AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is meant to provide students with basic knowledge on the structure of the matter (atomic structure, chemical bonding, aggregation states) and on the principles governing chemical equilibrium in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, with particular attention to reactions taking place in aqueous solution. Preliminary knowledge is also provided on chemical properties of the main elements of the periodic system and their most important compounds, and on the regularities of such properties, which will be treated in more detail in subsequent courses.

Therefore, the course aims to provide students with the indispensable tools to understand matter and its chemical transformations and it is a prerequisite to all the chemistry courses of the following years.

PREREQUISITES

This is the first chemistry course, so it is not necessary to have any prerequisetes at university level. The basic knowledge of mathematics and physics acquired at high school  are sufficient to understand the addressed topics. 

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes both lectures and practical sessions in the classroom, during which exercises are carried out on the topics covered in the theoretical lessons.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Elements and compounds. Solutions.
• Atomic mass. Molecular and formula mass. Mole. Avogadro’s constant.
• Nomenclature in inorganic chemistry. Systematic inorganic reaction chemistry (redox, acid-base, precipitation).
• Atomic structure. Quantum numbers. Atomic orbitals. Electronic configuration of elements in the periodic system. Periodic properties: effective nuclear charge, atomic dimensions, ionization energy, electron affinity energy.
• Introduction to chemical bonding. Lewis symbols. Octet rule. Ionic bond model. Ionic lattices. Metallic bond model (brief outline).
• Covalent bond model. Electronegativity. Apolar and polar covalent bonds. Lewis structures. Formal charges. Resonance. Molecular geometries and VSEPR theory. Polarity of molecules. Valence bond theory. Dative covalent bond. Molecular structures of oxoacids and oxoanions.
• Interactions between molecules. Classification, structure and properties of solids.
• Properties of chemical elements (and their compounds such as oxides, hydrides, and oxoacids) related to the position in the periodic system.
• Introduction to chemical equilibrium: reaction quotient and equilibrium constant. Factos governing chemical equilibrium: Le Chatelier principle. Chemical kinetics (brief outline).
• Ionic equilibria in aqueous solution. Ionic product of water. Acids and bases. pH of aqueous solutions of acids, bases, salts and buffer solutions.
• Heterogeneous equilibria in aqueous solution. Solubility product. Relation between solubility and solubility product.
• Empirical approach to battery operation. Definition of anode and cathode. Galvanic elements. Redox standard potentials. Electromotive force. Electrolysis (brief outline).
• Numerical exercises: inorganic nomenclature, formulas and reactions stoichiometry, completion and balance of reactions, pH of aqueous solutions, solubility.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Educational material provided by the teacher on "AulaWeb"

Suggested books:

"PRINCIPI DI CHIMICA", P.Atkins, L. Jones - Zanichelli- Bologna

"CHIMICA", I. Bertini C. Luchinat F. Mani - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

"CHIMICA GENERALE" Principi e Moderne Applicazioni”, R.H. Petrucci W.S.Harwood - PICCIN - 6a Ediz.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SERENA DE NEGRI (President)

SIMONA DELSANTE

DIEGO COLOMBARA (President Substitute)

GABRIELE CACCIAMANI (Substitute)

ANNA MARIA CARDINALE (Substitute)

MAURO GIOVANNINI (Substitute)

DANIELE MACCIO' (Substitute)

PAOLA RIANI (Substitute)

PAVLO SOLOKHA (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Starting from September, 28th, 2020, according to the timetable shown at http://www.chimica.unige.it/didattica/orari_CTC and/or https://corsi.unige.it/8757

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is joint for the two modules and consists of a written and an oral part. The written test consists of numerical exercises on the topics covered during the course (both 1st and 2nd module). Only by obtaining a sufficient score for the written test, the student is admitted to the oral exam. During the course two partial written tests are carried out. The student who passes both partial tests is exonerated from the written exam.

The oral exam is always conducted by two professors with experience in examinations in the discipline and lasts at least 30 minutes. The final evaluation also takes into account the laboratory activity, documented by the reports delivered and corrected during the course, a paper copy of which must be taken at the oral examination

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam consists of a written and an oral part on topics developed during the course. The oral exam is always conducted by two teachers with experience in examinations in the discipline and it lasts at least 30 minutes. In this way, teachers are able to accurately verify the achievement of the educational objectives. When these are not achieved, the student is invited to deepen the study and ask further explanations to the teachers.

Exam schedule