Ateneo - UPO

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

Slides (pdf format) are available on the DIR platform.
Suggested texts:
Kotz, Treichel, Townsend, Treichel, Chimica, Edises, VII Ed., 2021
Brown, Lemay, Bursten, Murphy, Woodward, Stoltzfus, Fondamenti di Chimica. Edises, IV Ed., 2018
Atkins, Jones, Laverman, Principi di Chimica, Zanichelli, 2018
Silberberg, Amateis, Licoccia, CHIMICA, Quarta Edizione, Mc Graw Hill, 2019.

Objectives of the course are: to clearly present the basic principles of chemistry; to provide a solid basis and general concepts for understanding the chemical events at the molecular level. Abilities: introduce the students to the use of the structure-property approach. In particular, the module intends to guide the student toward a fully independent critical attitude in chemistry-related topics, starting from the recognition of the chemical system and the ability to draw pertinent conclusions from scientific data and observations. Communication skills: the student will be guided towards the acquisition of an appropriate scientific vocabulary.

No particular prerequisites are expected, save for the basic competences required by the TCI test, with particular reference to basic mathematics.

Classroom lectures, slide shows and guided exercises with open discussion. Students will be encouraged to supplement in-class work with individual homework for a successful fruition of the course.

Students will be encouraged to actively participate to classes and guided through individual or collaborative problem-solving activity in order to stimulate preparation progresses and regularly test them. This approach will also favor the development of the expected specific communication skills

The final exam will consist in a written test to be performed in 3 h (max). The test will contain 5-8 questions which will include open questions and numerical/graphical exercises. Each question will correspond to a score of 1 to 5 points depending on the complexity. The maximum score attainable is 30 points and honour can be granted in case of exceptional quality. The pass score is 18/30. With a minimum score of 15/30, the student could request the integration with an oral exam, allowing for a maximum of additional 3 points to be summed up with the written test score. The evaluation and scoring of the test will be primarily based on the capacity of the student to understand the chemical problem, identify the unknown variables, provide a logical, rigorous and pertinent answer (open questions) or implement a rational and justified resolution strategy (numerical/graphical questions) and use the appropriate vocabulary and rigorous chemical symbolism.

The matter: homogeneous and inhomogeneous mixtures. Elements, compounds and chemical formulas. Nomenclature of chemical compounds. The laws of chemistry. The mole and the Avogadro number. The structure of the atom: subatomic particles, isotopes, radioactivity. The atomic theory. The periodic system and the periodic properties of the elements. Basic concepts of chemical bonding: Lewis theory and molecular geometry according to the VSEPR model. Covalent, ionic and metallic bonds.
Intermolecular forces. Aggregation states and their properties. Ionic, metal and molecular solids. Gases and their properties. Solutions and their properties: solubility, vapor tension osmotic pressure. Chemical reactions and chemical equations. Fundamentals of thermochemistry: entalpy, entropy, free energy. The chemical equilibrium: the equilibrium constant, the Le Chatelier Principle and its application. Acids and bases: Arrhenius, Lewis and Brønsted-Lowry theories. Acid base equilibria and buffer solutions. Heterogeneous equilibria. Electrochemistry : oxidation states and redox reactions. Standard potentials and electrochemical series. The Daniell cell.
Environmental chemistry notions: main simple chemical pollutants, acid rains, metals toxicity.

Knowledge and competences: achieving a solid solid background on the fundamental concepts of chemistry (chemical quantity, reactions, states of matter, chemical bonds, molecular structure, equilibrium, acids and bases, thermochemistry, electrochemistry). Capability to apply the acquired knowledge for the resolution of chemical problems. Ability to understand and interpret chemical and physico-chemical transformations at the macroscopic and microscopic level. Ability to recognize the main classes of inorganic compounds and name them. Master a critical approach in the design and resolution of chemical problems and experiments. Communication skills: the student is expected to acquire and properly use a suitable scientific vocabulary and be able to report on a chemical problem/experiment in a clear and concise manner.