Principles of Chemical Science

Biology Topics

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: Cyanide ion in cassava plants, cigarettes Thionyl chloride for the synthesis of novacaine (PDF)
L12	Exceptions to Lewis structure rules; Ionic bonds	Free radicals in biology (in DNA damage and essential for life) Lewis structure example: Nitric Oxide (NO) in vasodilation (and Viagra) (PDF)
L13	Polar covalent bonds; VSEPR theory	Water versus fat-soluble vitamins (comparing folic acid and vitamin A) 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	Hybridization example: ascorbic acid (vitamin C) Thermochemistry of glucose oxidation: harnessing energy from plants (PDF)
L17	Entropy and disorder	Hybridization example: identifying molecules that follow the “morphine rule” ATP hydrolysis in the body (PDF)
L18	Free energy and control of spontaneity	ATP-coupled reactions in biology Thermodynamics of hydrogen bonding: relevance to DNA replication (PDF)
L19	Chemical equilibrium
L20	Le Chatelier’s principle and applications to blood-oxygen levels	Maximizing the yield of nitrogen fixation: inspiration from bacteria Le Chatelier’s principle and hemoglobin: blood-oxygen levels (PDF - 2.7 MB)	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	Metal chelation in the treatment of lead poisoning 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)