Learning objectives
On the basis of the electronic structure of the atom, to rationalize the properties of pure substance, either the inorganic/organic compounds and the biological macromolecules.
Prerequisites
no
Course unit content
Chemistry foundations. Atomic structure. Chemical Bonding. Solutions.
Chemical reactions and kinetics. Enzymes, coenzymes and biological red-ox reactions.
Chemical equilibrium.
Foundations of Organic Chemistry.
Molecules of biological systems: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Nucleic Acids.
ATP, the energy currency of cellular metabolism. Thermodynamics of biological reactions.
Full programme
Chemistry foundations: Physical and chemical transformations. Mixtures, elements and compounds.
Atomic structure: Energy levels, valence electrons and Lewis structure. Chemical Bonding: pure and polar covalent bond. Electronegativity. Ionic bond. Form and polarity of the molecules of water, ammonia and methane. Intermolecular forces, hydrogen bond.
Solutions: definitions of solvent, solute and solubility. Water as a polar solvent. Osmotic pressure.
Chemical reactions and kinetics: reaction rate, activation energy, function of catalysts.
Enzymes, coenzymes and biological red-ox reactions.
Chemical equilibrium: equilibrium constant and Le Chatelier’s principle. Water ionic dissociation and ionic product of water. pH function. Strenght of acids and bases.
Equilibrium solutions: buffers, physiological examples.
Foundations of Organic Chemistry: main functional groups.
Molecules of biological systems: biological function of water molecule.
Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and omopolysaccharides. Lipids: fatty acids, lipids, complex lipids and steroids.
Proteins: aminoacids and peptide bond. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary protein structure.
Nucleic Acids: nucleotides and phosphodiesteric bond. DNA and RNA structures.
ATP, the energy currency of cellular metabolism: ATP structure and function. Thermodynamics of biological reactions: Gibbs free energy and spontaneity of the chemical reactions.
Cellular metabolism. Oxidation and degradation reactions, biosynthesis.
Bibliography
La chimica in moduli (A-H), Ed. Zanichelli
Authors: Valitutti, Tifi, Gentile
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons aided by presentations and animations files.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written test
Other information
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