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BCNH SFC Learning Outcomes (14-15)
Science Foundation Course
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
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Use ideas about chemical and biological building blocks and apply these concepts to
explaining phenomena occurring within biological systems.
Indicative Content across the 6 Weekends
Weekend 1 Content
CHEMISTRY
Components of Matter
 Defining the three states of matter (solids liquids and gases)
and identifying their unique properties. Understanding the
physical changes that occur during transitions between states of
matter
 Definition of homogenous and heterogenous mixtures as
distinguished from compounds and description of techniques to
separate mixtures
 Description of elements and compounds, atoms and molecules
and their relationship to one another
 Features of atomic structure
Sub-atomic particles- protons, neutrons and electrons
Ions
Isotopes
Mass Number
Atomic Number
Relative Atomic Mass
Electronic Configuration- arrangement of shells and
subshells in terms of orbitals (s, p, d, f), filling of orbitals (Aufbau
principle) and Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Lewis Dot diagrams
System International
 SI units of measurement
 Scientific Notation
 Order of Magnitude
 SI units
Periodic table
 Understanding the patterns of arrangement of elements into
groups and periods
- Patterns of reactivity within groups
- Valency within groups
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© BCNH 2005-2014
BCNH SFC Learning Outcomes (14-15)
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Electronic configuration and across periods
Atom size within groups and periods
Components of Matter
 Defining the three states of matter (solids liquids and gases)
and identifying their unique properties. Understanding the
physical changes that occur during transitions between states of
matter
 Definition of homogenous and heterogenous mixtures as
distinguished from compounds and description of techniques to
separate mixtures
 Description of elements and compounds, atoms and molecules
and their relationship to one another
 Features of atomic structure
Sub-atomic particles- protons, neutrons and electrons
Ions
Isotopes
Mass Number
Atomic Number
Relative Atomic Mass
Electronic Configuration- arrangement of shells and
subshells in terms of orbitals (s, p, d, f), filling of orbitals (Aufbau
principle) and Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Lewis Dot diagrams
System International
 SI units of measurement
 Scientific Notation
 Order of Magnitude
 SI units
Periodic table
 Understanding the patterns of arrangement of elements into
groups and periods
- Patterns of reactivity within groups
- Valency within groups
- Electronic configuration and across periods
- Atom size within groups and periods
Compound Formation
 Understanding and explaining the role of the outer shell electron
in chemical bonding and intramolecular forces:
- Features of Ionic Bonding- metal and non-metals; full
transfer of electrons
- Features of covalent bonding- two non-metals; sharing of
electrons
- Dative Bonding- electron pair contributed by one atom
and shared by two
Lewis Dot diagrams
Weekend 2 Content
CHEMISTRY
Compound Formation
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© BCNH 2005-2014
BCNH SFC Learning Outcomes (14-15)
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Understanding and explaining the role of the outer shell electron
in chemical bonding and intramolecular forces:
- Dative Bonding- electron pair contributed by one atom
and shared by two
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Representing chemical reactions through writing word and
balanced symbol equations
Stoichiometry
Describing the features of homolytic and heterolytic cleavage:
- Nucleophiles
- Electrophiles
Redox Reactions- oxidation and reduction
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Intermolecular Forces
 Understanding how compound features are determined by
intermolecular forces
 Describing the features of intermolecular forces
- Dispersion forces
- Hydrophobic forces
- Permanent dipole interactions
- Hydrogen bonds
- Ionic interactions
- Van der Waals forces
Acids and Alkalis
 Definition of acids as proton donors and alkalis ad proton
acceptors and hydroxide group releasers
 Testing for acids using Indicators
 Measuring acidity and alkalinity using pH
 Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle
Oxidation and Reduction
 Definition of oxidation as loss of electrons and reduction as
gain of electrons (redox reactions)
 Explanation of the differences between an oxidising and
reducing agents
 Biological examples of redox reactions
 Understanding oxidation numbers
Weekend 3 Content
CHEMISTRY
Free Radicals
 Understanding that free radicals form as a result of homolytic
cleavage
 Naming and writing the formulas of some free radicals
 Describing the key stages of free radical formation- Initiation,
Propagation and Termination
 Explanation how antioxidants inhibit propagation
Organic Chemistry and Functional Groups
 Description of the features of Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes
 Rules of Nomenclature of organic molecules
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© BCNH 2005-2014
BCNH SFC Learning Outcomes (14-15)
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Alcohols, Ethers & Carbonyls
Carboxylic Acids, Esters & Nitrogen-Based Groups
Amides, Thiols & Aromatic Compounds
Isomers- Structural and Stereoisomers
Weekend 4 Content
BIOLOGY & CHEMISTRY
Amino Acids and Proteins
 Role of protein within the body
 Composition and generalised structure of amino acid
 Essential and Non-essential Amino acids
 Trans fatty acids and their implications for health
 Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary structure of
proteins
Enzymes and Catalysts
 Role in lowering activation for increasing reaction rate
 Effect of temperature and pH on enzymatic function
 Enzyme Action: active site, substrate, co-enzymes, co-factors,
inhibitors.
Carbohydrates
 Composition of carbohydrates
 Classification of carbohydrates
 Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides
 Aldoses, Ketose, Hexoses and Trioses
 Enantiomers
 Ring formation
 Presence of carbohydrates within biological systems
Lipids
 Composition of lipids
 Classification of lipids
 Cis/Trans fats
 Essential fatty acids
 Simple/Complex lipids
Weekend 5 Content
BIOLOGY
Cell Structure
 Structure of Animals and Plant cells
 Prokaryote vs eukaryote cells
 Organelles, cell wall, plasma membrane, nucleus, mitochondria,
golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, lysosomes,
chloroplasts, cilia
Transport across plasma membrane
 Diffusion
 Osmosis
 Facilitated Diffusion
 Active
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© BCNH 2005-2014
BCNH SFC Learning Outcomes (14-15)
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Endocytosis
Exocytosis
Structure of Nucleic acids
Composition of nucleic acids- DNA, RNA, mRNA tRNA
Role of nucleic acids
DNA replication
Human Genome Project
Purpose of Mitosis/Meiosis and outline the stages within these
Respiration
 Respiration equation C6H6O6 + 6O
CO2 + H2O +
32ATP
 Stages within respiration; Glycolysis, Link Reaction, Kreb’s
Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation
Weekend 6 Content
BIOLOGY & CHEMISTRY
Acids/Alkalis
 The role of buffers in maintaining pH within a narrow range
Chemistry of Supplements
 Definition
 Elemental Composition of vitamins and minerals
 Supplement examples and labelling
Genetics
 Inheritance and Chromosomal abnormalities
The Mammalian Transport System
 Structure and Function of Arteries, Veins and Capillaries
 The structure and function of blood
 Haemoglobin and transport of oxygen
 Obtaining Oxygen-gaseous exchange in the alveoli
Weekend 7 Content
Revision & Mock Exam
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© BCNH 2005-2014