Chemistry

Chemistry and microphysics, i.e. all the processes that occur at microscopic scales where quantum effects are predominant, are fundamental to understanding how stars and planets form, and how life originated from the extreme conditions of the interstellar medium. The Astrochemistry course has the following objectives: i) to provide the physical background necessary to understand the subject of study of astrochemistry, ii) to introduce the chemical processes that occur under the extreme conditions of density and temperature of the interstellar medium: gas phase processes, surface chemistry (catalytic processes), and radiation-induced processes, iii) provide the theoretical, experimental, and computational tools to study the chemistry of the interstellar medium. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the fundamental concepts of astrochemistry at both microscopic and macroscopic scales (descriptor 1) and to have the basis to start doing research in this interdiscipline by identifying the main problems and sought out possible solutions (descriptor 2 and 4). Furthermore, the ability of analysis and logical coherence in the presentation or related topics and the student's ability to communicate in an appropriate language within the discipline context (descriptors 3 and 4) will also be evaluated through discussions and presentations in the classroom.