Course Details

Methodologies in Pharmaceutical Analysis 1

FA0416

Course
Methodologies in Pharmaceutical Analysis 1
Code
FA0416
Academic Year
2025/2026
Curriculum Year
2024/2025
Degree Programme
PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY
Curriculum
000 - Generico
Course coordinator
Lecturers
Credits
5
Lecture Hours
24
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
CHIM/08 - Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Course Type
Single-subject learning activity
Course Delivery
OBB - Obbligatoria
Year
2
Teaching period
Secondo Semestre
Campus
NOVARA
Teaching language
Italian
Course Contents
Qualitative chemical analysis of inorganic drugs: dry analysis, wet analysis for the identification of cations and anions. Qualitative chemical analysis of organic and organometallic drugs: elemental analysis, solubility assays, recognition reactions of the main functional groups. Determination of some chemical-physical constants. Separation, isolation and purification techniques. Filtration. Solvent extraction. Thin layer chromatography. Qualitative analysis through Infrared Spectrophotometry and UV-Visible Spectrophotometry.
Reference Texts
“Farmacopea Ufficiale europea”.
“Principi di Analisi Farmaceutica" Cavrini V. Andrisano V. Società Editrice Esculapio.
“Manuale di Analisi Qualitativa” Giuseppe Caliendo EdiSES Università.
Learning Outcomes
The course aims to provide basic knowledge for the identification of compounds of pharmaceutical interest through the qualitative pharmaceutical analysis methodologies provided by the European Pharmacopoeia. Fundamental notions will be provided on the chemical-physical properties of compounds of pharmaceutical interest of an inorganic, organic and metallorganic nature, as well as the principles and use of the techniques used in the separation and purification of a mixture of compounds.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of general and inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry and organic chemistry. Prerequisites: You must have passed the General and Inorganic Chemistry exam by February 28th.
Teaching Methods
Lectures in the classroom with slide projection, some topics will be explored in depth with the projection of films. The teaching material used during the lessons will be available on the DIR platform. Practical laboratory exercises, mandatory attendance.
Additional Information
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.
Assessment Methods
A MANDATORY written exam is scheduled prior to entry to the lab. The written exam will take place as soon as lectures conclude (approximately the end of April) and will cover all topics covered in the course. The written exam will consist of 30 questions: both multiple-choice and open-ended. Students who obtain a score of 18/30 or higher in the written exam will be admitted to the lab and will receive an evaluation of the analyses performed. The final grade will take into account both the written exam score and the results of the analyses performed. The grade will be recorded at the first available exam session. Students who fail the first written exam (score lower than 18/30) will only have two more written exams to be admitted to the lab during the current academic year. Students who fail all three written exams will NOT be allowed to attend the lab during the current academic year and will therefore not receive an attendance certificate. In summary, after lectures and before starting the lab, three written tests (one per week) will be available for admission to the lab. The exam dates for June, July, September, and February are only used to record the grade.
Detailed Syllabus
LABORATORY GLASSWARE: use, maintenance and typical assembly of standard apparatus. STIRRING, HEATING, COOLING TECHNIQUES. QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS: sampling and homogenization of the sample, preliminary analyses: appearance, color, odor, determination of the organic, inorganic, metal-organic nature by calcination test on earthenware; dry analysis (flame test and heating tests in a small tube). QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF INORGANIC SUBSTANCES: - dissolution, pH measurement, possible fusion - wet analysis: identification of cations and anions present in samples of inorganic drugs through characteristic chemical reactions described in the Pharmacopoeia, with particular reference to the following cations (Ammonium, Aluminium, Silver, Bismuth, Calcium, Lithium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc) and anions (Carbonates, Bicarbonates, Chlorides, Phosphates, Iodides, Nitrates, Sulphates, Borates, Fluorides, Thiosulfates). QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC AND METALLORGANIC SUBSTANCES: - elemental analysis: Lassaigne assay searches for nitrogen, sulphur, halogens and phosphorus - dry analysis (flame test for organometallic compounds) - solubility tests in water, organic solvents, diluted bases, diluted acids, conc sulfuric acid. - recognition reactions of the main functional groups: alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alkyl halides, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, acyl halides, anhydrides, esters, amides, nitriles, amines and ammonium salts, nitro -compounds, sulphonamides, amino acids, carbohydrates - use of the Pharmacopoeia: examples of recognition of some organic and organometallic drugs: acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, bismuth salicylate, chlorobutanol, hexylresorcin, glucose, fructose, sucrose, benzocaine, procaine hydrochloride, sulfathiazole. DETERMINATION OF CHEMICAL-PHYSICAL CONSTANTS: - Melting point. - Specific rotational power. SEPARATION, ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNIQUES: - FILTRATION: by gravity and vacuum, filtration auxiliaries, microfiltration, centrifugation, decantation, drying methods. - SOLVENT EXTRACTION: principle and choice of solvent, discontinuous liquid-liquid extraction method with separating funnel, phase washing, anhydrification and concentration. Use of acidic aqueous solutions and basic aqueous solutions. Continuous liquid-liquid extraction method: continuous extractors for solvents denser than water; continuous extractors for solvents less dense than water. Continuous solid-liquid extraction method: Soxhlet. - THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY: methodology, applications, RF calculation, detection systems, two-dimensional TLC, preparative TLC. INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY: instrumentation and applications in qualitative pharmaceutical analysis, interpretation of IR spectra. UV-Visible SPECTROPHOTOMETRY: instrumentation and applications in qualitative pharmaceutical analysis. LABORATORY EXERCISES: Drug calcination assays, Lassaigne assay and elemental analysis. Identification of unknown inorganic drugs and confirmation of the identity of organic and organometallic drugs according to the European Pharmacopoeia. Purification of a drug present in a mixture using the solvent extraction technique. Identification of drugs through IR Spectrophotometry and UV-Visible Spectrophotometry according to Pharmacopoeia.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will acquire the basic knowledge to carry out the identification of compounds of pharmaceutical interest of an inorganic, organic and metal-organic nature registered in the European Pharmacopoeia. In particular, the student will be able to perform solubility tests, specific chemical tests, will be able to determine some chemical-physical constants and apply knowledge of IR and UV/Visible spectrophotometry to identify an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Furthermore, students will be able to perform the main separation, isolation and purification techniques of compounds of pharmaceutical interest.
Last update:09-09-2026 00:14:31