84257 - Chemistry

Learning outcomes

Describe the general characteristics of elements, molecules, and chemical reactions relevant to biology.

Course contents

Introduction (Denniston Chapter 1 – slides)

Methods and Measurement. The Scientific Method and the Numbers of Measurement. Significant Figures. Recognition of Significant Figures. Scientific Notation. Accuracy and Precision. Rounding Numbers. Significant Figures in Calculation of Results.

The Matter (Denniston Chapter 1 – slides)

States of Matter. Composition of Matter. Physical Properties and Physical Change. Chemical Properties and Chemical Change. Intensive and Extensive Properties.

Chemical Bondings (Denniston Chapter 3 - slides)

Ionic bond. Ionic valence. Properties of ionic compounds. Covalent bond. The fundamental state and the value of atoms. Hybridization of carbon orbits. Properties of Covalent Compounds. Naming Compounds and Writing Formulas of Compounds - Drawing Lewis Structures of Molecules and Polyatomic Ions - Properties Based on Molecular Geometry. Intermolecular Forces. Van Der Waals forces. Hydrogen bond.

Calculations, Chemical Changes, and the Chemical Equation (Denniston Chapter 4 - slides)

The Mole Concept and Atoms. The Chemical Formula, Formula Mass, and Molar Mass. The Chemical Equation. Balancing Chemical Equations. Examples of reactions. Net ionic equations. Calculations Using the Chemical Equation. Precipation reactions and solubility product constant (Kps). Factors that change solubility.

States of Matter: Gases, Liquids, and Solids (Denniston Chapter 5 - slides)

The Gaseous State. The liquid state. The solid state.

Solutions and Colligative Properties (Denniston Chapter 6 - slides)

Properties of Solutions.Concentration Based on Mass.Concentration Based on Moles. Concentration-Dependent Solution Properties. Aqueous Solutions

Thermodynamics (Denniston Chapter 7 – slides)

First and Second Law of Thermodynamics. Exothermic and endothermic reactions. Definitions of enthalpy and entropy. Free energy. Spontaneous, irreversible, equilibrium, exoergonic and endoergonic processes. Experimental Determination of Energy Change in Reactions. Thermodynamics and free energy. Common biochemical reactions. Phosphoryl group and ATP.

Chemical and kinetic reactions (Denniston Chapter 7 – slides)

Stoichiometric equation. Chemical kinetics. Canonical equation. Collision theory and steric effect. Activation energy and theory of activated complex. Rate constants. Reaction Order. Arrhenius equation. Catalysts.

Chemical equilibrium (Denniston Chapter 7 – slides)

Equilibrium and heterogeneous chemical equilibrium. Factors that influence chemical balance. The principle of Le Chatelier. Balances in aqueous solution.

Acids and Bases (Denniston Chapter 8 – slides)

Acid and Base Theories. Ka and Kb. Concept of pH and calculation formulas. Definition and strength of acids and bases. Mono- and polyprotic acids and bases. Reactions between Acids and Bases. Neutralization. Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Physiological buffers

Electrochemistry and Redox Reactions in Biochemistry (Denniston Chapter 4.8 – slides)

Ionic and electrolytic solutions. Ionic force. Conductivity of the electrolytes. Electrical potential, electromotive force. Galvanic cells. Hydrogen electrode. Reduction standard potential. Nernst's equation.  Biological redox reactions. Cofactors.

Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (Denniston Chapters 10-15 and slides)

• The Saturated Hydrocarbons. Stereoisomers. Enantiomers. Diastereoisomers. Sterochimics D and L. Isomers cis-trans.

• The Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatics

• Alcohols, Phenols, Thiols, and Ethers

• Aldehydes and Ketones

• Carboxylic Acids and Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

• Amines and Amides

 

Readings/Bibliography

K.J. Denniston, J.J. Topping, R.L. Caret Ed. McGraw-Hill

All the lectures will be supported by PowerPoint presentations, downloadable from virtuale.unibo after each lecture.

Past written exam (with solutions) will also be uploaded on virtuale.unibo together with other files containing similar questions and/or exercises in the end of the course.

Teaching methods

Traditional lecture-based teaching on Power Point presentations.

Attendance to learning activities is mandatory; the minimum attendance requirement to be admitted to the final exam is 66% of lessons. This teaching is a part of the Chemistry and Bichemistry Integrated Course (IC), therefore the 66% attendance requirement refers to the total amount of IC lessons. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement will not be admitted to the final exam of the course, and will have to attend relevant classes again during the next academic year.

Assessment methods

The exam will focus on the topics covered in class. The assessment of the course contents is based on a final examination consisting of a single written exam, having a maximum duration of 1:15 hours (online) and 1:25 hours (in classroom).

During the examination, only the use of ordinary stationery (i.e., pencils, pens, erasers, rulers, etc.) and of a scientific calculator is allowed. During the examination, students are not allowed to leave the classroom, unless they agree to relinquish all of their exam paperwork and not to re-enter the classroom anymore. During the examination, the presence of any electronic devices is strictly forbidden, with the exception of a simple watch and the aforementioned calculator.

In order to take the examination, students must sign up through AlmaEsami within the indicated deadlines. All the activities associated with the “Biochemistry Laboratory” must be completed and approved, before being allowed to take the exam. During the examination, students must have an ID document and their university badge.

The overall exam score is 33.00 points, equally divided into 11.00 points for “Chemistry”, 11.00 points for “Biochemistry-Module 1”, and 11.00 points for “Biochemistry-Module 2”. Each single written examination will include both the “Chemistry” and the “Biochemistry” parts and cannot be split, unless differently indicated by the Professors. 

The examination will be structured according to the following general guidelines :

For « Chemistry »: 8 true/false questions; 8 Multiple choice; 2 exercises.

For each « Biochemistry » module: 8 true/false questions; 10 Multiple choice; 1 open question.

The exam is passed by achieving at least 6.00 points (out of 11.00) in each one of the three modules (Chemistry, Biochemistry-Module 1, and Biochemistry-Module 2). The grade obtained (necessarily greater than or equal to 18) is calculated by summing the points obtained in each of the above mentioned parts, and rounding it to the nearest integer.

Examples:

• Chemistry: 5 pts

Biochemistry-Module 1: 8.50 pts

Biochemistry-Module 2: 8.50 pts
---> FAILED

• Chemistry: 11 pts

Biochemistry-Module 1: 6.75 pts

Biochemistry-Module 2: 6.75 pts
---> 24.5 pts ---> PASSED WITH 25/30.

If a student obtains an overall score of 31 points or more, the examining commission will take into consideration whether to confer 30 cum laude (30L) or not. Only a unanimous consensus by the examining commission will result in the final grade of 30 cum laude (30L) and this decision will be not subject to any further discussion.

The exam final grades will be published online on Virtuale. If the exam is passed, the associated grade will be officially registered only after the student's confirmation using the student institutional email (e.g., name.surname@studio.unibo.it [mailto:name.surname@studio.unibo.it].

The registration of a successful examination is allowed no later than 6 months from the date of the examination; after this deadline, the not confirmed grade will expire.

If a student decides to re-take the exam, the outcome of the previous examination will be automatically cancelled, regardless of the previous grade. The exam can be repeated at any available exam session.

Grade Summary and Meanings

Insufficient: Lack of Preparation. Serious and repeated conceptual errors. The student did not provide sufficient evidence of having learnt the most basic concepts of the subject.

18-19: Knowledge of the basic concepts as a whole acceptable, without serious gaps in the preparation and sufficient exposition of concepts.

20-24: Knowledge of the basic concepts without gaps. Ability to analyze and describe chemical and biochemical concepts, reactions and problems with discreet use of proper terminology and scientific rigor.

25-29: Good to Very Good preparation, in some cases even Excellent preparation but with some inaccuracies that prevent full marks. Ability to analyze and describe chemical and biochemical concepts, reactions and problems with good to very good use of proper terminology and scientific rigor.

30-30L: Excellent to Outstanding preparation, consolidated and without inaccuracies on the topics covered in the course. Ability to promptly frame the topic. Ability to analyze and describe chemical and biochemical concepts, reactions and problems with excellent use of proper terminology and scientific rigor. Proven ability to use independent thinking to solve chemical and biochemical problems.

 

Teaching tools

All the lectures will be supported by PowerPoint presentations, downloadable from virtuale.unibo. Kahoot! App and Jove App will be used for a learning auto-evaluation in the end of each topic.

Past written exam (with solutions) will also be uploaded on virtuale.unibo together with other files containing similar questions and/or exercises in the end of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Cristiana Caliceti