Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences - delivered in blended mode

BARBARA CHIAVARINO
DAVIDE CORINTI

General Aims
Purpose of the course is to provide the student with fundamental concepts of general and inorganic chemistry and also of stoichiometry calculations, which constitute the basis for the correct comprehension of concepts pf organic, (phyto)therapeutic and biological chemistry developed in courses held in the following semesters. It deals with the indispensable topics for a correct understanding of matter and its transformations. The course includes numerical exercises that make the student able to face the problems he/she will encounter in the various areas of chemistry, providing the essential tools for their analysis.

Specific purposes. Knowledge and understanding.
The student will have the opportunity to master the concepts underlying the properties and reactivity of matter, from elements to chemical compounds, learn about general chemical structures and models, and understand the problems related to stoichiometry. He/she therefore understand the basic principles of general chemistry starting from the atomic structure, the periodic table and the chemical bond, up to chemical reactions (qualitative and quantitative aspects) with elements of kinetics and description of the aggregation states of matter included the concentrations units of the solutions. So, he/she is able to perform stoichiometric calculations, to balance redox reactions, to predict the composition of an equilibrium, to identify the speed of a reaction, to perform calculations on the solubility and pH of the solutions. He/she will also have acquired a basic knowledge of the properties of the elements and their compounds, including nomenclature.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding.
Upon completion of the course the student will be able to correlate the various topics developed in the program by relating the properties of matter with the properties of atoms and molecules. He/she will also become familiar with the correct and appropriate application of calculation tools, using the disciplinary methods of investigation, in order to solve application questions.

Critical and judgmental abilities.
The lectures will be all interactive, in which the professor will ask continually questions to students to stimulate them and develop their critical sense. These questions allow both to evaluate the understanding of the students and solicit them to make connections with everything studied until now. The organization of the relevant exercises about the topics covered in the lectures will offer the student the opportunity to put to the test the knowledge acquired in relation to the various themes proposed. This allows to develop the ability to apply the concepts studied to practical cases and to critically evaluate the outcome and the method used in the procedures adopted.

Ability to communicate what has been learned.
In addition to providing basic knowledge, the course aims to make the student acquire mastery of language and appropriate use of chemical terminology and scientific method, essential for communicating in the national and international scientific context. To this end, ample space is dedicated to informal interventions and discussions during the lessons and to the final exam.

Ability to continue the study independently in the course of life.
The stimulus to use a correct scientific formalism and to formulate logically consistent deductions starting from the concepts and principles that underlie chemical science constitute a solid training towards cultural growth in the autonomy of future studies and professional activities.

The main objectives of the course are: - to provide the principles and applications of general and inorganic chemistry, preparatory to various disciplines and necessary for describing and understanding the structure and reactivity of matter; - to teach appropriate scientific method and language; - to impart the ability to study critically and thoughtfully.

For these reasons:

At the end of this course students possess knowledge relating to:
Chemical nomenclature, structure and properties of matter and its chemical transformations, equilibria, solutions, and kinetics.

and
At the end of this course students will be able to apply basic chemical concepts and calculation skills to follow/ understand the topics developed in more specialized courses on chemical subjects.

Although no prerequisites are explicitly requested, it is important to master the following preliminary knowledge:

• Fundamental concepts of elementary algebra, use of powers and logarithms, methods for the resolution of first and second degree equations and systems of linear equations.

• Scientific knowledge acquired during high school class

Texts adopted (chosen one from the following):

M. Schiavello, L. Palmisano “Fondamenti di Chimica” EdiSES
F. Cacace, U. Croatto “Istituzioni di Chimica” La Sapienza Editrice
D. W. Oxtoby, H. P. Gillis, A. Campion “Chimica moderna” EdiSES
Whitten, Davis, Peck, Stanley “Chimica” Piccin
R. H. Petrucci, F. G. Herring, J. D. Madura, C. Bissonnette “Chimica generale” Piccin

and for the stochiometry part:

F. Cacace, M. Schiavello “Stechiometria” Bulzoni Editore

The course has the following organization:

• theoretical lessons in the classroom

• deepening of theoretical issues in the classroom

• resolution of numerical problems in the classroom

• at the end of the lessons, one (or more) simulation test of the exam (self-assessment test) will be made, following by relative correction in the classroom.

The student will find on the e-learning platform the slides and teaching material (examination procedures, program, recommended texts) useful for the preparation of the exam. It is understood that the slides are a guide to the exam topics, but can never replace the recommended texts and lectures given by the teacher.

Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

The purpose of the exam consists in verifying the level of understanding and deepening on the subject exposed during the course. It also intends to evaluate the student's reasoning skills and the ability to summarize the arguments carried out in the vision of an organic framework of the subject.

The exam consists of a written test with a stimulus closed with answers both closed and open, (time test approximately two and a half hours), and a few days later, for students who have obtained a grade equal to or greater than 18/30 there is the verbalization of the result obtained with possible integration with the oral exam.

Exams are held during the exam periods provided for in the university teaching regulations, while intermediate tests are not in progress so as not to interfere with the regular attendance of the semester lessons, as established by the study program board.

The student will find on the e-learning platform self-assessment tests on the various topics of the course, both in pdf and in interactive mode and some examples of exam tests.

Clearly the various self-evaluation tests will be available to the student only after the topic has been done at lesson.