Functional groups and chirality
For Year 12 Chemistry
In this workshop, students apply their understanding of different functional groups and chirality to the context of medicines. Students will learn about the role functional groups play in drug delivery and targeting as well as design their own medicine molecule. Students will also witness how the chirality of a medicine molecule affects its ability to bind to receptors in the body. By the end of the session, students will have the opportunity to apply their understanding of functional groups and chirality in a pharmaceutical sciences context by attempting an exam-style question.
Location
- Monash University, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052
Or
- At your school (we require a classroom with a projector and tables suitable for team work)
Duration
- 1-2 hours
Capacity
- Best for a maximum of 25 students
Availability
- Flexible with days and times, availability of on-campus workshops subject to room access
Chemistry concepts explored
It is recommended that students have familiarity with the below concepts prior to the workshop.
- Hydroxyl, formyl/aldehyde and ketone functional groups
- Chirality
- Intermolecular forces- hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions and dispersion forces
- Molecular/receptor specificity
Key skills developed
- Problem solving
- Team work
- Application of content to new contexts