OVERVIEW

The course presents some of the most important topics of physical chemistry: quantum mechanics, classical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. It consists in 8 CFU and it is intended to the students of the second year of the CTF degree course.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This is a fundamental course held in the first semester of the second year. Basic concepts of thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, chemical kinetics and theoretical chemistry are provided, in order to make the student critically understand principles of physical chemistry and its applications to chemical, biological, pharmaceutical systems.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing basic concepts of physical chemistry, and the critical skills necessary to face general physical-chemical topics from a chemical viewpoint, with particular reference to classical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics.

PREREQUISITES

The following basic knowledge are required:

Basic concepts of mathematics (properties of powers, fundamental integrals, derivatives)

Basic concepts of physics (work and energy; basic concepts of electrostatics)

Basic concepts of general chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists in 64 hours of mainly frontal teaching; during these lessons the theory is explained and discussed, and examples are shown. During the course, students (divided into groups of 2-3) will be asked to build a glossary in Aulaweb by providing definitions of the key concepts treated during lessons. The key concepts assigned to each group will be used to prepare a presentation for the “Giornata dei Referenti” (see sections “Exam description” and “Assessment methods”).

Slides shown during the lessons will be uploaded in Aulaweb and will be available to the student.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- General aspects of theoretical chemistry; the Schroedinger equation, atomic orbitals, the periodic table.

- The chemical bond.

- Ideal and real gases.

- Classical thermodynamics: first, second and third law of thermodynamics; internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, free energy; reversibility and irreversibility. Chemical equilibrium.

- Ideal solutions, ideal diluted solutions, real, regular, electrolytic solutions.

- General aspects of molecular spectroscopy and photochemistry.

- Chemical kinetics.

- Dynamics of reaction: theory of collisions and activated-complex theory.

- Enzymatic catalysis.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the slides used during the lessons will be available in Aulaweb starting from the day of the lesson. In general, notes taken during lessons and the material uploaded in Aulaweb are sufficient for the exam preparation. Nevertheless, the consultation of chemical physics textbooks are recommended to study in depth. Some titles follow:

"Physical Chemistry", P.W. Atkins

"Physical chemistry", R. Chang

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CRISTINA ARTINI (President)

CLAUDIO CANALE

MASSIMO DOMENICO OTTONELLI (Substitute)

MARCELLA PANI (Substitute)

MARINA RUI (Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists in the discussion of an oral presentation and in an oral examination.

The presentation will be prepared and discussed after the end of the course during an event called “Giornata dei Referenti”. Students will be given several keywords related to topics treated during the course, and they will be asked to build around them a detailed study.

Skills will be ascertained through an oral examination, aiming at verifying the comprehension of the topics and the ability to express them by an adequate terminology.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the “Giornata dei Referenti” it will be evaluated the ability of the student to re-elaborate concepts treated during the lessons, as well as his/her ability to build an effective presentation and to discuss it clearly and precisely.

The oral examination will focus on the topics treated during the lessons, and it will aim at evaluating whether the student reached adequate skills, as well as whether he/she is able to connect concepts and to critically analyze chemical-physical problems. The exam will consist in questions about the whole programme; it will be important to show the ability to use and critically discuss the topics of the course, as well as to employ an adequate terminology.

Exam schedule