In Progress
Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.Overview
In this unit, you will build a solid understanding of how organic molecules behave and how their chemistry underpins biological systems. You will learn how reaction mechanisms explain changes in functional groups, how to recognise key patterns in heterocyclic and pericyclic reactions, and how these ideas help you predict reaction outcomes. You will also work with common spectroscopic techniques so you can interpret nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), mass spectrometry (MS), and ultraviolet (UV) data to identify unknown compounds. As the unit progresses, you will explore the structures and properties of important biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins. You will examine how their chemical features link to their roles in living systems and basic metabolic processes. In the laboratory, you will put your knowledge into practice through organic synthesis, purification and analysis, along with introductory bio-organic or biochemical assays. These activities will help you develop practical skills, understand safe laboratory practice and learn how to record and communicate scientific results clearly.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites:CHEM11043 Atoms, Molecules and MatterandCHEM11044 Chemical Reactions.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from UC REFLECTION
Students were highly engaged and motivated during the residential school, reporting an enjoyable and valuable practical learning experience.
The teaching team will continue to apply an inquiry-oriented learning approach during residential schools to maintain high levels of student engagement and motivation.
Feedback from TEACHING TEAM REFLECTION
Some students appeared initially disoriented and overwhelmed at the start of the residential school due to the new inquiry-oriented learning approach.
The teaching team will continue to emphasize the importance of completing the self-review task prior to the residential school, as this preparation supports students in understanding and adjusting to the inquiry-oriented learning approach.
- Predict the products of common organic reactions using basic mechanistic ideas
- Analyse chemical data to determine the structure of organic compounds
- Describe the structures and key properties of major biomolecules
- Work safely in the laboratory while accurately recording observations and measurements.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Take Home Exam - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||