9795443 - SCIENZE BIOMEDICHE
Module CHIMICA GENERALE E INORGANICA

This module aims to  provide basic concepts about the molecular structures and chemical properties of ions and molecules of interest to a physician. Starting from the properties of gases and aqueous solutions, the course analyzes the characteristics of acids, bases and buffers, the kinetics and equilibria of different chemical processes, the main thermodynamic parameters, the structure and chemical reactivity of molecules. At the end of the course, the basic knowledge will be provided to understand the relationships between the structures of molecules and their functions in the human body through the acquisition of basic knowledge on chemical transformations and fundamental molecular interactions. The course will therefore contribute to the training of professionals who have non-superficial knowledge of molecular structures and their chemism in order to better understand the biological and physiological processes of the human body and the alterations of these processes.

With reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to acquiring the following transversal skills:

Knowledge and understanding:

Inductive and deductive reasoning skills.

Ability to know the fundamental chemical mechanisms underlying the processes of biological and biochemical interest

Ability to know the chemical principles underlying biomedical application methodologies

Ability to apply knowledge:

Ability to apply the knowledge acquired for the description of chemical phenomena using rigorously the scientific method.

Capacity for quantitative calculation of reactants and products of chemical reactions.

Ability to recognize the main radioactive decay processes

Autonomy of judgment:

Critical reasoning skills.

Ability to identify the most suitable solutions to solve chemical problems of biomedical interest.

Communication skills:

Ability to describe in oral form, with properties of language and terminological rigor, a scientific topic, illustrating its motivations and results.

Attendance and participation in the scheduled teaching activities (lectures and exercises) will allow the student to become familiar with the representation and chemical reactivity of inorganic and organic compounds of medical interest. Teaching is held through lectures held in the classroom with the support of projected images.

 If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes with respect to what was previously stated may be introduced, in order to comply with the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus.

Basic mathematics, basic physics, basic chemistry.

Attendance (even in remote mode, based on the COVID-19 provisions) is a necessary requirement for passing and for the final exam.

Aggregation states of matter

Atoms and elemental classification

Radioactivity

Chemical bond: General concepts.

Solutions: General properties of solutions. 

 Acidity of solutions: pH. Acid-base reactions. Buffers. pH and solubility.

Redox 

Chimica, biochimica e biologia applicata (Massimo Stefani Niccolò Taddei - Zanichelli)

Chimica per le Scienze Biomediche (George I. Sackheim, Dennis D. Lehman- EdiSES)

The final exam consists of a written exam (the day of the exam is the one indicated on the official calendar and on the student portal), based on exercises similar to those addressed in the classroom during the course, and in an oral interview (date and place will be indicated by the teacher).

The exam is aimed to consider the skills acquired for the general chemistry part. Specifically, students have to solve some general chemistry problems such as calculating the pH of a given aqueous solution or describe the equilibrium constant of a reversible chemical reaction, representing the molecular structures corresponding to specific traditional names or attributed to organic and inorganic chemical compounds. 

The oral exam will consist of questions relating to the various parts of the program to ascertain the overall level of knowledge acquired by the candidate.

Criteria for awarding the final grade:

The mastery shown in the qualitative and quantitative arguments, the critical vision of the topics addressed during the course and the ability to correlate the various parts of the program will contribute in equal measure to the formulation of the final grade.

What is the atomic mass unit

What is the mole

How the molecular geometry of a molecule is defined

Types of chemical bond

What are the intermolecular interactions

What is a solution

What is osmosis

How to calculate the pH of a solution

How to prepare a buffer solution

How do you balance a redox reaction