The atoms. The mole. Electronic structure of atoms. The periodic table. Ionic bond. Covalent bond. Chemical formulas. Other chemical bonds. Ideal gas law. Change of state. Enthalpy, entropy, and free energy. Spontaneity of reactions. The solutions. Chemical equilibrium. Redox reactions. Reduction potentials. Acid-base equilibria (pH, buffer solutions). Solubility product.
I. Bertini, C. Luchinat, F. Mani, E. Ravera “Chimica”, CEA - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
I. Bertini, C. Luchinat, F. Mani, E. Ravera “Stechiometria”, CEA - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
Learning Objectives
The course introduces the fundamental elements of general chemistry, which constitute the basic knowledge needed for the following courses in B.S.C. The concepts introduced in the course of General Chemistry are a requirement for the courses of Organic Chemistry, Enological Chemistry, Agricultural Biochemistry, and fermentation biotechnology. The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the basic principles of chemistry by providing information on the language of chemistry (symbols and formulas). The course aims at providing the students with the capability to understand the basic language of chemistry, to be able to follow concepts requiring basic knowledge of general chemistry, and to be able to solve elementary problems through the application of the introduced concepts.
Prerequisites
Recommended courses: None
Teaching Methods
Lectures and practicals on the topics covered by the program
Total hours of the course: 150
Hours reserved for private study and other individual formative activities: 102
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Further information
The frequency of lectures, although not compulsory, is strongly recommended.
Type of Assessment
The written test (of the duration of 2 hours) is aimed at verifying the skills and knowledge of the student through exercises in stoichiometry, exercises in the writing of chemical formulas and chemical reactions, and questions. The students who pass the written test (with an evaluation of at least 18/30) will be admitted to the oral exam. In the oral exam, the acquired skills and the student's mastery of the concepts part of the program of the course will be verified. In particular, the ability to solve problems in the chemical field will be evaluated. The evaluation will also take into account the properties of language and the understanding of the relationship between the different topics of the program.
As an alternative to the written test, students can pass with a positive result (receiving a score of at least 18/30) the 2 tests that are held in the middle and at the end of the course.
Course program
Atoms. Atomic mass, mole concept Nomenclature of inorganic chemistry Electronic structure of elements (orbitals, quantum number, aufbau, periodic properties) The periodic table Covalent bond, Lewis structures Bonding in the solid state (ionic, molecular, and covalent solids, metal) Hydrogen bond, van der Waals forces Oxidation number. Gaseous state, ideal gas equation Phase diagrams of one-component systems Enthalpy, entropy, free energy, and spontaneity of a chemical reaction Concept of dynamic equilibrium. Redox reactions in aqueous solutions in electrochemical cells Oxidation-reduction reactions. Acid-base reactions. Constants for acids and bases; pK; pH; buffers Solubility product constants Main properties of elements Stoichiometry. Unit systems. Molecular structures. Determination of state variables from the ideal gas equation. Balancing equations and redox reactions Equilibrium in solution, calculation of pH.