AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student knows:

• the basic concepts of the chemistry with particular reference to the concepts of kinetic and chemical thermodynamics

• the general concepts of organic chemistry and reactivity of functional groups

• the aqueous solutions and the calculation of the pH of acids and bases

• structure and reactivity of biomolecules.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons. Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to liase and arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Chemical nomenclature

Number of oxidation. basic and acidic oxides. Hydroxides. Acids. inorganic salts

The biomolecules

Chemical composition (C, H, O, N, S, P). chemical bonds and chemical interactions (electrostatic, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic bonding). polarity concept. Electronegativity. Three-dimensional structure. Isomers and isomeric configuration and conformation.

Organic Chemistry

Functional groups of organic chemistry and biomolecules. Functional group  of organic chemistry Structures. Principal reactions of functional groups. Polyfunctional compounds.

Chemical reactivity

The reactions that occur in the cells. Reactions of oxidation-reduction, carbon-carbon bonds, groups transfer reactions, condensation and hydrolysis reactions, isomerization reactions, synthesis reactions. Examples applicable to biochemistry (biochemical redox)

Chemical kinetics. chemical balance. Equilibrium constant. Le Chatelier's principle .Rate of reaction. Factors which limit the rate of reaction. Catalysis and catalysts.

Bioenergetics

Thermodynamics and metabolism. I and II law of thermodynamics. Spontaneity of a reaction. Enthalpy, entropy, standard free energy. Free energy. Standard free energy. Free energy and equilibrium constant.

Water

Structure. Weak interactions in aqueous environment. Water as solvent and as reactant. Amphoteric properties of water. Ionization of water. Colligative properties of aqueous solutions.

Properties of aqueous solutions

pH concept. Acids and bases. Strength of acids and bases. Ka and Kb. Conjugated acids and bases. Calculation of pH for weak and strong acids and bases. Buffer solutions. The biological buffers.

Optical isomerism

Carbon chiral and optical isomerism. Configurations D and L.

Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and their structures. Glycosidic bonds.

Lipids

Classification of lipids Saturated and unsaturated fats. Acylglycerols. Phospholipids. Waxes ,Terpenes and steroids.

Amino acids and proteins

Amino acid structure. The side chains of amino acids. Peptide bond.

Nucleotides

Nitrogen bases. Nucleosides and nucleotides. ATP. Nucleotides present in coenzymes

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Santaniello, Alberghina, Coletta, Marini - Principi di chimica generale e organica. Ed. Piccin.

Binaglia L., Giardina B. - Chimica e propedeutica biochimica. Ed. McGraw-Hill.

Stefani M., Taddei N. - Chimica Biochimica e Biologia Applicata. Ed. Zanichelli.

Roberti R., Bistocchi G.A. - Elementi di Chimica e Biochimica. Ed. McGraw-Hill.

Nelson D.L., Cox M.M. - Introduzione alla biochimica di Lehninger. Ed. Zanichelli.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I semester, October.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination will focus mainly on the topics covered during the lectures and will have the purpose to evaluate not only if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but if he has acquired the ability to critically analyze problems that will be made during the examination. The student will also be asked to draw the structure of biomolecules, identifying the types of reaction involved. Finally it will comeassessed the ability to describe chemical processes with appropriate terminology.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance at lectures is strongly recommended.

In case of certification of specific learning disability, disability or other special educational needs, please contact both the Department contact person, Prof. Nicola Girtler, and the lecturer at the beginning of the lectures to agree on teaching and exam methods which, in compliance of the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory/dispensatory tools recognized by the University SLD Student Service.