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Basics of Chemistry

Code: 106750 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2504604 Environmental Sciences FB 1

Contact

Name:
Cristina Palet Ballus
Email:
cristina.palet@uab.cat

Teachers

Roberto Boada Romero
María Jesús Sánchez Martín

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Students must hold the basic knowledge of high school chemistry courses:

1. Periodic Table

    Concept of groups and files, and corresponding properties.

2. Expression of concentration

    Mol concept. Molarity (M), molality (m), normality (N), % in weight or volume, etc.

3. Stoichiometry of chemical reactions

    Stoichiometric calculations. Limiting reactant. Reaction efficiency (“yield”).

4. Basic concepts of chemical equilibrium

    Chemical equilibrium and equilibrium constant. Expressions of the equilibrium constant. Parameters that affect the chemical equilibrium.

5. Chemical formulation

    Inorganic and organic compounds.

6. Chemical equation equalization (“balance”)

    Non-redox reactions and redox reactions (basic concepts).

 


Objectives and Contextualisation

The general objective of the Fundamentals of Chemistry subject (which is part of Subject 3: Fundamentals of chemistry for environmental sciences, CCAA) is to put students in contact, for the first time in their Degree studies of CCAA, with the fundamental concepts of Chemistry. It is intended that the students become aware of the chemical basics that help to read into a large part of the environmental problems, mainly emphasis will be placed on aquatic environments. There will also be a brief introduction to chemical analysis, which is useful for the identification and quantification of different parameters or chemical compounds in water, soil and atmosphere.

The most specific objectives of the subject are the following:

1) To know the most relevant chemical fundamentals about the different systems in aqueous equilibrium and their application and consequences in the environment.

2) To acquire basic knowledge of the classic and current techniques used in the analysis of the main environmental compounds.

3) To develop the necessary skills to solve chemical equilibrium questions and introduce them to problem solving based on chemical analysis, if possible related to cases of environmental interest.

4) Develop the necessary skills to work in a laboratory.

 


Learning Outcomes

  1. CM05 (Competence) Determine the parameters and significant chemical magnitudes associated with environmental problems and basic practical cases in the field of chemistry.
  2. CM06 (Competence) Suitably transmit the basic chemical information associated with an environmental problem, to the general public.
  3. KM08 (Knowledge) Identify the main principles of Chemistry involved in environmental processes.
  4. KM09 (Knowledge) Identify the principles of Chemical Equilibrium and the equilibrium of water related to certain environmental processes.
  5. KM10 (Knowledge) Recognise the main methods and tools used in chemical analysis, useful for the analysis of environmental samples.
  6. KM11 (Knowledge) Recognise the most important chemical parameters in Chemistry to define, analyse and manage environmental issues.
  7. SM09 (Skill) Determine the constants and parameters of chemical parameters in water and their environmental implications.
  8. SM10 (Skill) Collect, analyse, measure and correctly represent data and observations from the field of chemistry, using the magnitudes and units associated with basic chemical concepts correctly.
  9. SM11 (Skill) Use techniques, material and tools for the chemical analysis of ssmples in the laboratory. safely.
  10. SM12 (Skill) Express yourself in scientific language suited to fundamental chemical information.

Content

Unit 1 Introduction to the Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry

Unit 2 Principles of Chemical Bonding (Lewis)

    Acids/Bases, Salts

Unit 3 Principles of Chemical Equilibrium

Unit 4 Acid/Base equilibrium

Unit 5 Solubility equilibrium

Unit 6 Complexation equilibrium

Unit 7 Oxidation-reduction (Redox) equilibrium. COD application.

Unit 8 Introduction to Chemical Analysis

    Analytical chemistry. The analytical process. Methods of analysis: classical and instrumental methods.

Unit 9 Classical methods:

    Volumetric analysis (acid/base)

Unit 10 Instrumental methods

    Analytical quality parameters. Concept of Calibration and Standards. Optical and Electrical Methods)

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Laboratory practices 14 0.56
Solving problem classes 10 0.4
Theoretical classes 29 1.16
Type: Supervised      
Tutoring 2 0.08
Type: Autonomous      
Solving problems 43 1.72
Study 48 1.92

Theory classes:
The teacher imparts the basic knowledge of the subject in the theory classes, making sure that its applicability to the resolution of problems related to the environment is clear. Although apparently the students do not have a very active participation in this type of teaching, their participation will be promoted to the maximum.
Group and/or individual activities or evidences will be carried out in the classroom and outside the classroom

Problem solving classes:
They are essential for putting into practice the knowledge acquired and knowing how to apply it to solving problems. Here it is essential that the students have a very active participation, solving (or at least trying to solve) the problems proposed before the face-to-face class.
Some problems will be developed by the students and others by the teachers on the board.
The teacher may also require the delivery of problems solved by the students for correction and evaluation.

Laboratory practices:
Laboratory practices are very important from a double perspective, on the one hand they allow students to see the application in the real world of the knowledge acquired.
On the other hand, they will allow them to acquire the experimental methodology and learn techniques that will be useful in their future professional life.
The laboratory practices are mandatory, and a lack of attendance implies a suspension from the subject.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
1st partial exam 30% 2 0.08 CM05, KM10, KM11, SM09, SM10, SM12
2nd partial exam 30% 2 0.08 CM05, KM10, KM11, SM09, SM10, SM12
Evidences 25% 0 0 CM06, KM08, KM09, SM09, SM10, SM12
Laboratory practices 15% 0 0 CM05, SM09, SM10, SM11, SM12

The overall grade of the subject will be obtained through the following weighting:

- Exams (60%)

- Evidence (25%)

- Laboratory practices (15%)

To consider the course passed, the overall grade must be equal to or higher than 5.0.

 

1. PARTIAL EXAMS (60%):

There will be two written partial exams (30% each) on the concepts of theory and problems (they eliminate subject matter).

Minimum grade of 3.5 for each partial to be able to choose to pass by partial, and thus be able to calculate the final grade weighting the different assessment activities.

In order to be weighted with the Evidence and Laboratory grade, the weighted grade of the Partial Exams must be equal to or greater than 4.0.

Otherwise, the student will have to take the retrieval assesment for the partial with a lower grade, or for both partials, if that's the case. Partials can be recovered separately. The grade of the retrieval exam will replace the previous grade in the calculation of the final grade. The grade of the partials after the retrieval must also be equal to or higher than 4.0 to be able to calculate the weighted average with the other activities.

To be able to attend the recovery, the student must have previously been assessed for continuous assessment activities that are equivalent to 2/3 of the final grade.

 

2. EVIDENCE OF LEARNING (25%):

Group and/or individual assessment or self-assessment activities will be carried out in the classroom and/or outside the classroom. Deliverable evidence can include work, problems solved in class or at home, written tests in class with or without material, etc. They can be done in theory or problems class and they can be without notice.

A minimum grade of 4.0 is required in order to be weighted with the rest of the assessment activities. If the grade is lower than 4.0, there will be no possibility of passing the subject. Anevidence not presented will have a mark of 0. If the Evidences are not presented, the student will be classified as "non-evaluable", regardless of the grade of the partial exams.

The evidence cannot be recovered.

 

3. LABORATORY PRACTICES (15%):

Laboratory practices are mandatory for everyone.

The Internship Reports (to be prepared during the internship, and to be presented at the end of each internship session) will be assessed and scored. The attitude and way of working in the laboratory will also be taken into account, and also the use of the laboratory notebook (it will be checked that an outline of the practice to be carried out is prepared in the notebook, as work prior to the practice, and the good collection of laboratory data will be reviewed). Weighting: Reports 80%, and notebook/attitude 20%.

Minimum grade to be able to make a weighted average with the other assessment activities: 5.0.

In some partial exams there may be questions related to practices.

Failure to comply with the laboratory rules will result in fail the laboratory practices assessment and therefore with the impossibility of passing the subject.

There will be a session prior to the practices to explain how it works and that will be mandatory. Your attendance will be monitored and non-attendance will mean lowering the final practice grade by 3 points.

 

Not Assessed:

It will be considered Not assessed if the number of assessment activities carried out is less than 30% of the total of those scheduled in the subject.

 

Others:

Any act of copying in any of the assessment activities will mean a zero in the subject, regardless of other disciplinary implications.

 

UNIQUE ASSESSMENT:

The laboratoy practices (15%) attendance is compulsory for everyone (see the previous section where their operation and evaluation isexplained).

Regarding the other assessment activities, students who select the single assessment will take a single exam for the entire subject (60%), and will hand in all the evidences (25%) on the same day.

If the student do not pass the 4.0 grade in the exam, will have the option to go to a retrieval exam, as long as have previously submitted the other assessment activities: the evidences and the laboratory reports.

The retrieval grade will be used to calculate the weighted final grade (provided and when the evidence exceeds 4.0 and the laboratory practice grade exceeds 5.0).

 


Bibliography

Basic bibliography:

1.- Ralph Petrucci, Wiliam Harwood, Geoffrei Herring, Química General, 10th Edició, Editorial: Prentice-Hall (Pearson), 2011. ISBN: 9788483226803

2.- Daniel C. Harris, Anàlisi química quantitativa, Translation 6th ed., Editorial: Reverté, 2006.

3.- Daniel C. Harris, Charles A. Lucy, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 10th ed., Editorial: MacMillan Learning, 2020.

4.- C. Baird, Química Ambiental, Editorial: Reverté, 2001.

5.- Manuel Silva, José Barbosa, Equilibrios iónicos y sus aplicaciones analíticas, Editorial: SINTESIS, 2002. ISBN: 9788497560252

6.- R. Chang: Química General, 9th edició, Ed. McGraw-Hill, 2007

7.- P. Atkins, L. Jones: Principios de Química, 3rd edition, Ed. Panamericana, 2006

8.- J.Casabò: Estructura atómica y enlace, Ed. Reverté, 1996

 

Solving problem books:

J.A. López Cancio. Problemas de Química. Cuestiones y ejercicios. Prentice Hall, 2000

A. Navarrete, A. Garcia. La resolución de los problemas en química. Anaya, 2004

 

Formulation:

SALES; VILARRASA. Introducció a la nomenclatura química. 5th ed. Reverté SA, 2003

 

ON-LINE BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 

QUÍMICA GENERAL. Principios y aplicacions modernas. 11th

Ralph H. Petrucci, F. Geoffrey Herring, Jeffry D. Maduray, Carey Bissonnette. Ed. Pearson, 11a ed., Madrid, 2017.

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/avjcib/alma991006206279706709

 

ANÁLISIS QUÍMICO CUANTITATIVO

Harris, Daniel C.

Spanish version translated by Dr. Vicente Berenguer Navarro (Professor of analñytical chemistry from

Universidad de Alicante) and Dr. Ángel Berenguer Murcia (doctor in chemical sciences from Universidad de Alicante)

Editorial Reverté, 2016, Third edition (sixth original edition)

ISBN 9788429194159 (PDF format)

9788429172256 (paper book)

https://elibro.net/es/ereader/uab/105686

 


Software

We will use Microsoft Excel.

 


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Spanish first semester afternoon
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed