AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide the fundamental knowledge to understand the relationships between the structures of molecules and their functions in the human organism. Acquire basic knowledge on organic macromolecules, chemical transformations and molecular interactions that take place in living beings with particular emphasis on human biochemistry and the applications of biochemistry to medicine and health-related disciplines. Contribute to the training of professionals who have non-superficial knowledge of the molecular basis of the biological and physiological processes of the human organism and of the alterations of these processes.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching is performed by classroom-taught lessons with the aid of slides and through the constant use of the "visual presenter" for the writing of molecular structures and reactions. 
The teaching is held through lessons  in the classroom with the support of projected images . The material is made available to students in Aulaweb at the end of each lesson.To complete the morning lessons, the students, divided into four groups of about 60 students each, carry out numerical exercises and chemical reactions together with the teachers to self-assess their degree of basic knowledge and practical resolution of the problems posed. These exercises enable the student to solve the problems they will find in the written test of the final exam.

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

All slides used during the lessons and other educational material will be available on AulaWeb at the end of each cycle of lectures / laboratory exercises along with other bibliographic material in pdf format.

The books indicated are suggested as a supporting text and are available and can be consulted together with other books for further information by the teacher.

Texts advised for further information:                                                                                                                                                                                                                     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