The importance of organic chemistry in the field of Materials Science has been growing steadily, with the design and fabrication of ever new organic materials having a wide variety of properties and functions. For Biological Sciences organic chemistry is essential in order to understand the mechanisms of livinf beings. For both a fundamentalknowledge of the principle of organic chemistry is therefore essential.
This module is organized in order to lead the students to understand the basic principles and thus to be able to understand and manipulate formulas and reaction equations without an excessive notionalism.
The laboratory work will introduce the most important separation methods and will train the students to work i groups and to report their experimental findings in a correct way.
Acquire basic knowledge regarding the nomenclature, structure and reactivity of the main organic compounds; acquire practical skills regarding simple experimental procedures.
The objective of the teaching is to provide the basic knowledge of Organic Chemistry, useful for being able to relate structural properties and chemical behavior of the main classes of organic compounds. The teaching is completed with classroom exercises (mainly to learn rules of nomenclature and stereochemistry) and some laboratory experiences that introduce the student to the practical aspects of the subject.
At the end of the lectures, the student will thus have acquired: theoretical knowledge about the structure and reactivity of organic molecules and practical skills in applying separation techniques and performing simple chemical reactions.
A good knowlege of general and inorganic chemistry
The module gives 8 credits (Biological Sciences) or 9 credits (Material Sciences).
There will be lessons in presence in a classroom and laboratory work.
Lessons are 54 hours (Bioogical Sciences) or 60 hours (Material Sciences). Attendance to lessons is not mandatory. However, those who attend at least 2/3 of the lessons will have a bonus for the written exam (see the appropriate section). Moreover, those, who pass at least 3 of 4 intermediate tests (that will be repeated twice each) will have a further bonus. Note: this latter bonus may be also gained by those who are not able to attend the lessons. Those who, for demonstrated reasons, can not attend, may be allowed by the teacher to access the lesson recordings.
Attendance to laboratory work (16 hours for Biological Sciences and 20 hours for Material Sciences) is mandatory. The students will be divided in three periods. All Material Science students will be in the first one. For biological Science, they will be divided into the three periods according to their preference and/or by their situation related to previous exams (especially General Chemistry). The periods will be:
The students will write a report on the labioratory work, that will be read and corrected by the teacher. Laboratory work will be carried in pairs, and also the reports will be written in pairs.
Students are expected to spend (Biological Sciences or Material Science): 54-60 hours for attending lessons. 16-20 hours for laboratory work. 8-10 hours for writing the lab reports. 10 hours for sitting the intermediate tests. 5 hours for trying on aulaweb the written exam. Finally: 107-120 for individual study.
LESSONS (54 hours for both degree courses)
11) ADDITIONAL LESSONS (6 ore) (only for Material Science)
LABORATORY EXERCISES (16-20 hours) (from november 27 to december 18 (round 1), january (round 2), march (round 3)
Although no specific book will be followed, also because the module is organized by reaction type, whereas most books are organized by functional groups, students are advised to complement the slides with reading any good organic chemistry book. For example:
These books are also available in english
Ricevimento: The teacher is always present in the Department between 8.00 and 13.00 and 15.00 and 18.30 (except in august). The students can come to speak with him in any moment, unless he is engaged in other isntitutional activities. However, it is highly advised to arrange an appointment by E-mail, in order to be sure to find him free.
LUCA BANFI (President)
RENATA RIVA
CHIARA LAMBRUSCHINI (Substitute)
September 30, 2024
The exam will be written + oral. On aulaweb students may find an accurate description of the structure of written exam and on the points attributed to each question and an exam simulation.
The written exam will be in presence, but performed as a quiz at the computer using the aulaweb platform. It will last 90 minutes, that are increased by 30% for students with SLD* and by 50% for students with disabilities.
The oral exam will follow few minutes after conclusion of the written one. It is not possible to do the oral exam in aniother session. If a students does not pass the oral exam, he/she must repeat also the written one.
The point attributed authomatically by aulaweb (maximum score = 30), will be multiplied by a factor X, which depends on the bonuses acquired, and finally rounded to the next integer (following mathematical rules). Those who have achiede at least 18 are admitted to the oral exam.
The factor X will depend on the "active attendance":
a) For students who have passed at least 3 out of 4 intermediate quizzes, X will be = 1.15 or, if the laboratory report will be judged good, X = 1.20
b) For students who have not achieved what described at point a, but who have attended at least 2/3 of the lesssons X = 1.05
The final grade will not be an authomatic average of written and oral exam. However, If the final grade of the quiz (after multiplication for X and rounding) is 20 or less, the final mark can not be higher than 26.
During the oral exam, there will be in 3 questions (that may be only 2 in case of outstanding result of the quiz). The first one will be quite general. During the oral exam, the teacher will assess the ability of the student in writing correct formula and reaction equations and to explain the various mechanisms. One question will be on the lab or on natural substances. The third question will be more specific.
* Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it)(for Material Sciences), or Prof. Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it) (for Biological Sciences) the School’s disability liaison.
Assessment will stress mainly the logical and reasoning abilities of the student, more than a notional knowledge. For this aim, the questions of the aulaweb test are conceived in order to mostly require capacity to understand formulas and logical concepts. For the same reasons, during the oral exam, the teacher will try to guide the student to the correct drawings and description, even if the student does not recall well the subject.
The written exam (quiz) and the oral exam, taken together, will allow to accurately verify the grade of achievement of the learning outcomes.
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.
