OVERVIEW

General and Inorganic Chemistry concerns the theoretical foundations and basic concepts of the structure of matter and its transformations, mainly applied to inorganic systems. This course introduces students to the language of chemistry, as well as to the nomenclature and stoichiometric calculations necessary to understand the quantitative aspects of formulas and reactions, fundamental for all subsequent chemistry courses.
The course is divided into two modules. The 1th module consists of lectures and classroom exercises focused on stoichiometry, reactions, atomic structure, chemical bonding and equilibria in aqueous solutions. The 2nd module consists of lectures (with classroom exercises) completing topics covered in the 1th module, and numerous laboratory sessions aimed at better understanding and practice concepts to be acquired, as well as learning the practical operations typical of the chemical laboratory .
More detailed information can be found in the  sections of each module.

AIMS AND CONTENT

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. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

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