Course code:
132A2		 Course name:
Chemistry of Bioelements

Academic year:

2024/2025.

Attendance requirements:

102A2 / 102B2

ECTS:

8

Study level:

basic academic studies, integrated basic and graduate academic studies

Study programs:

Chemistry: 3. year, summer semester, elective (E13H2) course

Biochemistry: 3. year, summer semester, elective (E13B2) course

Chemical Education: 3. year, summer semester, elective (E14P2) course

Teacher:

Sanja R. Grgurić Šipka, Ph.D.
full professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistants:

—

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: four hours of lectures + two hours of exercises (4+2+0)

Goals:

The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the chemistry of bioelements. Since students have studied the physical and chemical properties of elements and their compounds within some previous courses, this course focuses on their biological role (their manifestation and role in the organism). Students will also learn about metal compounds used in medicine.

Outcome:

Students will have a deeper knowledge of the chemistry of bioelements. They will understand which elements are present in the body and in what form and how electronic configuration of an element determines its physiological properties.

Teaching methods:

Lectures, theoretical/calculation exercises, colloquia, term papers.

Extracurricular activities:

—

Coursebooks:

Main coursebooks:

  • Sanja Grgurić-Šipka: Hemija bioelemenata, Hemijski fakultet, Beograd

Supplementary coursebooks:

  • Wolfgang Kaim, Brigitte Schwederski: Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life, Wiley, Chichester, 2006.
  • Robert R. Crichton: Biological Inorganic Chemistry, an Introduction, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2008.
  • Stephen Lippard, Jeremy Berg: Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry

Additional material:

—

  Course activities and grading method

Lectures:

5 points (4 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. Introduction.
  2. An overview of biologically important elements.
  3. The role of alkaline and earth-alkaline elements.
  4. Iron.
  5. Zinc.
  6. Copper.
  7. Cobalt and nickel.
  8. Manganese.
  9. Chromium.
  10. Vanadium, molybdenum and wolfram.
  11. The role of small molecules.
  12. Biological role of some non-metals and metalloids.
  13. Applications of metals in medicine.
  14. Biochemical aspects of metal toxicity.

Exercises:

5 points (2 hours a week)

Semester papers:

10 points

Colloquia:

30 points

Remarks:

Three times in semester. 

Written exam:

50 points