Ateneo - UPO

Students will be provided with basic knowledge on the techniques of purification, characterization and recognition of organic compounds, with particular attention to safety standards to be adopted in the laboratory

1) Marco D’ischia, “la chimica organica in laboratorio” Piccin, Padova D. Pocar,
2) R. M. Roberts, J.C. Gilbert, S.F. Martin, “chimica organica sperimentale”, Zanichelli, Bologna
3) A.I. Vogel, “Chimica organica pratica", Ambrosiana, Milano

The main purpose of the course is to provide students with the knowledge of the techniques and practical skills needed to recognize, separate and purify the main organic compounds; the knowledge of the techniques and the ability to perform tests for the functional groups present in an organic compound; the ability to work in groups and to issue a laboratory report. Communication skills and self judgement: familiarize the student with the drafting of the laboratory notebook and the writing of reports concerning the activities carried out in the laboratory and the interpretation of the results obtained during the experiments. Ability to learn and autonomy: the student must demonstrate how to draw correct conclusions about the basic reactivity and functional groups of an organic substance through experimental observation and autonomy in choosing the most appropriate experimental techniques.

Attendance of General and Inorganic chemistry laboratory.

The lab is divided into a part of theoretical classroom lessons to which practical exercises will be followed. For each experience, the student is provided with an introductory part to the various experiments and questions that allow to underline what has been learned during the experiment.
During the course of experiences, the teacher and the tutor propose to the groups and collegially a comment and a discussion on the meaning of the operations carried out. The student should also individually prepare a lab sheet.

The teacher is available to the student for any clarification or explanation of the topics covered during the course.

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/servicesstudents-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.

The learning control in progress will be carried out through the daily control of the laboratory notebook with descriptions and comments on the laboratory experiences and the answers to the questions found in the experience card.

In the laboratory, the organizer's ability is assessed on a daily basis, the time and space available to carry out individual experiences, complying with safety standards, the ability to collect data, and analyze the results by controlling the writing of the lab sheet. through the latest experience, the student's ability to apply the skills acquired during the course through the qualitative identification of an unknown substance will be evaluated a written exam is scheduled at the end of the course consisting of five questions between open exercises and open questions on the application of acquired theoretical knowledge applied to real cases based on those proposed at the bottom of the card of the individual experiences. An integral part
of the assessment is the drawing up of a written report on each laboratory experience to be delivered at the end of the course, aimed at evaluating the ability to collect data, critically analyze the obtained results and communicative skills. Followed by an oral presentation of the same through an interview aimed at verifying that the student has sufficient theoretical basis and has understood the meaning of the lab activities. Sufficient is achieved by demonstrating that they have acquired the basic theoretical bases of the techniques proposed and know how to apply them to solve simple problems, to have an appropriate vocabulary and to be able to expose them clearly. Excellence can be achieved by demonstrating that it has acquired the ability to critically select the best combination of isolation and purification techniques and have a precise idea of what needs to be done experimentally and how to do it in addition to a thorough drafting of final reports based on a careful observation of laboratory experiments.
The final grade will be formulated in a collegial way starting from the weighted average of the grades of the theoretical and laboratory course, considering the ability of the student to have assimilated the concepts of the two modules and to be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired.

The first part will allow the student to acquire the information needed to work in a chemical laboratory according to current safety standards: will be explained in detail the risks associated with the use of chemicals and the regulations relating to the use and disposal of the same. A large part of course is spent learning techniques in organic chemistry, including crystallization, TLC, distillation (simple, fractional, under reduced pressure, azeotropic, in a current of steam), extraction, sublimation, determination of melting point and boiling point of a pure substance. Each lecture will be followed by a corresponding laboratory experience. The analytical part consists of functional groups identification with confirmatory tests: the Lucas test for alcohols, Tollens test for aldehydes, bromine tetrachloride to the double bonds, Hinsberg test for amines, and iodoform test for methyl ketones. In the end, the student must identify an unknown substance through the knowledge learned. Students will conduct simple reactions: synthesis of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate) and the essence of banana (salicylate, isopentyl) ester hydrolysis, the reactions will be followed with thin-layer chromatography. As examples of extraction and purification of natural substances will be isolated carotenoids and chlorophylls A and B from spinach, caffeine from tea and coffee and cinnamic aldehyde from cinnamon.

Knowledge and understanding skills
Knowledge of the theory underlying the techniques of separation, purification and control of the purity of organic compounds. Knowledge of
the main essays recognition of functional groups.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Ability to collect data of individual experiences and correctly fill in the laboratory notebook.
Autonomy of judgment
Ability to interpret the results obtained during the experiments and to identify any mistakes made
Communicative Skills
Ability to appropriately describe, using the correct scientific terminology, the operations carried out in the laboratory be able to clearly describe the use of various concepts learned in the course.
Learning ability
Ability to read and perform an experimental procedure for purification or identification of organic compounds Ability to learn through observation
of experimental data.