry
  Covers the origin and development of organic chemistry, atomic structure, electron configuration, molecular orbitals, chemical bonding, hybridization, molecular geometry, resonance, and electron delocalization.
• Chapter 2: Structure and Classification of Organic Compounds
  Focuses on the structure and classification of hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic compounds), isomerism, stability, and major oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups.
• Chapter 3: Nomenclature of Organic Compounds
  Introduces systematic IUPAC and common naming systems for hydrocarbons and functionalized organic compounds.
• Chapter 4: Physical Properties and Intermolecular Forces
  Examines boiling point, solubility, acidity, polarity, and basicity of organic compounds in relation to molecular structure and intermolecular forces.
• Chapter 5: Organic Reactions
  Provides an overview of major organic reaction types, including acid–base, substitution, addition, elimination, radical, aromatic substitution, and oxidation–reduction reactions, with an introduction to reaction mechanisms.
• Chapter 6: Biomolecules and Their Biological Relevance
  Explores the structure, reactions, and biological importance of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids, highlighting their roles in metabolism, synthesis, and energy storage.

Overall, CHEM 109 equips students with core concepts of organic chemistry and links chemical structure and reactivity to biological and health-related applications in a clear and accessible manner.