General and organic chemistry - Prof. Marco Chiarini - a.a. 2025/2026
Topic outline
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Student reception
It will be both in person and remotely by making an appointment via email.
The teacher can be contacted at mchiarini@unite.it.
Last modified October 13, 2025
In 1994 he obtained the “Laurea” in Chemistry at the l'Università degli Studi di Camerino, and, subsequently the Abilitation to the Chemical Profession.
In the period 1994-1995 he was Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry of the l'Università degli Studi di Camerino.
In the period 1996-1999 he was a Ph.D. student in “Chemistry Science”. He discussed his PhD thesis in Chemical Science (title: "Nucleophiles competition on the surface of micellar aggregates and synthetic applications”) the 31st March 2000.
In the period 1998-2006 he worked at GNO (Gallium Neutrino Observatory) experiment. This experiment is the successor project of GALLEX; the aim of GNO is to monitor the low energy part of the solar neutrino flux with a radiochemical detector at LNGS (Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso).
From May 2001 to September 2002, he was post-doc researcher at the University of California at Santa Barbara in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (supervisor Prof. Clifford A. Bunton). In this period, he investigated new approaches to decontamination of chemical warfare agents.
In 2004 he became Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food Agriculture and Environment of the university of Teramo.
Required skillsBasic knowledge of mathematics is recommended (e.g. powers, logarithms, equations of first and second degree, scientific/ exponential notation, equivalences, multiples and submultiples).
Module's Goals
- Knowledge and understanding
It is expected that the student will acquire knowledge of the basic concepts of general chemistry and organic chemistry, in particular atomic structure, chemical bonding and molecular geometry. In addition, the student will be expected to know the properties of all states of matter, the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of chemical transformations, the laws of chemical equilibrium and the reactivity of organic molecules.
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- Applying knowledge and understanding
It is expected that the student will be able to utilise the knowledge they have acquired in the field of chemistry to describe the fundamental properties and behaviour of biological molecules.
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- Making judgements:
The resolution of chemical problems will enable students to develop the capacity to analyse the provided data and formulate a specific scenario. Chief among these competencies is the ability to evaluate the outcomes, thereby ascertaining their practical significance. The acquisition of this skill is of paramount importance for the execution of experimental work.
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- Communication skills:
The student will have acquired the ability to utilise the relevant scientific terminology for effective communication concerning chemical aspects, and concurrently will have obtained the capacity to elucidate fundamental chemical concepts, including complex ones, in a straightforward and precise manner. The accessibility of the teaching material in electronic format, in conjunction with the communications pertaining to the course provided via the website, will have encouraged the employment of all technical and computerised methods and tools for the management of communication. Furthermore, students are strongly encouraged to engage in collaborative efforts with their peers and instructors to comprehend and resolve the exercises conducted in the classroom setting.
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- Learning skills
The student will have acquired fundamental introductory knowledge and will therefore have developed the ability to learn and understand specific topics that will be addressed in the subsequent courses (both basic and characterising). These courses will involve knowledge of basic chemistry and organic chemistry.
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GENERAL CHEMISTRY
UNIT 1: Structure of matter and properties of states of matter (1 CFU)
1.1: Atomic structure
Atomic structure of matter: protons, neutrons, electrons. Atomic number and mass number. Isotopes. Atomic mass unit.
Electronic configuration of atoms: Pauli principle, Aufbau principle, Hund''s rule.
Periodic system of elements: metals, non-metals, semi-metals. Major groups and valence electrons. Periodic properties: atomic radius, ionisation potential, electronic affinity, electronegativity.
1.2: The chemical bond
Ionic bonding, covalent bonding, polar covalent bonding and dative bonding. Metal bonding. Simple and multiple bonds, and bonds.
1.3: Molecular structure and geometry
Lewis structures. VSEPR theory. Polarity of molecules.
1.4: Elements, compounds and nomenclature
Metals and non-metals: cations and anions. Salts of hydracids, hydrides. Oxides and anhydrides, hydroxides and oxoacids. Salts of oxyacids, acid salts; Mole concept.
1.5: States of aggregation of matter
Intermolecular forces: van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding.
Solid state: crystalline solids and amorphous solids. Ionic, molecular, covalent, metallic solids.
Liquid state: evaporation process, vapour pressure, boiling point, surface tension.
Gaseous state: pressure, volume and temperature. Empirical laws of gases. Equation of state of ideal gases. Gaseous mixtures: partial pressure and Dalton''s law.
CLASSROOM EXERCISES:
1.1) Electronic structure and periodic properties
1.2) Molecular geometry
1.3) Nomenclature of compounds
1.4) Laws of gases
UNIT 2: Laws of Transformations of Matter (1 CFU)
2.1: Chemical thermodynamics
System and environment. Functions of state. Enthalpy: exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy of standard formation, Hess'' law. Entropy. Free energy: criteria for spontaneity of a reaction.
2.2: Chemical equilibrium
Reversible reactions. Dynamic equilibrium. Law of mass action: equilibrium constants Kc and Kp. Heterogeneous equilibria. Reaction quotient. Mixture compositions at equilibrium. Le Châtelier principle.
2.3: Chemical kinetics
Reaction speed: instantaneous speed, initial speed. Dependence of reaction speed on concentration: kinetic laws and kinetic constant. Effect of temperature on reaction speed: activation energy. Collision theory (outline). Catalysts.
CLASSROOM EXERCISES:
2.1) Thermodynamics
2.2) Chemical equilibrium
2.3) Chemical kineticsORGANIC CHEMISTRY
UNIT 3: Functional Groups (1 CFU)
3.1: Compounds in organic chemistry
The classification of organic compounds according to molecular structure. The classification of organic compounds according to functional groups; IUPAC nomenclature rules for organic compounds.
3.2: Stereoisomers
Chirality and enantiomers. The asymmetric carbon atom. The configuration and the R,S convention. The E,Z convention for cis-trans isomers. The properties of enantiomers, biochemical consequences. Fischer projections. The diastereomers. The meso compounds.
3.3: Alcohols, phenols, thiols, amines
The hydrogen bond. Acidity and basicity.
3.4: Aldehydes and ketones
The carbonyl. The nucleophilic addition to carbonyl. Addition of alcohols: formation of hydrates, hemiacetals and acetals. The keto-enol tautomerism. The enolate ion. The aldolic condensation.
3.5: Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
Carboxylic acids: acid-base properties. Esters: preparation of esters; lactones; saponification of esters. Amides: preparation of amides; lactams; comparison of basicity and acidity of amines and amides.
CLASSROOM EXERCISES:
3.1) Application of IUPAC nomenclature rules for organic compounds.
3.2) Physical properties of organic compounds.
UNIT 4: The Chemistry of Major Biomolecules (2 CFU)
4.1: Heterocyclic compounds
The bonds and basicity of pyridine. Pyridine derivatives of biological interest. Other hexatomic heterocyclics (quinoline, pyrimidine and pyrimidine bases). Penta atomic heterocycles (furan, pyrrole, thiophene, imidazole). Indoles and purines.
4.2: Carbohydrates
Definition and classification. Monosaccharides. Chirality in monosaccharides. Fischer projections and D and L sugars. The cyclic hemiacetals structures of monosaccharides. Haworth projections, mutarotation. Pyranoses and Furanoses structures. Polysaccharides.
4.3: Lipids
Triglycerides. Fats and oils. Saponification of fats and oils. Phospholipids. Waxes. steroids and vitamins.
4.4: Amino Acids, Peptides and Nucleic Acids
Natural amino acids. The acid-base properties of amino acids. Peptides. Nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids. Nitrogenous bases and their complementarity.
CLASSROOM EXERCISES:
4.1) Structure of molecules of biological interestTeaching methods
Teaching is delivered through theoretical lectures in the classroom, presented in the form of PowerPoint presentations and through interactive teaching methods. Students will also have access, on the e-learning platform, to teaching materials that will guide them in studying and understanding all the topics covered during the lessons; the self-assessment tests provided at the end of each teaching unit allow students to check their learning level. Additionally, project work, problem-solving activities, and case studies are planned, also through the use of innovative teaching technologies (Moodle, software, videos, and Wooclap). While attendance at classes is not mandatory, we strongly recommend it.
Course booksGeneral, Organic, and Biochemistry: 2025 Release ISE
ISBN-13: 978-1264984510 By Katherine J. Denniston, Danae Quirk, Joseph J. Topping, Robert L. CaretFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 8th edition
John E. McMurry, David S. Ballantine, Carl A. Hoeger, Virginia E. Peterson
ISBN-13: 978-1292123462 Published by Pearson (Published 2017)
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Chemical Principles
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https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/product/Chemical-Principles/p/1319137989
https://www.lafeltrinelli.it/chemical-principles-quest-for-insight-libro-inglese-vari/e/9781319498498?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17182894279Organic Chemistry
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Intermediate testsDates to be determined
Verification of learning
The integrated teaching Principles of Chemistry and Chemistry Laboratory consists of two modules: GENERAL AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and BASIC CHEMICAL METHODOLOGIES LABORATORY.
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To pass the examination, it is necessary to demonstrate adequate knowledge of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry. This will be achieved by means of dedicated tests that will cover content related to the modules GENERAL AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and BASIC CHEMICAL METHODOLOGIES LABORATORY.
Upon student request the tests for the two modules can be carried out on different dates. The final grade will be the average of the two modules' marks and will be given after the completion of both modules.Because Principles of Chemistry and Chemistry Laboratory is an integrated teaching, the final exam will be realized and shared among the course teachers.
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Module GENERAL AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY:
The examination comprises two components: a written test and an oral test. The written test focuses on the concepts covered during the lectures and comprises open-ended questions on the theoretical part and calculation questions relating to the applications of the theoretical concepts. The oral test aims to verify the understanding of the fundamental concepts, and the elaboration and generalisation of the knowledge acquired. Access to the oral test is only possible after passing the written test. There are two intermediate tests, which, if passed, replace the written test.
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FileIntroduction File
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FileLecture 01 File
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FileLecture 02 File
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FileLecture 03 File
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FileLecture 04 File
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FileLecture 05 File
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FileLecture 06 File
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2: Atoms and the Periodic Table
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3: Ionic Compounds
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4: Molecular Compounds
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6: Chemical Reactions - Mole and Mass Relationships