AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge of the structure of matter, the chemical bond and the principles that regulate the chemical equilibrium in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, with particular attention to the reactions that occur in aqueous solvent. Basic knowledge of the chemical properties of the main elements of the periodic system and their most important compounds are also provided.

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.

The course also includespractical  sessions during which which exercises related to the topics covered in the theoretical part of the course are carried out.

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 (corresponding to 7 credits) includes frontal lessons and classroom exercises, during which exercises related to the topics addressed in the theoretical part are solved and commented. The explanations, where possible, are supported by short illustrative videos and by the use of interactive websites (for example interactive periodic table, atomic orbitals visualization), for a more immediate understanding of the addressed topics.

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.

“PRINCIPI DI STECHIOMETRIA”, P.M. Lausarot, G.A. Vaglio, PICCIN Ed.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From the 30th September, 2024

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

In order to access the examination, the students need to have completed the experimental activity.

Each lab activity requires the student to answer a pre-lab quiz and to supply a lab report. The pre-lab quizzes have to be answered as preparation to enter the lab and are available on dedicated moodle (Aulaweb) entries. Such quizzes consist of a series of questions (mainly with multiple choice) to be sit following asynchronous lectures. The lab reports delivered by the students following the lab activities are graded by the technical and academic personnel by the end of the module.

There is a single exam for the two modules, consisting of a written examination and an oral examination. The written examination consists of numerical exercises on the topics taught during both modules. The written examination is considered passed if the grade is ≥18/30, giving access to the oral examination. During the course of the two modules the students have the option to sit two written examinations covering only one part of the taught material. The students who pass both partial written examinations may choose not to sit the written examination that covers the whole programme. Written examinations that are passed are considered so until the end of each academic year.

The oral examination has a duration of at least 30 minutes and is always led by two lecturers with experience at running examinations in the discipline.

The final evaluation takes into account the grade obtained on the written examination, the performance demonstrated at the oral examination, the evaluation obtained for the lab activities and the engagement demonstrated during lectures through the interactive Wooclap quizzes

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination tests are structured in such a way as to accurately verify that the student has reached the learning outcomes foreseen for both modules.

The written examination consists of solving open-ended numerical exercises and has the purpose of certifying the students’ ability to correctly apply the taught concepts and formulae to concrete hypothetical examples.

The pre-lab quizzes have the purpose of assessing the students’ preparation on the theoretical-practical aspects related to each specific laboratory activity before entering the lab and following the dedicated asynchronous lectures. The evaluation of the lab reports is aimed at examining the correct interpretation of the experimental observations.

Exam schedule