In an effort to illuminate connections between chemistry and biology and spark students' excitement for chemistry, we incorporate frequent biology-related examples into the lectures. These in-class examples range from two to ten minutes, designed to succinctly introduce biological connections without sacrificing any chemistry content in the curriculum.
A list of the biology-, medicine-, and MIT research-related examples used in 5.111 is provided below. Click on the associated PDF for more information on each example.
To reinforce the connections formed in lecture, we also include biology-related problems in each homework assignment. Selected homework problems and solutions are available below.
| SES # | Lecture TOPICS | BIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES | BIOLOGY-RELATED HOMEWORK PROBLEMS and IN-CLASS DEMONSTRATIONS / ACTIVITES |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | The importance of chemical principles | Chemical principles in research at MIT | |
| L2 | Discovery of electron and nucleus, need for quantum mechanics | Activity. Rutherford backscattering experiment with ping-pong ball alpha particles | |
| L3 | Wave-particle duality of light | Quantum dot research at MIT (PDF) | |
| L4 | Wave-particle duality of matter, Schrödinger equation | Demo. Photoelectric effect demonstration | |
| L5 | Hydrogen atom energy levels | Demo. Viewing the hydrogen atom spectrum | |
| L6 | Hydrogen atom wavefunctions (orbitals) | ||
| L7 | p-orbitals | ||
| L8 | Multielectron atoms and electron configurations | ||
| L9 | Periodic trends | Alkali earth metals in the body: Na and K versus Li (lithiated 7-up) (PDF) |
Selected biology-related questions based on Lecture 1-9. (PDF) Answer key (PDF) |
| L10 | Periodic trends continued; covalent bonds | Atomic size: sodium ion channels in neurons (PDF) | |
| L11 | Lewis structures |
Lewis sturucture examples: 1) Cyanide ion in cassava plants, cigarettes 2) Thionyl chloride for the synthesis of novacaine (PDF) |
|
| L12 |
Exceptions to Lewis structure rules; Ionic bonds |
1) Free radicals in biology (in DNA damage and essential for life) 2) Lewis structure example: Nitric Oxide (NO) in vasodilation (and Viagra) (PDF) |
|
| L13 |
Polar covalent bonds; VSEPR theory |
1) Water versus fat-soluble vitamins (comparing folic acid and vitamin A) 2) Molecuar shape: importance in enzyme-substrate complexes (PDF) |
|
| L14 | Molecular orbital theory |
2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry: Green Flourescent Protein (GFP) (PDF) |
|
| L15 | Valence bond theory and hybridization | Restriction of rotation around double bonds: application to drug design (PDF) | |
| L16 |
Determining hybridization in complex molecules; Thermochemistry and bond energies / bond enthalpies |
1) Hybridization example: ascorbic acid (vitamin C) 2) Thermochemistry of glucose oxidation: harnessing energy from plants (PDF) |
|
| L17 | Entropy and disorder |
1) Hybridization example: identifying molecules that follow the "morphine rule" 2) ATP hydrolysis in the body (PDF) |
|
| L18 | Free energy and control of spontaneity |
1) ATP-coupled reactions in biology 2) Thermodynamics of hydrogen bonding: relevance to DNA replication (PDF) |
|
| L19 | Chemical equilibrium | ||
| L20 | Le Chatelier's principle and applications to blood-oxygen levels |
1) Maximizing the yield of nitrogen fixation: inspiration from bacteria 2) Le Chatelier's principle and hemoglobin: blood-oxygen levels |
Selected biology-related questions based on Lectures 10-20 (PDF) Answer key (PDF) |
| L21 | Acid-base equilibrium: Is MIT water safe to drink? | Demo. Determining pH of household items using a color indicator from cabbage leaves | |
| L22 | Chemical and biological buffers |
|
|
| L23 | Acid-base titrations |
pH and blood-effects from vitamin B12 deficiancy (PDF - 2.4 MB) |
|
| L24 | Balancing oxidation/reduction equations | ||
| L25 | Electrochemical cells | Oxidative metabolism of drugs (PDF) | Demo. Oxidation of magnesium (resulting in a glowing block of dry ice) |
| L26 | Chemical and biological oxidation/reduction reactions |
Reduction of vitamin B12 in the body (PDF) |
Selected biology-related questions based on Lectures 21-26 (PDF) Answer key (PDF) |
| L27 | Transition metals and the treatment of lead poisoning |
1) Metal chelation in the treatment of lead poisoning 2) Geometric isomers and drugs: i.e. the anti-cancer drug cisplatin (PDF) |
|
| L28 | Crystal field theory | ||
| L29 | Metals in biology |
Inspiration from metalloenzymes for the reduction of greenhouse gasses (PDF - 1.3 MB) |
Activity. Toothpick models: gumdrop d-orbitals, jelly belly metals and ligands |
| L30 | Magnetism and spectrochemical theory |
|
Demo. Oscillating clock reaction |
| L31 | Rate laws |
Kinetics of glucose oxidation (energy production) in the body (PDF) |
Activity. Hershey kiss "experment" on the oxidation of glucose |
| L32 | Nuclear chemistry and elementary reactions |
Medical applications of radioactive decay (technetium-99) (PDF) |
"Days of Our Halflives" poem |
| L33 | Reaction mechanism | Reaction mechanism of ozone decomposition (PDF) | |
| L34 | Temperature and kinetics |
Demo. Liquid nitrogen (glowsticks: slowing the chemiluminescent reaction) |
|
| L35 | Enzyme catalysis | Eyzmes as the catalysts of life, inhibitors (i.e. HIV protease inhibitors) (PDF) | |
| L36 | Biochemistry | The methionine synthase case study (chemistry in solution!) (PDF) |
Selected biology-related questions based on Lectures 27-36 (PDF) Answer key (PDF) |