Ateneo - UPO

The module provides the basic concepts of general and inorganic chemistry: knowledge of the properties, composition and structure of matter, chemical equilibrium, chemical thermodynamics and kinetics and electrochemistry.

Kotz, Treichel, Townsend, Treichel, Chimica, Edises, VII Ed., 2021
Robinson, Mc Murry, Fay, Chimica Generale, VIII Ed., Pearson 2023
P. Atkins, L. Jones, L. Laverman, Fondamenti di Chimica Generale, Zanichelli, II edizione italiana, 2018
M. S. Silberberg, P. G. Amateis, CHIMICA, Quinta Edizione, Mc Graw Hill, 2023
Course slides (pdf files) are available on the DIR platform

Objectives of the course are: to clearly present the basic principles of chemistry; to provide solid basis and knowledge for understanding the chemical events at the molecular level. Abilities: introduce the students to the use of structure-property concept. Ability in making judgements and driving conclusions from the results of his experiments. Communication skills: the students will be able to use a suitable chemical vocabulary in relation to the course arguments and methods. Learning skills: ability to use the material provided for a subsequent reasoned use and a further study.

Basic elements of calculus.

Classroom lectures, powerpoint presentations and guided exercises with open discussion.

The learning progress monitoring will be carried out through periodic questions and exercises given to students, followed by resolution on the blackboard and self-assessment.

The exam is written (3 hours) and students who have passed the first part of the exam are admitted to this part. The exam is articulated in 15 questions (1 open question and 14 non-numerical exercises). Minimum value for sufficiency is 12 (knowledge of fundamental concepts). The highest grade is obtained with a solid knowledge and ability to apply the acquired knowledges on all the subjects. On the DIR platform students find, along with the slides of the course, a complete example of an exam paper. The results of the exam reveal the degree of understanding of theoretical concepts, the ability to use them to solve problems of medium difficulty and the degree to acquiring an adequate technical-scientific language in the answers to the open question. The independence of judgment is also assessed through the request to express judgments and make comparative choices.

Elements, compounds, mixtures, formulas. The Avogadro constant and the mole concept. Elements of stoichiometry. Structure of the atom: nucleus, isotopes, radioactivity. The atomic theory: atomic spectra, the Bohr model, many-electron atoms. The periodic table and periodic properties of the elements. Basic concepts of the chemical bond: Lewis theory, shape of molecules using the VSEPR model. Models of covalent bonding. Ionic and metallic bond. Intermolecular forces, states of matter and their main properties. The solutions and their properties: solubility, vapor pressure, osmotic pressure. The chemical reactions and the chemical equation: balancing a chemical reaction. Thermodynamics: enthalpy, entropy and free energy. The principles of chemical equilibrium; the equilibrium state and the equilibrium constant; the response of equilibria to changes in conditions. Acid-base equilibria. Solubility equilibria. Electrochemistry: redox reactions and oxidation states; standard potentials and equilibrium constants. Chemical kinetics: rate law and reaction orders; activation energy; reaction mechanisms; catalysis.

Knowledge and understanding: theoretical and operational knowledge about the fundamental laws of chemistry (mole, reaction, bonds and molecular structure, equilibrium, solution pH, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry); visualization of the chemical phenomena from the macroscopic to the microscopic level.
Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to apply the theory to assign the names of the most common inorganic chemical compounds, to balance a chemical reaction, to perform stoichiometric calculations, to solve numerical problems with gases, solutions, and acid or basic substances, and electrochemistry; ability to correlate the chemical structure with the physical properties and reactivity of the compounds; acquire the ability to interpret and rationalize chemical reactions from a critical and non-mnemonic point of view, using a scientific methodological approach to be applied to subsequent studies in other fields of chemistry and biology.
Making judgements: ability to interpret and rationalize chemical processes from a critical point of view, using a scientific methodological approach; ability to make choices and make evaluations.
Communication skills: ability to use a suitable scientific language when answering the questions; acquisition of a vocabulary of chemical terms to be able to expose topics of technical and conceptual nature in a precise, concise and clear manner.