Ateneo - UPO

The course consists of a theoretical part and a laboratory part. The theoretical course is focused on the study of the chemistry of inorganic elements, transition metals and their inorganic and organometallic compounds.
The main properties of inorganic chemical elements, their global availability, reactivity and their useful characteristics will be treated.
The fundamentals of coordination chemistry as the formation and reactivity of coordination and organometallic compounds will be addressed.
Nuclear chemistry fundamentals will also be treated. The laboratory course consists of a descriptive part based on laboratory techniques and practical session with a series of experiences related to the synthesis ans characterisation of inorganic, coordination and metal-organic compounds, sided by the discussion of results based on theoretical concepts.

Lesson notes (slides) and any useful material providing further insights will be provided on D.I.R. The following inorganic chemistry textbooks are recommended:
M. Weller, T. Overton, J. Rourke, F. Armston, La chimica inorganica di Atkins, Zanichelli
G. L. Miessler, D. A. Tarr, Chimica inorganica, Piccin
Huheey, Keiter, Keiter, Chimica Inorganica, Piccin
N.N. Greenwood, A. Earnshaw, Chimica degli Elementi, Piccin
G. Rayner-Canham, T. Overton, Chimica inorganica descrittiva, Edises

For the laboratory part:
M. T. Weller, N. A. Young, Characterisation Methods in Inorganic Chemistry, Oxford

INORGANIC CHEMISTRY: The student is expected to acquire solid knowledge on the properties of the inorganic elements of the main groups and their compounds, transition metals, their industrial application and their environmental impact.
Radiochemistry basics are also imparted. In addition, the student is expected to be able to apply the concepts in solving simple exercises. Among the communication skills, the student is expected to be able to use an appropriate chemical lexicon in relation to the topics covered in the course. Assessment skills: students must acquire the ability to critically analyze and make comparative choices. LABORATORY: In the laboratory module the skills of students is complemented with practical exercises in the field of inorganic chemistry.
Knowledge: the concepts underlying the chemical behavior of the elements of the main groups, their compounds and the peculiar characteristics of the metal species (acidity and basicity, redox properties) will be treated. The characteristics of the coordination bond through the theory of the crystalline field and molecular orbitals, the chelating effect, the characteristics of the reactions of the metal complexes (formation constant, reaction mechanisms, kinetic aspects) will be presented.
To support the laboratory activities, the basic principles of different spectroscopies (IR, Raman, NMR, fluorescence), X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric/calorimetric methods (TGA/DSC) will be introduced or recalled, and the concepts of chromatography and titration techniques will be resumed. The student is expected to develop the ability to perform correct unit laboratory operations and procedures for synthesis, purification and characterization of inorganic compounds and materials and the ability to draw conclusions on the results of experiments in relation to the concepts learned in the theoretical course (judgment). In addition, the student is expected to develop communication skills by acquiring and using a chemical lexicon appropriate to the topics of the course in written and oral form, discussing a report on the results obtained in practical experiences and noting out correctly the laboratory notebook. The course also aims at developing critical sense to draw conclusions on issues related to the topics covered. The ability to use the material provided for a critical and reasoned study and as a starting point for an autonomous deepening (learning skills) will be stimulated.

The course has the course of Fondamenti di Chimica Generale ed Inorganica as prerequisite. The course will refer to basic concepts and aspects covered in the courses of Fondamenti di Chimica Fisica and Termodinamica, cinetica e aspetti energetici

Lectures and classroom exercises with collegial discussion. Theoretical lessons related to practical experiences, laboratory exercises aimed at applying basic concepts of inorganic chemistry and collegial discussion. The student will have to fill in a laboratory notebook and will work in groups both in carrying out laboratory experiences and in preparing a written report on the work done. Specific material will be made available to the student for independent learning.
The ongoing learning will be verified with classroom exercises and collegial discussion. The theoretical part of the course is completed by the laboratory part and therefore many of the theoretical concepts will be taken up in the laboratory exercises: the control of ongoing learning will be carried out through the discussion of experimental results at the end of laboratory experiences and collegial discussions.

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.

INORGANIC CHEMISTRY: Written exam (2 hours of time) consisting of 16 questions with 4 answers each to be verified independently (TRUE / FALSE) to be integrated with an open answer of 5-6 lines to complement and integrate the choices done above. Each item can be evaluated up to 2 points maximum. The questions will be chosen in order to cover the whole program so that the student can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of inorganic chemistry and to know how to apply them. The level of difficulty corresponds to the programme carried out and the reference texts indicated. The written test is considered passed with a knowledge of the basic concepts corresponding to a score of not less than 18 points (18/30). The maximum score will be achieved by demonstrating the acquisition of all the knowledge and skills / abilities indicated. This exam method allows to verify the theoretical knowledge bases of inorganic chemistry, the ability to apply them, the acquisition of a correct scientific language and the autonomy of judgment (through the request to make choices and express critical judgments). Up to 6 points will be added to the score achieved with the written exam related to: 1) oral study in the form of a short seminar based on 2 articles of the scientific literature; 2) theoretical aspects on laboratory activity; 3) insights on laboratory activities. The additional score can be a maximum of 5 points (5/30) if the test is carried out in Italian, n. 6 points (6/30) if carried out in English. This evaluation method will allow to evaluate the theoretical knowledge acquired, the ability to apply them to real cases, the ability to collect and critically analyze the results obtained, the communication skills in exposing the work done, the learning skills. The achievement of all the skills and abilities listed (see expected learning outcomes) results in the maximum score. LABORATORY: Attendance at the laboratory is mandatory and the student will have to keep a laboratory notebook to develop the ability to describe an experience carried out and collect data correctly. At the end of the laboratory activities the student will have to integrate the notebook with a critical analysis of the results obtained in the experiences to develop the ability to draw conclusions from the experiences carried out and communication skills.

INORGANIC CHEMISTRY: The course covers the following fundamental topics. Distribution of inorganic elements in nature, raw materials and global resources. Basic concepts of Geology and Mineralogy of global mineral resources. Properties, chemistry and compounds of: Li, Na, Ca, Al, C, Si, P, S.
Transition metals: properties, oxidation states, Latimer, Frost and Pourbaix diagrams. Coordination bond theories: symmetry, group theory, molecular orbitals. Coordination compounds: acid-base reactions according to Lewis; Pearson's HSAB principle, aqueous complexes. Formation constants. Chelating effect and internal complexes. Stoichiometry and geometry of complexes. CF theory and LF theory: octahedral, tetrahedral and square planar geometry complexes; high and low spin complexes; magnetic properties. Jahn-Teller effect; electronic spectra and spectrochemical series. -donor,-donor and -acceptor ligands. EAN rule. Reactivity of complexes: effect of complexation on redox potentials of metal cations. Elementary mechanisms of substitution in complexes. Organometallic compounds: binary metal-carbonyl compounds, most common organic binders, metallocenes. Radiochemistry: nuclear stability, nuclear emissions, decay, balancing of nuclear reactions, main families of natural radioisotopes, particle detectors, non-military applications of nuclear fission, enrichment in 235-U, radioactive waste. LABORATORY: the course aims to provide the essential elements to complete the knowledge of inorganic chemistry already illustrated in the theoretical course (crystal field theory vs molecular orbitals, formation constants, chelating effect, characterization techniques applied to complexes) integrating them at the level of explanation and use with typical methods of green chemistry (hydro and solvothermal methods, mechanochemistry, ultrasonic and microwave techniques). It will be divided into a part describing the laboratory experiences (with the explanation of the key steps of the reactions to be performed and the illustration of some techniques that will be used) and a more properly experimental part. In the latter, a series of experiences will be performed by all students in rotation and divided into small groups of two or three people. Some materials and coordination compounds will be synthesized both by traditional means and by alternative methods (mechanochemistry, microwave, light assisted). For some of them, characterization will be carried out by techniques such as UV-visible, IR/Raman, NMR, XRD and TGA evaluating formation constants and stoichiometry. Effective ways to write the laboratory notebook and a scientific report and how to use the teaching material for future study will be presented.

Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the properties of inorganic elements and their compounds, transition metals and coordination compounds; knowledge of crystal field theory vs molecular orbitals, of the chelating effect, of the formation constant, of the basic principles of synthesis and characterization techniques; basic knowledge of radiochemistry, Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to apply theoretical knowledge to solving simple inorganic chemistry exercises; ability to collect data correctly and to keep a laboratory notebook; ability to apply theoretical knowledge to the execution and understanding of laboratory experiments and to the interpretation of the results obtained. Making judgments: ability to critically evaluate the concepts learned; ability to critically analyze the results obtained in practical experiences, identifying any errors and proposing solutions. Communication skills: ability to present topics related to inorganic chemistry with appropriate scientific language to be able to express themselves in a precise, concise and clear way; ability to report on the work done (and more generally on chemical-scientific topics) in a precise, concise and clear manner, both in writing and orally; ability to effectively write the laboratory notebook and a scientific report. Acquisition of appropriate scientific language. Learning skills: ability to use the teaching material for a critical and reasoned study, also for a subsequent autonomous acquisition of superior knowledge and for continuous updating. In particular, autonomous learning will be stimulated through the request for an in-depth study of one of the topics covered.