Learning objectives
The course has as its formative objective to provide a basic knowledge in general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry, to enable the students to understand the chemical bases of life, the structural and functional principles of molecules ofbiological interest; the metabolic pathways, their connexions and regulations.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
ATOMS AND PERIODIC TABLE: The subatomic particles: protons, electrons, and neutrons. Atomic number and atomic weight. Isotopes. Atomic orbitals and their energy levels. Electron configurations of the first 20 elements of the periodic table. Correlation among periodic properties of the elements in the periodic table and their electron configurations.
CHEMICAL BONDING AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS: Electronegativity. Ionic and covalent bonds. Valence and oxidation number. Formulas and nomenclature of inorganic compounds of common use and of biological interest. Molecules' polarity and intermolecular interactions: dipole-dipole, ion-dipole and hydrophobic interactions; the hydrogen-bond. The law of mass and the charge conservation principle. The stoichiometry of chemical reactions. Bond-energy. Energy changes in chemical reactions: enthalpy. Spontaneity of chemical reaction: entropy and free energy.
SOLUTIONS: Water as a solvent of life. Electrolytes and non electrolytes. Strong and weak electrolytes. Osmotic pressure and others solution colligate properties. Expressions of the concentration of a solution. Acids and bases. The pH concept. Buffers and their physiological role. Basic stoichiometric calculations: dilution of a solution, chemical reactions quantization.
FOUNDATIONS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: Carbon compounds. Most relevant functional groups. Structural formulas of organic molecules. Molecular isomerism. Homocyclic and heterocyclic compounds, the aromatic compounds. The molecular mechanism of the most common organic reactions.
MACROMOLECULES: amino-acids and the peptide bond. Concepts of the proteins 3D structures and proteins functions. Enzymes, coenzymes and cofactors. Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Lipids and lipo-soluble vitamins. Phospholipids and biological membranes The structural formulas of the most relevant macromolecules.
CELL METABOLISM: An overview of cell metabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism. Basic concepts on triglycerides metabolism. The cellular respiration. An overview of the digestion of nutrients as the first step of catabolism.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Massimo Stefani e Niccolò Taddei
Modulo di Chimica e Biochimica: Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia Applicata
Zanichelli
D. Sadava, H. Craig Heller, G. H. Orians, W.K. Purves, D.M. Hills
Biologia. La cellula
Zanichelli
Teaching methods
Lecture
Assessment methods and criteria
written text followed by an oral examination
Other information
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