Teaching code

4S00136

Credits

6

Coordinator

Adolfo Speghini

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

CHIM/03 - GENERAL AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Courses Single

Authorized with reserve

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The course provides the fundamental concepts of General Chemistry and some basics of Inorganic Chemistry. Models and general concepts as means of justification and prediction of physical and chemical properties of systems of increasing degree of complexity (atoms, molecules, substances, multi-component systems) will be illustrated and discussed. Concepts and methods for predicting qualitative and quantitative changes of intensive and extensive properties of evolving chemical systems will be also considered. Example cases for managing situations of chemical interest will be illustrated. The course involves the performance of some laboratory experiences to provide manual and critical skills in dealing with chemical analyses, as well as to provide basic knowledge on the common equipment of a chemical laboratory and how to work in safety.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Being a first year, first semester exam, there are no specific prerequisites other than those required for access to the degree course.

Program

Theory:
Introduction. Chemical and physical properties of matter and their measurement. Elements, atoms and compounds. Nomenclature of inorganic compounds. Chemical reactions. Stoichiometry of chemical reactions. Ideal gases. Notes on real gases. Thermochemistry. Internal energy and enthalpy. Standard enthalpy of reaction and formation. Structure of the atom. Atomic orbitals. Electronic configuration. Aufbau principle. Periodic properties: atomic and ionic radii, ionization energy, electronic affinity, electronegativity. Covalent bond. Lewis formulas. Single and multiple bonds. Resonance. Shape and polarity of molecules. Orbital hybridization. Interaction forces between particles. Properties of liquids. Solutions. Chemical kinetics. Arrhenius equation. Reaction mechanisms. Catalysys. Chemical equilibrium. Equilibrium constant. Acid-base balance. Solutions of acids, bases, salts. Acid-base titrations. Buffer solutions. Solubility and complexation equilibria.
Laboratory experiments:
1) Copper cycle.
2) Determination of the number of water molecules of crystallization of commercial copper sulphate by iodometric titration of copper.
3) Titration of a weak base with a strong acid.
Teaching delivery methods:
The theory will be presented with the aid of slides which will be projected on a screen and which will be made available to students on the Moodle platform. Example cases will be illustrated by highlighting their salient points. The laboratory experiences will be provided during the afternoon lessons. The handouts for the laboratory exercises will be made available to students on the Moodle platform. In addition to the teacher, a tutor will be present to facilitate the carrying out of the experiments and to clarify the chemical concepts and the procedure of the experiment. Applied stoichiometry exercises will be carried out in the classroom by the teacher.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Lessons will be delivered exclusively in person without any recourse to emergency online teaching methods. It will not be provided in other ways except limited to students who, due to Covid, cannot access the University, upon presentation of the relative request on the appropriate form. The delivery methods relating to this case will be decided by the teacher and may include sending the recording, organizing a lesson in streaming, sending additional material or organizing a meeting in person or remotely. The teaching will be carried out as lectures, numerical exercises and laboratory experiences. The teaching methods will also include the application of the concepts developed with the lectures to carry out exercises. Attendance of teaching is strongly recommended.
The laboratory activity will be divided into shifts based on the number of registrations. Each student will participate in the laboratory experiences described above lasting 3-4 hours each. The handouts for laboratory exercises will be made available to students on the Moodle platform. In addition to the teacher, at least one tutor will be present to facilitate the development and in-depth understanding of the experiments.

Learning assessment procedures

The assessment of learning will consist of a written test with open questions, including numerical exercises, including topics on the entire teaching program, lasting 2 hours. The exam will be aimed at ascertaining the student's knowledge of the contents of the Course. Particular attention will be paid to the mastery of the concepts of general and inorganic chemistry, of the methods and tools used in the laboratory experiences.
The examination procedures will apply to both attending and non-attending students. Particular attention will be paid to the application of the concepts learned in the Theory module. Overall, the papers produced by the student can correspond to a maximum of 2 out of thirty in the final calculation of the mark.

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation criteria will be based on the ability to discursively organize knowledge, critical reasoning on the study carried out, quality of exposure, competence in the use of specialized vocabulary, effectiveness and linearity of exposure. For the laboratory experiences will be evaluated: the ability to organize and discuss the data collected (including the calculations made); the ability of critical reasoning; the quality of the presentation including the use of specialized vocabulary.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will result from the assessment of the learning of the theoretical part, on the resolution of numerical exercises and from the learning of laboratory experiences.

Exam language

Italiano

Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs

This initiative contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030. More information on sustainability