CHEMISTRY - MODULE B
It is essential condition for addressing issues of Module A of the course the knowledge of concepts and basic fundamentals of mathematics (eg integral, exponential, logarithm, derivative, vector, tensor, matrix ...) and physical (eg the concepts of force, pressure, speed, potential energy, kinetic energy ...).
For Module B it is essential the knowledge of general chemistry concepts (eg electronic structure, theory of valence bond and molecular orbital, training and breaking of bonds, acis and bases, ...) that are considered preparatory to the understanding of organic chemistry.
Module A of the course, implemented to be suitable for students of science-based degree programs, it offers a wide and timely introduction to the basic principles, theoretical and experimental of general chemistry, with frequent references to the real world. We expect, as learning results: i) understanding of the atomic model and its application to electronic configurations and the periodic table; ii) the thermochemical aspects and treated kinetic; iii) the theory of acids and bases; iv) chemical balance. Not to be neglected are the abilities in i) drawing Lewis structures; ii) predict the stereochemistry by VSEPR theory; iii) represent molecular orbital diagrams for simple diatomic molecules; iv) perform simple calculations in stoichiometry (including the reactions) balance. Finally, it is essential to learn to use periodic properties, intermolecular interactions, concepts of thermodynamics, kinetics and chemical equilibrium for the interpretation of wide phenomenology of general chemistry.
Module B is designed to introduce and develop the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry for students who have previously assimilated the fundamentals of general and inorganic chemistry. The goal that arises is the knowledge i) of the Nomenclature of organic compounds and functional groups in organic chemistry; ii) the stereochemistry of organic molecules and their orientation in three-dimensional space; iii) the reactivity of the compound and how you can favor some transformations affecting kinetic and thermodynamic parameters; iv) the synthesis and the study which regards the possibility of preparing organic compounds of different molecular complexity. It will also be important to the acquisition of chemical concepts of natural compounds and the knowledge of the major classes of natural organic compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
The main contents of the Module A are summarized as follows:
1. Definitions of matter, states of aggregation, element, compound, mixture, atom isotope.
2. Evolution of the atomic model. Elements of quantum mechanics: Schroedinger wave equation for hydrogen-like and electron atoms; atomic orbital; electron spin; Electronic configurations of the elements.
3. The periodic table and periodic properties: atomic radii, ionic, metallic, covalent; ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity.
4. The ionic bond: lattice energy, Born-Haber cycle. The covalent bond: Lewis formulas and their exceptions; partially polar covalent bond, dative and coordinative. Theory 'Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion'. Hybrid orbital bonding model. Molecular orbital model. The metallic bond: Sea theory of electrons; band theory for metals and semiconductors.
5. United liquid, solid and gaseous. Phase transitions and phase diagrams.
6. Chemical thermodynamics: enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy; first, second and third law of thermodynamics.
7. Chemical equilibrium: thermodynamic equilibrium constants; Le Chatelier's principle.
8. Chemical kinetics: reaction time; reaction of the first order, second, zero; Arrhenius equation; theory 'collisions' and 'activated complex'.
9. Acids and bases: Arrhenius definitions, Broensted, Lewis; acid-base; ionization constant of the acid and base; pH scale. pH of aqueous solutions of strong acids, weak acids, strong bases, of weak bases; titrations.
10. Basics of radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry.
11. Solubility equilibria in water. Sparingly soluble salts: the effect common ion; effect of pH on the dissolution of a salt in aqueous solution.
12. Elements of electrochemistry.
13. Stoichiometry: the relationship between mass and mole; the balance of the reactions; preparing non-reactive or reactive solutions; conducting reactions in the absence or in the presence of limiting agent.
The main contents of the Module B can be summarized as follows:
1. Structure and bonding; acids and bases. What is organic chemistry. Nomenclature. organic functional groups and structures
2. Classes of organic compounds: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, dienes, aromatic compounds, alkyl halides, organometallic compounds, alcohols, phenols, ethers, thiols, sulfides, aldehydes and ketones, amines, nitro compounds, heterocyclic derivatives, carboxylic acids and their derivatives .
3. The organic reactions. nucleophilic addition reactions, electrophilic addition, elimination, of nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic aromatic substitution, nucleophilic substitution reactions acyl
4. The substitution reactions in alpha to the carbonyl and the condensation reactions
5. Acidity and pKa.
6. Relocation and conjugation
7. The stereochemistry of the tetrahedral compounds
8. The cycloaddition reactions, radical reactions.
9. The chemistry of life and biomolecules: carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids
10. Alternative energy sources. Green Chemistry: eco-friendly approaches to the resolution of major environmental emergencies
Types of teaching activities
The educational activities of Modeule A and Modeule B consist only of lectures. For some lessons it will be possible to organize some exercise sessions.
The Module A and Module B Course not provide for the adoption of a single reference text. Teachers recommend a set of books of general chemistry and organic chemistry (in Italian or English). Students can choose what suits them best. The set of suggested texts is not mentioned here because it can vary each academic year. In addition to the lessons, the teacher of Module B provides the projected slides, which are considered guidelines to the study, not substitute material of a textbook.
One of the text for the Form B could be:
John McMurry - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry - 7th edition Brooks/Cole (4th edition from italian Zanichelli)
Each of the two teaching modules provides a final test and given a rating. The outcome of each trial is thirty: the test is deemed passed if the candidate gets a vote of at least 18/30. The final grade is the average, weighted on the number of credits, the outcome of the two tests.
Evidence relating to the items of the Form A is a written exam of 3 hours. It is multiple choice questions in sufficient numbers to cover all the topics of the lectures, including the stoichiometry. Each correct answer is awarded 1 point, while the incorrect answers are assigned zero score.
Evidence relating to the Form B is a written exam lasting approximately 2-2.5 hours when there are questions in an open form, short-answer questions, and also multiple-choice questions on the entire program carried out during the course. Each correct answer is awarded a score, while wrong answers is attributed to non-scoring.
The total score obtained by the candidate in each written test is normalized so as to be out of thirty. Following the publication of the votes, the teachers of Form A and Form B provide the opportunity very often disregarded, to view the writings by convening ad hoc candidates.