OVERVIEW

The course is aimed at introducing the students to the modern analytical chemistry, providing basic theoretical and operational information on instrumental analysis by spectroscopy, electrochemistry, chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Basic theoretical knowledge of the main spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques . Practical knowledge of sample preparation and analysis by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques . Develop the ability to choose and carry out an analytical method, to perform experiments in groups and to report the results.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lectures and laboratory work. Slides and further educational material available on aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

General concepts. Signal and noise. Detection and quantification limits. Calibration (external calibration, standard addition method, internal standard method). Sensitivity and selectivity. Interference in instrumental measurements. Data processing from the acquisition of the analytical signal to the final results. Calculation of the figures of merit.

Spectroscopic methods. The electromagnetic radiation. Molecular and atomic absorption. Molecular and atomic emission. Absorption and emission spectra. The Lambert-Beer law. UV-VIS molecular absorption spectroscopy: principle, instrumentation, analytical performances and applications. Molecular fluorescence spectroscopy. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry: principle, instrumentation, interferences, analytical features and applications. Plasma source atomic emission spectrometry: principle, instrumentation, interferences, analytical features and applications. Main aspects of ETAAS and ICP-MS techniques.

Electroanalytical methods. Introduction to electroanalytical methods and their classification. Potentiometry: reference electrodes, metal indicator electrodes, membrane electrode. Direct potentiometric measurements. Potentiometric titrations. Voltammetric methods: notes on the electrode-solution interface processes. Instrumentation for voltammetric measurements. Polarography. Anodic stripping voltammetry.

Laboratory work. Determination of manganese in steel by UV-VIS spectrophotometry; copper determination in aqueous solution by FAAS; multielemental analysis of a sediment sample by ICP-AES; potentiometric titration of a strong acid with a strong base; potentiometric titration of a mixture of iodides and chlorides; determination of vitamin C in a fruit juice by differential pulse polarography.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holler / Crouch, FONDAMENTI DI CHIMICA ANALITICA, EDISES 2016

Holler / Skoog / Crouch, CHIMICA ANALITICA STRUMENTALE, EDISES 2009

Harris, CHIMICA ANALITICA QUANTITATIVA, ZANICHELLI 2017

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARCO GROTTI (President)

FRANCISCO ARDINI

MARINA DI CARRO (President Substitute)

MARIA CARMELA IANNI (Substitute)

EMANUELE MAGI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

28th September 2020 (according to the timetable at http://www.chimica.unige.it/didattica/Home_SC  and/or  https://corsi.unige.it/9018)

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Questionnaires and reports on laboratory work, performed during the course. Written test and oral examination.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Evaluation is based on questionnaires and individual reports relating to laboratory experiments, written test and oral examination. In particular, for each laboratory experience, the student is asked to participate to a preparatory quiz and to prepare a short report containing data processing and  the analytical results.. Each quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice questions and it is passed when all answers are correct. Attempts are unlimited. A laboratory score is then assigned to each student on the base of the quiz accomplishment and of the quality of the report (correctness of data processing and presentation, accuracy of the results). The written test lasts 1.5 hours and it is composed by some exercises, aimed at assessing the individual skills to process analytical data and calculate the figures of merit of an analytical procedure. At each exercise a score is assigned according to its difficulty. A minimum score of 18/30 is required to access the oral test. The oral examination, performed by two professors and about 40-min long, is aimed to assess the knowledge of the theoretical content of the course. During the examination, the commission evaluates if the educational objectives of the course have been achieved. If not, the student is asked to study more thoroughly and/or take benefit from further explanations by teachers. The final grade is obtained from the weighted average of the laboratory vote and the written examination and oral assessments. The relative weight of the three assessments takes into account the number of credits of each part of the course on which assessments are based (25% laboratory; 25% written exam 50% oral). Rules on the written test: (a) the score is valid for three consecutive exam sessions; (b) in the case of double failure of the oral exam, the written test must be repeated; (c) the delivering of a new written test automatically cancels the previous score.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Prerequisites: Chimica Analitica 1

Mandatory attendance: laboratory work and related explanatory lessons