Welcome to the fall semester! To get started, proceed to the Start Here module for course information!

CHEM 012

Chemistry for the Health Sciences

 

Course Hours Per Week

Lecture 3

Lab 6

Semester Hours Credit 5

• CRN: 80670
• Number of Units:5
• Prerequisites:
• Co-requisites:

Advisories:

• MATH104 - Interm Algebra
• Based on a Multiple Measures Evaluation.

AND

• CHEM160 - Intro Chem, Lec/Lab
• Strongly recommended for students who have never taken Chemistry before.

 

An overview of general, organic chemistry, and biochemistry for majors in nursing and other allied health occupations. Topics covered include chemical bonding, chemical equations, gas laws, solutions, acid-base theory, oxidation-reduction, functional groups and properties of organic compounds, and the structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. These topics are discussed in the context of cellular metabolism and human health.

 

Course Hours Per Week

Lecture on-line

Lab 6

Semester Hours Credit 5

 

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate the following activities:

Demonstrate knowledge of selected inorganic and organic biochemicals necessary to sustain life;

• their names, structures and formulas,
• their function in biochemical processes.

 Understand basic cellular metabolism at the molecular level.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

Write the names and formulas of inorganic and organic biochemicals.

Write the structures of inorganic and organic biochemicals.

Write chemical and biochemical reactions.

Identify and properly use basic laboratory equipment.

Required Course Materials and Technology

CHEMISTRY:An Introduction to General, Organic and Biological Chemistry 14e;Timberlake

Mastering Chemistry for the textbook from Pearson (must purchase access)

Course Content Outline

Students will analyze, evaluate and make conclusions based on the following chemisry and biochemistry principles.

General chemistry topics:
I. A review of measurements in chemistry
•Significant figures
•Scientific notation
•Metric system
•Dimensional analysis

II. Matter
•Definitions of matter
•Periodic table and atomic structure
•Ionic and covalent bonding
•Molecular shape and molecular polarity
•Radioactivity

III. Chemical formulas, reactions (including oxidation-reduction) and an introduction to stoichiometry

IV. Gas Laws

V. Solutions and Intermolecular attractions
•Concentrations (%, ppm, molarity, molality)
•Colligative properties, including Osmosis (milliosmolality)

VI. Acids, bases, salts, pH and buffers (including amines, carboxylic acids, amino acids and proteins)


Organic chemistry topics:
I. Condensed structural formulas and line-angle structural formulas

II. Structure and isomerism in organic molecules through the study of organic functional groups

III. The study of functional groups will include:
•Naming, structure and polarity
•The relationship between their structure and their physical and chemical properties that are biochemically relevant

Biochemistry topics:
I. Carbohydrates
•Structure of monosaccharides including aldoses and ketose
•Structure and function of disaccharides, and polysaccharides
•Alpha and beta glycosidic bonds

II. Lipids
•Structure and function of fats
•Saturated versus unsaturated fats
•Structure and function of phospholipids
•Structure and function of steroids

III. Proteins
•Amino acid structure, acid/base properties and peptide bonds
•Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins
•Enzyme structure and function: active site and specificity

IV. Nucleic acids
•Nucleotide structure
•DNA structure - the double helix and its antiparallel nature
•RNA structure
•DNA replication
•Transcription and the production of RNA
•Transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, and messenger RNA

V. Carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism
•Glycolysis (Ebden-Meyerhoff pathway)
•Krebs cycle
•Electron Transport Chain, oxidative phosphorylation, and chemiosmosis
•Beta Oxidation
•The biosynthetic and degradative pathways of amino acids (urea cycle)


LABS will include the following experiments and procedures.
Mass and volume measurement techniques including using various glassware such as graduated cylinders, burettes and pipettes. Learn various serial dilution techniques including 2n, 5n, 10n using volumetric flasks and pipettes.

Investigate the solid, liquid and gas states of matter
Investigate solutions and intermolecular forces (esp. London and H-bonding)
Acid/base properties of HCl, H₃PO₄, CO₂, NH₃
Dilution and titration
Physical and chemical properties of organic functional groups.
Properties of carbohydrates
Properties of lipids
Acid/base properties of carboxylic acids, amines, amino acids, proteins and DNA
Isolation and fingerprinting of DNA
Enzyme function and properties

 

 

 

About Your Instructor

John Higashi

UCSD BA Chemistry

University of Utah PhD CHemistry

Solano Community College since 1990

 

 

Contact information (office 1126 Vacaville Center)

• Office hours: M W 12:00pm-12:30pm, TTh 1:00pm-2:00pm & 5:00pm-5:30pm
• If you would like to communicate on-line, my preferred method of contact is through the Canvas inbox since only students' messages are posted there.

I read emails everyday but my official office hours are listed  This means I will be on my computer and able to respond fairly quickly to your messages.  Otherwise, I will try to respond within two days.  If you haven't received a reply with in 24 hours, re-send your message in case something was lost along the way.

 

Course Grading Scale

This table shows the course grading scale
Scale	Letter Grade
100% - 90%	A
80% - 90%	B
70% - 80%	C
55% -70%	D
0% - 55%	F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Grading Weights

This table shows the course grading weights
Assignment Group	% of Grade
quizzes	20
learning modules	10
homework	10
midterm	15
discussions	5
labs/dry labs/spreadsheets	15
Final Exam	25
extra credit	2
Total	102%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods of Evaluation

chapter tests

final exam

chapter homework

data exercises (Spreadsheet graphing)

Videos (worksheets)

Threaded Discussions

In-class Discussions

    DNA: The Secret of Life

    DNA: Playing God

    DNA: The Human Race

    DNA: Curing Cancer

    DNA: Opening Pandora's Box

Other Policies

Late Work Policy

Late work will be accepted up to 6 days after the due date with a 10% deduction

 

Academic Integrity

Complete your own work. Cite sources and references accordingly. If you need assistance with citing your sources, please ask for help. Do not cheat or participate in academic dishonesty. All suspected violations will be subject to a zero on the assignment and the appropriate disciplinary action. Please reference your Student HandbookLinks to an external site. for your Rights and Responsibilities.

 

Inclusive Learning Commitment

Your success in this class is important to me. We all need accommodations because we all learn differently. If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course.

You are encouraged to visit Disabilities Services ProgramLinks to an external site. to determine how you could improve your learning as well. If you need official accommodations, you have a right to have these met. There are also a range of resources on campus, including the Academic Success & Tutoring CenterLinks to an external site..

 

Log-in and Participation Policy

Mandatory log-ins

• official roll will be recorded at least twice in the semester by students responding to a posted assignment
  • within the first two days of the semester
  • within the week prior to census

Homework and quizzes will be via Mastering Chemistry

• must purchase an access code (Pearson online platform)

Discussions will be assigned during the semester with a grading rubric 

Attendance is very important!  Plan your schedule around your class schedule and include study time outside of class.  According to the student handbook, missing the equivalent of two weeks of classes (4 class meetings in the normal semester) is grounds for being dropped from the class.  Roll call will be taken periodically throughout the semester.

Instructor Initiated Contact Policy

Announcements will be posted as needed to share information with the class

Discussions will be assigned during the semester

When necessary, e mails will be directed to individual students

.Student Initiated Contact Policy

The best way to contact me is through Canvas e mail inbox

I will try respond within 48 hrs

Student to Student Contact Policy

I will not be sharing students contact information with other students

If students wish to reach out to each other they may do so 

 

 

Important course dates can be found here.

 

Class Workload Expectation

How much time and work is required?

Be prepared for about 9 hours of work per week in this course. A three unit "lecture" course, by virtue of what is known as the Carnegie UnitLinks to an external site., mathematically establishes a standard the amount of work expected from a student (and the instructor) in a 18-week course. California state law upholds this, see California Code of Regulations, Education Code, Title 5, Section 55002.5.Links to an external site.

Table shows calculation of number of hours per week to be spent on class.
Type of Unit	Units	x Hours Per Unit	Total Hours
Lecture	3	x 18	= 54
2 hours homework per hour of lecture	3	x 36	= 108
		Hours of work per term	= 162 hours of student work
		/ number of weeks	= 18
		Hours of work per week	= about 9

 

 Critical Dates

Table shows critical semester dates for adding and dropping a class.
Term:	Fall 2025
Last day to drop with a refund:	8/22/24
Last day to add class:	8/29/24
Last day to drop without a "W":	8/29/24
Census Date:	9/2/24
Last day to drop with a "W":	11/14/24

Critical Dates For Section provide key registration deadlines related to adding and dropping this specific section.

Table shows description terms and their definition.
Description	Key Information
Term	Indicates the term the CRN/section is assigned.  Fall/Spring semesters are scheduled in 18-weeks and have associated full-term course deadlines. Summer sessions are scheduled in 6-weeks or 8-weeks and have associated short-term course deadlines.
Last day to add a class	Indicates the last date that the student may enroll in a section.  Once the section begins, students may only enroll with instructor permission with an add codeLinks to an external site..
Last day to drop with a refund	Indicates the last date the student may drop the section and receive a refund on enrollment fee based on District policy.
Last day to drop without a "W"	Indicates the last date the student may drop the section and receive neither a grade or "W" (withdrawal) on their academic records.
Last day to drop with a "W"	Indicates the last date the student may drop the section and receive a "W" (withdrawal) on their academic record. District policy limits a maximum of three (3) withdrawals for a course.
Census Date	Indicates the date that enrollment is reported by the District for the section for apportionment (State funding). Students must be enrolled no later than the day before Census.

 

Important Dates

 

• No class  8/30-9/1 Labor Day
• No class 10/7 Staff Development Day
• No class 11/11 Veterans' Day
• No class 11/26-11/30 Thanksgiving Beak

 

Student Services

Distance Education Resources

Are you new to Canvas? Do you want to jump start your semester? Check the schedule for information on Canvas Student Workshops and sign up today!

Link to Canvas Student Workshop ScheduleLinks to an external site.

Canvas Help Desk

Click on the "Help?" question mark in the lower left corner of your screen for current help desk hours, phone numbers, and Canvas tutorials. The Canvas Student GuideLinks to an external site. is a great resource for how-to information and tutorials.

Student Services

Check out the Solano Student Services Website for further information about Counseling, Health Services, Career Center, Veteran Services, Student Government, and other resources. Let SCC help you succeed!

Link to Student Services Links to an external site.

Library

The Solano College Library and librarians are here to help you with your research needs. It's a great place to study, use a computer (or check out a Chromebook/laptop), borrow a textbook, and more. The Academic Success Center is located inside the library as well. Check it out!

Library Services for Online StudentsLinks to an external site.

Academic Success Center

There is no need to struggle on your own. Tutoring is free at Solano and can pave the way to success in your courses. Sign up for an individual appointment or stop in for one of the hands-on workshops. 

Link to the Solano Academic Success CenterLinks to an external site.

Financial Aid

Secure the financial resources you need to succeed at Solano.

Link to Student Financial ServicesLinks to an external site.

Disability Services Program

Are you struggling in this course? Disability Services can help you.

If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning or other disability that may affect your ability to carry out assigned course work, Disability Services Program (DSP) is here to help you. The DSP team will review your concerns and work with you to determine what accommodations are appropriate. They can also refer you to care providers if you are not certain whether you have a disability. All of your information is kept confidential. They will give you information to share with me so I can ensure your needs are accommodated in this course.

Link to Disability ServicesLinks to an external site.

Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Solano strives to create a safe, welcoming environment for its students. Discrimination and sexual harassment will not be tolerated. Students have the right to file a complaint with the Vice President of Student Services.

Link to Solano Complaint Procedure and FormsLinks to an external site.