63708 - General and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Moduli: Maria Cristina Cassani (Modulo 1) Cristiana Cesari (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Ravenna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Chemistry and Technologies for the Environment and Materials (cod. 8515)

Learning outcomes

The Learning Outcomes for General Chemistry are: to understand the molecular nature of all phases of matter, to understand the various ways of depicting chemical compounds and chemical reactions, to develop an ability to solve basic quantitative problems regarding the properties of molecules, chemical equilibria, and chemical kinetics, and to develop the ability to appropriately apply this knowledge to general scientific problems in various fields of science and engineering.

Upon completion, the student should understand:

  • The basic structures of atoms, ions, and molecules, and ways to quantitatively describe the properties of atoms and molecules in the various phases of pure matter and in mixtures.
  • The reactivity of atoms, ions, and molecules, and the various qualitative and quantitative methods for describing or depicting chemical reactions.
  • The concept of chemical equilibrium, and the energies that drive chemical reactions: an introduction to the field of thermodynamics.
  • The concept of chemical kinetics and the energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.
  • The relationship between the electronic configurations of atoms and molecules and their chemical properties: an introduction to the field of quantum mechanics.

Course contents

Prerequisites: basic mathematical functions: roots, power of and logarithms. Solutions of algebraic equations, Knowledge of the principal physical tenets, their correlation with each other and their measure units.

1- Brief introduction to atomic structure- Atomic mass- Introduction to chemical forces and bonds- Molecules- Molecular, covalent, metallic and ionic solids- Molecular mass- Mol- Chemical reactions and conservation of mass- Elemental analysis- Nomenclature- Heat of reaction and conservation of energy 2- The gaseous state and deduction of its laws from experiments- The molecular kinetic theory and the inductive scientific methods- Interpretation of pressure and temperature of a gas- Mixtures of gases and Dalton law of partial pressures- Graham law of diffusion and applications- Real gases and Van der Waals equation. 3- Homogeneous chemical equilibrium- Definitions of concentration- Law of Guldberg-Waage- Equilibrium constants and their use- Heterogeneous equilibrium- The le Chatelier principle 4- Equilibria in solution- Ionic product of water- pH- Definitions of acids and bases- Solutions of strong acids and bases and their pH- Solutions of weak acids and bases and their pH- Polyprotic acids- Hydrolysis of salts and pH- Buffered solutions and titration. 5- Solubility- Ionic salts- Solubility product and effect of common ions and pH. 6- Thermochemistry- Introduction to chemical thermodynamic- Enthalpy and bond energy- Entropy and disorder- Free energy and spontaneity of chemical reactions- Free energy and equilibrium constants- Effect of temperature on equilibrium constants. 7- Introduction to kinetic: rate of reaction- reaction order and mechanism- Effect of temperature on reaction rate- Catalysis. 8- Electrochemistry: Chemical energy and electrical work- Electrochemical cells- Standard potentials- Latimer diagrams- Nernst equation- Electrolysis- Overtension- Corrosion.

Readings/Bibliography

-Petrucci, Herring, Madura, Bissonette, "Chimica Generale", Piccin, 10 ed.

-M.S. Silbeberg, "Chimica", McGraw-Hill, 3° ed..

-R. E. Dickerson, H. B. Gray, G. Haight, "Principi di Chimica", Zanichelli.

-D. W. Oxtoby, H. P. Gillis, A. Campion, "Chimica Moderna", EDISES, 4° ed..

-K. H. Whitten, R. E. Davis, M. L. Peck, G. G. Stanley, "Chimica" Generale, Piccin, 7° ed..

-B. H. Mahan, R. J. Myers, "Chimica", Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 3° ed.

-Slides of Powerpoint presentations published on: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

-Stechiometria, un avvio allo studio della Chimica, I. Bertini, F. Mani, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Teaching methods

Lectures integrated with several and frequent numerical exercises. The course is divided in three phases. The first phase introduces the objectives of the course and gives a brief description of the nature of matter and its transformations with the aim to learn the chemical language and nomenclature. The second phase presents the phenomena and their quantitative handling with the help of introductory numerical exercises. The third phase is devoted to the comprehension and interpretation of behaviour and phenomena, object of the second phase. In the parallel Laboratory course the lessons in classroom are accompanied by suitable exercises and practical experiences in laboratory and by tutorial activities. A tutor, appointed by the School of Science, will be available weekly to help students in solving exercises and override encountered difficulties.

Attendance of laboratory practice is compulsory.  At the beginning of the course, the dates will be notified.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme.

Assessment methods

Assessment of the learning outcomes is carried out by a written test followed by an oral exam. The test includes problems, exercises and open answers, aimed to assess the learning outcomes. The time at students’ disposal is three hours. During the test: a) leaving the room is not permitted; in case this happens the test is considered finished; b) talking is not allowed; c) auxiliary tools (cell phones, tablets, e-books, smart watches and so on) are not permitted, with the exception of a calculator. The test is passed with a score equal or higher than 18/30 and this gives accesso to the oral exam, aimed to assess the level of learning outcomes acquired by the student.

During the course, examples of problems and questions similar to those of the final exam are provided.
The final written test can be replaced, ONLY FOR 1st YEAR STUDENTS, by three tests taken during the course, monthly. The average score of the three tests provides the final written mark. The theoretical and practical (laboratory) parts of the “General and Inorganic Chemistry Course and Laboratory” requires to pass one unique exam with one final mark, which takes into consideration both the written and oral exams, equally.

Registration to the written and oral exams is required through “Alma Esami” web platform, in observation to the stated deadlines.

Teaching tools

Blackboard and video projector.

Use of the "active Learning" method Socrative.

Lessons in classroom accompanied by suitable exercises and practical experiences in laboratory.

Links to further information

http://www.scienze.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Maria Cristina Cassani

See the website of Cristiana Cesari

SDGs

Quality education Industry, innovation and infrastructure Reduced inequalities

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.