CHEMISTRY AND PROPAEDEUTICS TO BIOCHEMISTRY
CHIMICA E PROPEDEUTICA BIOCHIMICA
A.Y. | Credits |
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2023/2024 | 6 |
Lecturer | Office hours for students | |
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Deborah Agostini | From Monday to Friday after appointment by mail (deborah.agostini@uniurb.it) or at the end of the lessons |
Teaching in foreign languages |
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Course with optional materials in a foreign language
English
This course is entirely taught in Italian. Study materials can be provided in the foreign language and the final exam can be taken in the foreign language. |
Assigned to the Degree Course
Date | Time | Classroom / Location |
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Date | Time | Classroom / Location |
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Learning Objectives
The course is finalized to give to students fundamental notions of chemistry essential to deal properly the study of biological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical aspects of movement and of physical exercise adaptation. Chemical concepts are proposed in a logical order, starting from atoms to molecules, and going on with solutions, acids and bases and redox reactions, with several links to everyday experience. Basic information of organic chemistry aimed to comprehension of macromolecule structures and functions are given.
Program
Atom and periodic table Subatomic particles- the modern atomic theory - The orbital model and quantic numbers - Energy and filling of the orbitals- Electronic structure of elements (with exercises) - Atomic number and mass number- atomic mass and atomic weight - Ions - Isotops - Radioactivity - Periodic table - Periodic properties of elements.
From atoms to molecules The chemical bond - Energy of bond - The octect rule and its limitations - Covalent bond - Molecule structure and Lewis formulae - Hybrid orbitals - Ionic bond - Metallic bond - Electronegativity and bonds - Molecule geometry - Resonance - Intermolecular forces - Isomerism.
Compounds, chemical reactions and stechiometry Chemical property periodicity - Hydrides and oxides - Oxidation state - What is a chemical equation - Stoichiometric coefficients and reaction balancing (with exercises) - Different types of chemical reactions - Redox reactions - Molecular weight - Mole concept - Stoichiometry (with exercises).
Energy and bioenergetic Energy concept and implications on living organisms - Enthalphy, entropy and free energy of Gibbs - Chemical kinetics - Activation energy of reaction - catalysis - Chemical equilibrium - Le Chatelier principle - Metabolism
Solutions Water properties - Solute and solvent - Properties of solutions - Calculation of the concentration of the solutions (with exercises) - The factors that influence the solubility - The osmotic pressure.
Acids, bases and salts The concept of acids and bases - The acid-base theories - The strength of acids and bases - Acid-base reactions and salt formation.
PH and buffer solutions The dissociation of water - The concept of pH and pK - Introduction to the calculation of the pH - Titration curves - Buffer solutions - Physiological buffer systems.
Organic chemistry The carbon as a central element of life - The organic molecules and the functional groups: alkanes and cycloalkanes, alkenes and alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, ethers, amines, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives.
Carbohydrates General aspects and classification - The monosaccharides - Cyclization and anomeric structures- oligosaccharides and polysaccharides - The glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans.
Lipids General aspects and classification - Fatty acids - Phosphoglycerides and sphingolipids - Terpenes and steroids - The fat-soluble vitamins - Prostaglandins.
Amino acids and proteins Amino acids - Structural levels of proteins - The peptide bond - Importance of biological proteins - Enzymes are proteins.
Nucleotides and nucleic acids Nucleotides - DNA and its structure - RNA.
Bridging Courses
No special prerequisites required
Learning Achievements (Dublin Descriptors)
Knowledge and understanding . Students must be able to describe, with adequate chemical terminology, the properties of matter, from atom to chemical bond and material composition. They should also master the concepts of oxidation reduction, pH, acids and bases, solutions, with particular attention to energy and bioenergetics. They also have to know the structure and function of macromolecules.
Applyng knowledge and understanding Student should be able to solve exercises on the electronic configuration of the elements, to be able to draw the structure of a molecule, balance a reaction, and calculate the concentration of solutions. Students should also apply the acquired concepts of general chemistry in describing the characteristics and functions of macromolecules.
Making judgements The student should be able to critically evaluate the characteristics of each molecule and apply the concepts learned in daily life and the functioning of a biological organism
Communicative skills The student must be able to express his / her knowledge of chemistry and propedeutics to biochemistry using appropriate chemical language terms..
Learning skills Students should deepen his / her knowledge in a critical manner. In this regard, the teacher will provide, in addition to the information on the texts and didactic material, indications for finding other material for study and exercises useful for the construction of an autonomous way.
Expected results will be verified by written and oral tests
Teaching Material
The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it
Supporting Activities
none
Teaching, Attendance, Course Books and Assessment
- Teaching
Frontal lessons
- Attendance
There are no frequency obligations
- Course books
Tiziana Bellini - Chimica medica e propedeutica biochimica - Zanichelli - Current edition
Who possesses previously used book (Stefani Taddei – Chimica, biochimica e biologia applicata – Zanichelli – current edition) can use it
Students can also use high school texts for study
Slides and other teaching materials are available on the moodle platform
- Assessment
The assessment involves a written and an oral test, with a rating of thirty.
The written exam will assess the knowledge and understanding, the applying knowledge and understanding and the learning skill of the student. The test involves the following parts:
Exercise on electronic configuration 2/30
Exercise on Lewis structures 2/30
Exercise on balancing a an equation of a chemical reaction 2/30
Exercise on concentration of solutions 2/30
Structure of a macromolecule 2/30
5 Multiple choice questions 1/30 each
3 open-ended questions up to 5/30 each.
The oral examination, which is taken after passing the written test, will evaluate knowledge and ability in making judgment and in communicating. In addition to being able to express the theoretical concepts outlined in the lesson, the student must demonstrate full comprehension through appropriate examples and applications to biology and everyday life. The oral test will provide a final vote that will take into account the written test
- Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.
To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.
Additional Information for Non-Attending Students
- Teaching
It is suggested to contact the teacher. The program and teaching materials are the same for both attending and non attending students
- Attendance
There are no frequency obligations
- Course books
Tiziana Bellini - Chimica medica e propedeutica biochimica - Zanichelli - Current edition
Who possesses previously used book (Stefani Taddei – Chimica, biochimica e biologia applicata – Zanichelli – current edition) can use it
Students can also use high school texts for study
Slides and other teaching materials are available on the moodle platform
- Assessment
The assessment involves a written and an oral test, with a rating of thirty.
The written exam will assess the knowledge and understanding, the applying knowledge and understanding and the learning skill of the student. The test involves the following parts:
Exercise on electronic configuration 2/30
Exercise on Lewis structures 2/30
Exercise on balancing a an equation of a chemical reaction 2/30
Exercise on concentration of solutions 2/30
Structure of a macromolecule 2/30
5 Multiple choice questions 1/30 each
3 open-ended questions up to 5/30 each.
The oral examination, which is taken after passing the written test, will evaluate knowledge and ability in making judgment and in communicating. In addition to being able to express the theoretical concepts outlined in the lesson, the student must demonstrate full comprehension through appropriate examples and applications to biology and everyday life. The oral test will provide a final vote that will take into account the written test
- Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.
To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.
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