- Docente: Anna Tinti
- Credits: 9
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 8415)
Learning outcomes
The main objective of this course is to provide knowledge on the following subjects:
the general characteristics of chemical reactions (stoichiometry, kinetics and spontaneous reactions);
the properties of the chemical components of the living organisms: structure and properties of simple and complex carbohydrates and lipids;
the thermodynamic aspects of biochemical processes and the basis of cellular bioenergetics;
the structural and functional properties of proteins;
the enzyme mechanism of action and kinetics; regulation of biochemical reactions rate;
the structure of nucleic acids and the description of the mechanisms involved in DNA replication, transcription and translation (protein synthesis).Course contents
Transition metals, complexes ions.
Chemical reactions. Chemical equations. Balancing chemical equations. Mole definition (gram-atomic, gram-molecular, gram-formula weight). Chemical reactions and stoichiometry.
Types of chemical reactions. Oxidation state. Redox reactions. Electrochemical cells and standard reduction potentials: electrochimical series. Nernst's equation. Spontaneity criteria for redox reactions. Standard potentials in biochemistry.
Solutions. Electrolytic and not electrolytic solutions. Expressing concentration of solutions. Colligative properties. Raoult's law. Boiling point elevation and freezing point depression. Osmotic pressure of a solution: biological importance.
Reaction kynetics: reaction rate. Effective collisions and activated complex theories. Energy diagram for a chemical reaction. Rate laws and reaction order. Reaction mechanisms: elementary and multistage reactions. Half-life period. Arrhenius equation. Catalysts.
Chemical equilibrium. Equilibrium constants. Factors influencing the chemical equilibrium. Le Chatelier's principle. Chemical equilibrium for heterogeneous systems.
Self-ionization of water and its dissociation equilibrium constant, Kw. Acid, basic and neutral solutions. The pH concept; pH scale. Ionic equilibria in aqueous solution: acids and bases. Acid-base Arrhenius theory. Acid-base Brönsted and Lowry theory. Dissociation equilibria of weak acids and bases: acid and base dissociation constants. Polyprotic acids. Hydrolysis. Buffer solutions and Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Biological buffers. pH of ampholythe solutions. Stiochiometric calculations. Acid-base Lewis theory. pH measurements. Indicators. Acid-base titrations.
Dissociation equilibria of scarcely soluble electrolytes: solubility products. Kps-solubility relationships. Common-ion effect.
Readings/Bibliography
K.J. Denniston, J.J. Topping, R.L. Caret; Chimica Generale, Chimica Organica, Propedeutica Biochimica; Edizione italiana, McGraw-Hill
Teaching methods
Lectures and stoichiometry exercises.
Assessment methods
Knowledge of Chemistry and General Biochemistry will be assessed with a written examination. Candidates will be given one hour and half to complete 3 open-ended questions on general chemistry and 44 multiple choice questions (1 right answer over 4 possible choices), of which: 11 on amino acids, proteins and enzymes; 11 on sugars, lipids, co-enzymes and bioenergetics; and 11 on nucleic acids. Every part of the test will be evaluated by the teacher who had covered that portion of the program. Every partial evaluation will contribute with a proportional weight in CFU to determine the score of the 1stsemester (9 credits total) expressed in 30/30 (with the possibility of cum laude).
The score of Chemistry and General Biochemistry (1stsemester) will be annotated on Alma esami and will proportionally contribute to the single, final score of the C.I. Biochemistry (1st+ 2ndsemester), which will be registered. It is mandatory to pass the examination that covers the 1stsemester program in order to be able to take the (oral) examination covering that of the 2ndsemester. The score from the 1stsemester examination will be valid for 2 years.
Candidates will be allowed to bring a periodic table and calculator along.
Teaching tools
Teaching material can be downloaded through "insegnamenti online"(IOL) on the page: https://iol.unibo.it/.
Office hours
See the website of Anna Tinti