Lecturer: Armando Buttafava  

Course name: Chimica
Course code: 500130
Degree course: Ingegneria Meccatronica, Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e il Territorio
Disciplinary field of science: CHIM/07
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The objective of the course is to provide the essential notions relative to the understanding of the environment phenomena, the chemical bases of the environmental technologies and the structure and properties of the materials.

Course programme

Chemical classification of matter and chemical equations
Atomic symbols, atomic number and mass number, isotopes, ions; elements and compounds; periodic table and periodic behaviour of physical quantities. Atomic mass, mole, chemical reactions, chemical equations and their balancing.

Atomic structure and chemical bonds
Wave-particle dualism and quantum-mechanical model of atom; orbital shells, quantum numbers, Hund rule and Pauli principle, electronic configurations, periodic properties. Ionic bond, covalent bond, Lewis structures, bond length and energy, electronegativity; shape of orbitals, shape of molecules, polarity; elements of molecular orbitals theory and metallic bond.

States of matter
Properties of gases, ideal gas law, partial pressures and Dalton law, molecular kinetics theory, real gases. Intermolecular forces, liquid state, vapour tension, melting and boiling points. Solid state: metallic, ionic, covalent and molecular crystals.

Chemical thermodynamic, chemical equilibrium and kinetics.
Heat and energy, first principle of thermodynamics, state functions, enthalpy of reaction, standard states, Hess law, enthalpy of formation. Spontaneous processes, entropy and third principles of thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy, relationship between free energy and equilibrium constant. Equilibrium constant, reaction quotient, effect of temperature, Le Châtelier principle. Elements of chemical kinetic.

Solutions
Molarity and other means of reporting concentration in solution. Colligative properties, osmotic pressure. Solubility. Properties of acids and bases, Brønsted-Lowry definition. dissociation of water, pH, strength of acids and bases, anphoteric compounds, buffer solutions, titration curves, indicators.

Phase equilibria and state diagrams.
State diagram of water. Specific for Ing. Meccatronica: Single and binary state diagrams: eutectic, solid solution; partial solid solution.

Electrochemistry.
Galvanic cells, standard electrode potentials, the electromotive force, electrolytic cells, Nernst equation, storage batteries, electrolysis of aqueous solutions. Basic aspects of metal corrosion.

Overview on the applied chemistry.
Inorganic and organic compounds of specific interest. Polymers. Specific for Ing. per l'Ambiente e il Territorio: chemical bases of environmental technologies, elements of environmental organic chemistry.

Course entry requirements

Knowledge of basic mathematics.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 30
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 30
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

Testing and exams

The exam consists of a written test. Oral examination is optional.