00148 - Organic Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide basic notions on the structure and reactivity of the main functional groups of organic molecules with brief insights into the mechanisms. Students will also acquire basic knowledge of some classes of organic compounds of industrial interest used in agrochemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, in the development of pesticides, fertilizers and paints, in the dyes and surfactants industry and widely used in everyday life. The principles of green chemistry and sustainable chemistry of the REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of CHemicals) and of the CLP regulation (Classification, Labeling and Packaging) will be introduced.

Course contents

The course will cover the following topics:

1. Introduction to organic chemistry and the concept of functional group.
2. IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds.
3. Basic notions on the structural and reactivity of the most common functional groups: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, halides, alcohols, thiols, ethers, amines, aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives (acyl halides, anhydrides, esters, amides).
4. Basic notions of stereochemistry and properties of stereoisomers: enantiometers, distereoisomers and meso compounds; configuration and R / S descriptors. Racemic mixtures.
5. Organic compounds of industrial interest: agrochemicals, food, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, cosmetics, paints, dyes and surfactants.
6. Principles of green chemistry and sustainable chemistry.
7. REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of CHemicals) and the CLP regulation (Classification, Labeling and Packaging).

Readings/Bibliography

The materials provided by the instructor for the lessons, along with the lecture notes, are essential for preparing for the final exam.

All materials presented during the lessons will be made available to students through Unibo's virtual platform.

For those requiring additional support or wishing to deepen their understanding of certain topics, the following texts are recommended (available in the library):

• Introduzione alla chimica organica; William H. Brown, Thomas Poon; Edises.
• Fondamenti di chimica organica; Janice Gorzynski Smith; McGraw-Hill.

Teaching methods

• Lectures (4 CFU, 32 h) in which the topics of the program are illustrated and discussed with the support of power point slides.
• Exercises (2 CFU, 20 h) in which students, individually and in groups, will be involved in solving simple exercises on the nomenclature, identification and retrosynthesis of simple organic molecules.

Assessment methods

The final grade is expressed on a scale of thirty, with a passing mark set at 18/30 or higher.

• 
  An overall "insufficient" grade (score < 18/30) indicates significant gaps in course content knowledge, failure to answer questions, or inadequate responses.
• An overall grade ranging from "sufficient to fair" (18-24/30) reflects an acceptable level of preparation but with evident deficiencies in knowledge or insufficiently covered topics.
• An overall "good" grade (25-28/30) signifies that the student has a solid understanding of the course material and can effectively connect different parts of the syllabus.
• An overall "excellent" grade (29-30/30 cum laude) denotes thorough and comprehensive mastery of the entire course program, demonstrating clear and coherent understanding.

Final Examination
Learning assessment is conducted through a final written exam designed to evaluate knowledge and the ability to solve basic problems in Organic Chemistry.
The exam consists of 10 questions, each assigned a specific score. The total score corresponds to the final grade, with a maximum of 33 points equating to 30 cum laude.
The duration of the exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes, during which textbooks, notes, and handouts are strictly prohibited. The use of any electronic devices is also not permitted throughout the examination.

In-Course Assessment (only for students enrolled in the relevant academic year)
An in-course assessment will be conducted covering the portion of the syllabus completed up to that date (approximately in February).
Students who pass the in-course assessment will take the final exam on the remaining part of the syllabus.
The final grade will be the arithmetic average of both assessments (in-course and final exam).
If a student does not take or fails the in-course assessment, they will sit for the final exam covering the entire syllabus.
The grading criteria are identical to those applied for the final exam.
The assessment lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes, during which use of textbooks, notes, or handouts is prohibited. The use of any electronic devices during the exam is strictly forbidden.

Oral Examination (Optional)
Students who achieve a minimum score of 18/30 on the written test and wish to improve their grade may opt to take an oral examination.
The oral exam is considered passed if a candidate obtains at least 18/30.
The final grade will be a weighted average between the written test result and the oral exam, with weights of 3/4 and 1/4 respectively.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

 

Teaching tools

PC equipped with touch screen and video projector. The slides and videos projected in class are available for download in the institutional repository of the University of Bologna.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Gualandi