OVERVIEW

This module of Biochemistry is aimed to provide basic concepts about the molecular structure and the chemical properties of ions and molecules of medical interest. Starting from the properties of gas and aqueous solutions, the course analyzes the characteristics of acids, bases and buffers, the kinetics and the equilibria of different chemical processes, the main thermodinamics parameters, the structure and the chemical reactivity of organic molecules belonging to different classes.  

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES (FURTHER INFO)

The student should acquire confidence with the representation and the expected chemical reactivity of inorganic and organic compounds of medical interest. Starting from the strong or weak interactions that can occur between ions or between different types of molecules, the course considers the properties of aqueos solutions of these compunds, the calculation and of the pH of specific solutions containing acids, bases,salts and buffers, the basis of redox reactions, the reactivity of different functional chemical groups, the traditional and scientific nomenclature of organic molecules, the stereochemistry of asymmetric molecules, the peculiar properties of aromatic compounds and the three-dimensional organization of monomeric and polymeric structures belonging to carbohydrate, lipid, protein and nucleotide classes. Each topics is shaped to fulfill the peculiar needs of  knowledge required to understand how the alteration of the composition of an aqueos solution or changes in the molecular structure of organic compunds that are involved in intracellular phenomena can interfere with biochemical and physiological mechanisms. Hence this class is preparatory to facilitate the understanding of various subsequent branches of knowledge characteristic of this academic course for physicians. 

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching is performed by classroom-taught lessons with the aid of slides that are available to the students on  the Aulaweb. Following the morning lessons, numerical exercises are carried out weekly by groups of students that work together the teachers  to  verify their knowledge and ability of understanding in practice. These exercises enable the student to solve the problems proposed in the final written exam test with a better chance to pass it.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Aqueous solutions and gas. Quantification of the concentration of solutions, colligative properties. Kynetics, thermodynamics, equilibria, Kc, Q, Kps,Kw, pH. Strong and weaks acids and bases, buffers. Hybridization of the carbon atom in different organic compounds. Hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), chirality, resonance, combustion, redox potential,  redox reactions. Alchols, thiols, properties of the carbonylic group, tautomery. Carboxylic acids, esters, anhydrides, amines, amides. Polifunctional molecules, hydroxyl and ketoacids, amino acids and peptides, post-translational modifications of amino acids inthe proteins. Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Lipids: fatty acids, triacylglycerols, glycerolipids and sphingolipids, cholesterol. Omo ed eterocyclic aromatic compounds. Purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, polynucleotides. Coenzymes of oxidoreduttases (NAD, NADP, FAD).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brady, Holum-Fondamenti di Chimica-Ed. Zanichelli

Brown, Poon-Introduzione alla Chimica Organica con modelli molecolari-EDISES

Bettelheim, Brown, Campbell, Farrel-Chimica e Propedeutica Biochimica-EDISES

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIANLUCA DAMONTE (President)

ANTONIO DE FLORA (President)

UMBERTO BENATTI

BIANCA SPARATORE

MICHELA TONETTI

ELENA ZOCCHI

FRANCA SALAMINO (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Each academic year the students have the possibility to attend seven sessions of a final written exam that lasts 1h and 45 min. This type of exam considers separately the skills acquired in inorganic chemistry on one hand and in organic chemistry/biomolecules. Specifically, the students have to solve problems of general chemistry, such as calculation of the pH, of the Kps or of the solubility product of a given solution, the equilibrium constant of a reversible chemical reaction, representation of the structure of the expected organic products obtained starting from reagents containing different functional groups and depiction of possible molecular structures that correspond to a specific traditional or scientific name of organic molecules.The maximal value attributed to each of the proposed exercises is stated to allow the students to assess if the problems that they have carried out are sufficient to pass the exam for both parts (general chemistry and organic chemistry/biomolecules). Moreover, the students that have not reached the minimal score of chemistry in the test for the access to the Course of Medicine and Surgery, need to pass a preliminary test based on multiple choice quiz before to be admitted to the final exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

To avoid that the students crib the exam answers from other students, the teachers propose different versions of the exam. After the revision of the exercises, the students can discuss with the teachers their mistakes and the relevant judgment obtained. This method limits the possibility that a student pass the exam with a swindle and help them to clarify their mistakes with a better chance to get ready in a further session. Moreover the teachers are available to follow personally the students that encounter more  difficulties in the study of specific topics of this course.

Exam schedule