Ateneo - UPO

The course aims to provide students with the fundamental concepts of molecular spectroscopy (vibrational and electronic), thermodynamics, electrochemistry and chemical kinetics.
The principles of molecular spectroscopy, classical thermodynamics with particular attention to thermochemistry, electrochemistry in cellular exchanges and chemical kinetics, will be taken into consideration.

Peter William Atkins, Julio de Paula “Elementi di chimica fisica” Zanichelli 2018 ISBN. 978-88-08-22068-4

Marc R. Roussel "A Life Scientist's guide to physical chemistry"
Cambridge University Press
ISBN 978-0-521-18696-4
Material provided by the lecturer and uploaded on DIR platform.

Knowledge and understanding: to acquire solid knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the chemical-physical properties underlying the investigation of systems of biotechnological, biological and pharmaceutical interest.
Applied knowledge and understanding: to acquire the ability to evaluate, in the light of the notions learned during the course, which are the most suitable chemical-physical methods for the study of certain systems.
Communication skills: to acquire and use an appropriate vocabulary in relation to the topics and techniques covered in the course.
Making judgements: ability to critically analyze the elements related to physical chemistry in complex and realistic problems.

Notions acquired within the courses of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, as well as mathematics notions from high school programs (e.g. logarithms, trigonometry, etc.).

Classroom lessons with slides, videos and exercises. If possible, some small topics will be covered with flipped classroom lessons. The .pdf files of the lectures will be available on DIR platform.

Written exam: 4 exercises and 6 theory questions.
Optional oral exam after the written exam.

Introduction to physical chemistry and its applications to biological, biotechnological systems and medicine.
Transition from the macroscopic world to the micro and nanoscopic world for the understanding of chemical and biological phenomena.
Energy-matter interaction with attention to the mechanisms of absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation. Properties of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Optical spectroscopies such as vibrational (FTIR and Raman) and electronic (UV-Vis absorption and luminescence) spectroscopies will be considered by examining the theoretical principles that rule the transitions within rotational, vibrational and electronic levels with hints on applications for the recognition of molecules and for the study of the structure of biomolecules and complex systems.
As far as vibrational spectroscopies are concerned, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies will be analysed, highlighting the difference between the two techniques in the theoretical aspects and underlining their complementarity.
The electron spectroscopy taken into consideration will be UV-Vis absorption and luminescence (fluorescence and phosphorescence) spectroscopies and decay processes from excited electronic states.
The gas phase. Ideal gases and laws: Boyle's law, Charles' law, perfect gas law. Kinetic theory of gases, ideal gas mixtures, partial pressures (Dalton's law). Real gases. Van der Waals equation
Classical thermodynamics. The three principles of thermodynamics and the zeroth law. Spontaneity and reversibility of chemical reactions and equilibrium reactions.
Physical equilibrium. Physical Transformations of pure substances. State diagrams. Stability of phases and state transitions. Clapeyron and Clausius-Clapeyron equations. Phases, components and freedom degrees. Binary systems. Azeotropic mixtures. Donnan membrane equilibrium. Membrane potentials.
Chemical equilibrium and free energy. Thermodynamics equilibrium constant. Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. Van't Hoff equation. Electrodes and electrochemical cells. Electromotive force and free energy. Nerst’s equation. Applications of electrochemical processes and biological processes comparable to eletrochemical processes (quick mention)
Chemical kinetics: relationship between kinetics and thermodynamics. Definition of rate and order of reaction. Kinetic laws and integration. Determination of reaction order and rate constant. Reaction rate determining step and approximation of the steady state. Reaction rate and temperature: Arrhenius law. Relationship between equilibrium constant and kinetic constant. Mechanisms of chemical reactions. Enzyme kinetics.

Students will have to know and be able to explain, also through the use of formalisms, the notions relating to the fundamental concepts of molecular spectroscopy, thermodynamics and electrochemistry applied to complex systems.