Chemical Sciences

Educational objectives

The expected learning outcomes, according to the Dublin descriptors, are the following:

Descriptor 1 (knowledge and understanding): at the end of the course the student will have acquired the knowledge to understand the physical phenomena that induce the optical transitions in the absorption and emission processes and the classical spectroscopies deriving from them (rotational, vibrorotational, electronic and luminescence).

Descriptor 2 (knowledge and understanding skills applied): the acquired theoretical knowledge will be used to determine some structural parameters of simple molecules through the analysis of absorption spectra recorded experimentally in the laboratory using spectrophotometers.

Descriptor 3 (Autonomy of judgment): the autonomy of judgment will be developed during the practical laboratory experiments and the writing of reports in which the student must assess the reliability of the results obtained from the analysis of the spectra.

Descriptor 4 (communication skills): through the preparation of written reports on laboratory experiments and the involvement in the lectures, the student will be stimulated to develop his communication skills.

Descriptor 5 (ability to continue the study independently): this course aims to provide the basic knowledge of molecular spectroscopy. This knowledge can subsequently be extended autonomously to the use of more sophisticated and modern experimental devices based on the use of laser sources.

Educational objectives

The course target is to supply the student with the fundamental knowledge, principles and problems of the industrial chemistry applied to the production processes highlighting operational, economic, energy and environmental facets.
At this aim, an overview of the chemical industry structure and raw materials used is provided. The problems of safety, environmental and economic sustainability of a process are also highlighted. Furthermore, some of the most relevant organic and inorganic industrial chemical processes are described and analysed from the thermodynamic, kinetic and technological point of view.
The course will provide the student with the essential elements for the understanding of chemical and physico-chemical aspects of industrial chemical reactions. Furthermore, the student will be able to evaluate the influence on the process economy of some parameters, such as recycling, discharge, purity of raw materials and energy recovery. The acquired knowledge will allow the student to critically evaluate the cost, safety and environmental impact of a given industrial process.

Educational objectives

The course contributes to the achievement of the training objectives set out in the Manifesto of Studies of the Ist Level Degree in Chemical Sciences .
In particular, the course aims to provide students with the methodological tools (use of analysis of reaction kinetics and transport phenomena, mass and energy balances, equilibrium relationships) and basic knowledge for:
a) evaluating thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the reagent systems;
b) designing chemical reactors (homogeneous and heterogeneous) and biological reactors (dispersed biomass);
c) optimize the operating conditions of chemical and biological reactors;
d) designing and optimizing separation unit operations based on mechanical-physical properties (solid-liquid separation) or kinetic properties (membrane separations)

Students who have passed the examination will have acquired and understood (descriptor 1: acquired knowledge)

- The fundamentals of main types of chemical and biological reactors
- The fundamentals of main types of solid-liquid separation unit operations
- Methods for quantitative representation of processes and preliminary sizing of related equipment (reactors and separation operations)
- Methods for analysis of kinetic data
- Methods for fluid dynamic characterization of real reactors
- Methods for characterization of solid-liquid suspensions for the purposes of solid-liquid separation

Students who have passed the examination will be able to (descriptor 2 - acquired skills):

- Apply methods of analysis of kinetic data
- Apply methods of fluid dynamic characterization of real reactors
- Apply methods of suspension characterization for the purpose of solid-liquid separation
- Apply methods of quantitative representation of the processes for the preliminary sizing of the related equipment (reactors and separation operations)

Together with the lectures, the participation to laboratory training and the independent elaboration of written reports on the topics covered, allow to obtain the acquisition of the afore mentioned skills as well as to increase critical and judgmental abilities (descriptor 3) and the ability to communicate what has been learned (descriptor 4)

Educational objectives

1) Completion of the basic preparation provided by the previous courses of General Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry I, concerning the characteristics and properties of inorganic compounds and coordination compounds. Acquisition of the fundamental concepts and knowledge necessary for a modern description of the electronic structure of model molecules and coordination compounds, including the use of the basic concepts of group theory, and the knowledge of the experimental photoemission techniques. Achieving a basic knowledge of the properties of the elements of d and f blocks and their most significant compounds. Acquisition of knowledge of the basic concepts of nuclear chemistry and some of their applications.
2) Ability to apply the symmetry criteria deriving from group theory for the determination of the symmetry of molecules, orbitals and groups of orbitals in order to set the process necessary for the construction of molecular orbitals in simple molecules and in coordination compounds. Ability to apply the knowledge acquired in the field of chemical bond theories in order to predict, evaluate and describe the chemical and chemical-physical properties of coordination compounds based on their molecular formula. Ability to discern which basic spectroscopic technique is most suitable for the investigation of certain chemical-physical characteristics of inorganic compounds. Ability to evaluate the stability and reactivity of nuclei based on their position in the periodic table and their mass number.
3) The critical ability and autonomy of judgment on scientific topics of the course are stimulated during the lectures through the proposition of examples and conceptual exercises developed on the blackboard with direct reference to concrete situations and requiring a direct contribution from the students, who are stimulated to formulate hypotheses in response to the teacher's questions. At the same time, the ability to link different concepts is stimulated in the students by trying to emphasize the common features between the various topics of the course, so as to consolidate a logical path between the various concepts, necessary to develop a global critical vision of the proposed inorganic compounds. The course does not include laboratory exercises and written reports.
4) The students are encouraged to formulate questions and doubts to the teacher in a more detailed and precise way, so as to improve first of all the communication of what the student believes needs clarification. The ability to communicate the knowledge learned is stimulated by the teacher continuously through the description "in words" of the concepts expressed through chemical and mathematical formalism on the blackboard and the translation into examples related to concrete situations. Particular emphasis is given by the teacher in the translation in simple but at the same time rigorous terms of concepts associated with course topics.
5) In the course some conceptual tools are provided that students can use and develop autonomously in other areas of Chemistry during their training path. For example, the use of the basic concepts of group theory applied to solve problems in various types of quantum-mechanical spectroscopies and computational methods. In order to improve the ability to continue the study independently, during the course the students are recommended to read in-depth texts and complementary materials.