Functional Groups and Medicines

For VCE Chemistry

Functional groups and beaker

‘Functional Groups and Medicine’ is an interactive workshop teaching secondary students about the underlying principles of functional groups and molecular properties. It will invite them to consider careers in the health sciences with particular regard to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. The Outreach educator from Monash will visit schools and bring modelling kits for students to participate. Students will appreciate how functional groups can affect how a molecule behaves within the body and relate this to the reduction of side effects.

Aim

To provide an interactive overview of the structure and functional groups of organic molecules that are medicines (in alignment with the VCE curriculum, Unit 4, Area of study 2: Medicinal chemistry). The workshop will also explore examples of how functional groups can be manipulated to design effective human therapeutics. To consolidate student’s understanding, they will build molecular models of natural substances. Students will engage with a real drug discovery scientist to explore the functional groups of simple organic molecules.

Interested?  Contact us to find out more or book in a workshop for your class.