Physical Chemistry I Laboratory
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The goal of the course is to combine the most significant aspects of chemical thermodynamics with didactic experiments, performed by the students in the laboratory.
Expected learning outcomes
The student becomes familiar with the principles underlying the spontaneous direction of chemical reactions; by experimental measurements he verifies the validity of thermodynamic laws. The student learns further how to treat a series of experimental data and how to prepare a report containing graphs and numerical elaborations. He will be able to work in team with his/her collegues.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Course A
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Due to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic emergency in 2019-2020, the Physical Chemistry Laboratory I course will undergo the following changes in AA 20-21.
The lectures and classroom exercises will be carried out remotely in asynchronous mode through computer recording; they will be made available to students on the ARIEL platform. The teachers will also organize synchronous, non-compulsory, telematic meetings on fixed dates during the class time. Telematic meetings are intended to allow students to ask questions and request for further information. The MSTeams platform will be used to this purpose.
The laboratory will be held in blended mode. The experiments remain those of previous years, namely: 1) Conductimetric determination of the CMC of different surfactants and of the micellization deltaG of SDS; 2) Determination of the vapor pressure of two solvents; 3) Determination of the pKa of bromocresol green by spectrophotometric methods; 4) Spectrophotometric determination of the CMC of SDS; 5) Determination of the combustion heat by means of a calorimetric bomb; 6) Determination of the iodine-iodide equilibrium constant by spectrophotometric measurements; 7) Determination of the pKa of ascorbic acid in the presence of surfactant.
Through the ARIEL platform, teachers will make available video recordings of all the 7 laboratory experiences. Each student will be required to attend 2 lab afternoons (4 hrs each), during which he/she will carry out 2 experiments among the ones indicated above, according to the indications of the teachers.
At the end of the laboratory, the student must individually produce a technical report relating to 4 experiences, which must necessarily include the 2 personally carried out by him/her, plus the adiabatic calorimetric bomb (number 2) and the determination of the vapor pressure (number 5). A template for the technical report will be made available in the ARIEL environment.
If the student is unable to attend the laboratory due to serious impediments due to the emergency situation, he/she will use the online recordings to prepare a report with 6 experiments, including the adiabatic calorimetric bomb and the determination of the vapor pressure. The remaining 4 experiments will be selected by the teachers. If not personally acquired, the data necessary to write the report will be provided by the instructors.
The lectures and classroom exercises will be carried out remotely in asynchronous mode through computer recording; they will be made available to students on the ARIEL platform. The teachers will also organize synchronous, non-compulsory, telematic meetings on fixed dates during the class time. Telematic meetings are intended to allow students to ask questions and request for further information. The MSTeams platform will be used to this purpose.
The laboratory will be held in blended mode. The experiments remain those of previous years, namely: 1) Conductimetric determination of the CMC of different surfactants and of the micellization deltaG of SDS; 2) Determination of the vapor pressure of two solvents; 3) Determination of the pKa of bromocresol green by spectrophotometric methods; 4) Spectrophotometric determination of the CMC of SDS; 5) Determination of the combustion heat by means of a calorimetric bomb; 6) Determination of the iodine-iodide equilibrium constant by spectrophotometric measurements; 7) Determination of the pKa of ascorbic acid in the presence of surfactant.
Through the ARIEL platform, teachers will make available video recordings of all the 7 laboratory experiences. Each student will be required to attend 2 lab afternoons (4 hrs each), during which he/she will carry out 2 experiments among the ones indicated above, according to the indications of the teachers.
At the end of the laboratory, the student must individually produce a technical report relating to 4 experiences, which must necessarily include the 2 personally carried out by him/her, plus the adiabatic calorimetric bomb (number 2) and the determination of the vapor pressure (number 5). A template for the technical report will be made available in the ARIEL environment.
If the student is unable to attend the laboratory due to serious impediments due to the emergency situation, he/she will use the online recordings to prepare a report with 6 experiments, including the adiabatic calorimetric bomb and the determination of the vapor pressure. The remaining 4 experiments will be selected by the teachers. If not personally acquired, the data necessary to write the report will be provided by the instructors.
Course syllabus
The properties of gases. The kinetic theory of gases. The Maxwell-Boltzman distribution. Real gases. The First Law. Work and heat. Thermochemistry. Heat capacity. The Second Law. Entropy changes of specific processes. The Third Law. Heat engines. The Helmoltz and Gibbs energies. The Gibbs-Helmoltz equation. The chemical potential. The thermodynamic description of mixtures. The Gibbs-Duhem equation. Colligative properties. Physical transformation of pure substances. Phase stability and phase transitions. The Clapeyron e Clausius-Clapeyron equations. Chemical equilibrium. The response of equilibria to pressure and temperature. The van't Hoff equation.
During the Experimental Laboratory physico-chemical parameters are determined (ΔU, ΔH, equilibrium constants, CMC of surfactants) through the elaboration of different measurements (calorimetry, spectrophotometry, conductivity, vapor tension) on the grounds of thermodynamic relations.
During the Experimental Laboratory physico-chemical parameters are determined (ΔU, ΔH, equilibrium constants, CMC of surfactants) through the elaboration of different measurements (calorimetry, spectrophotometry, conductivity, vapor tension) on the grounds of thermodynamic relations.
Prerequisites for admission
basic concepts of mathematics and physics
Teaching methods
Classroom lessons and laboratory experiments
Teaching Resources
- P. W. Atkins, J. de Paula - Physical Chemistry - 9th ed. (2011) Oxford University Press.
- Teaching material provided by the professor.
- Teaching material provided by the professor.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment method is an oral examination combined with the solution of exercises. During the exam the student discusses the laboratory experiments and the thermodynamic principles underlying the experiments.
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Laboratories: 48 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Professor:
Lo Presti Leonardo
Course B
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Due to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic emergency in 2019-2020, the Physical Chemistry Laboratory I course will undergo the following changes in AA 20-21.The lectures and classroom exercises will be carried out remotely in asynchronous mode through computer recording; they will be made available to students on the ARIEL platform. The teachers will also organize synchronous, non-compulsory, telematic meetings on fixed dates during the class time. Telematic meetings are intended to allow students to ask questions and request for further information. The MSTeams platform will be used to this purpose.
The laboratory will be held in blended mode. The experiments remain those of previous years, namely: 1) Conductimetric determination of the CMC of different surfactants and of the micellization deltaG of SDS; 2) Determination of the vapor pressure of two solvents; 3) Determination of the pKa of bromocresol green by spectrophotometric methods; 4) Spectrophotometric determination of the CMC of SDS; 5) Determination of the combustion heat by means of a calorimetric bomb; 6) Determination of the iodine-iodide equilibrium constant by spectrophotometric measurements; 7) Determination of the pKa of ascorbic acid in the presence of surfactant.
Through the ARIEL platform, teachers will make available video recordings of all the 7 laboratory experiences. Each student will be required to attend 2 lab afternoons (4 hrs each), during which he/she will carry out 2 experiments among the ones indicated above, according to the indications of the teachers. At the end of the laboratory, the student must individually produce a technical report relating to 4 experiences, which must necessarily include the 2 personally carried out by him/her, plus the adiabatic calorimetric bomb (number 2) and the determination of the vapor pressure (number 5). A template for the technical report will be made available in the ARIEL environment.
If the student is unable to attend the laboratory due to serious impediments due to the emergency situation, he/she will use the online recordings to prepare a report with 6 experiments, including the adiabatic calorimetric bomb and the determination of the vapor pressure. The remaining 4 experiments will be selected by the teachers. If not personally acquired, the data necessary to write the report will be provided by the instructors.
The laboratory will be held in blended mode. The experiments remain those of previous years, namely: 1) Conductimetric determination of the CMC of different surfactants and of the micellization deltaG of SDS; 2) Determination of the vapor pressure of two solvents; 3) Determination of the pKa of bromocresol green by spectrophotometric methods; 4) Spectrophotometric determination of the CMC of SDS; 5) Determination of the combustion heat by means of a calorimetric bomb; 6) Determination of the iodine-iodide equilibrium constant by spectrophotometric measurements; 7) Determination of the pKa of ascorbic acid in the presence of surfactant.
Through the ARIEL platform, teachers will make available video recordings of all the 7 laboratory experiences. Each student will be required to attend 2 lab afternoons (4 hrs each), during which he/she will carry out 2 experiments among the ones indicated above, according to the indications of the teachers. At the end of the laboratory, the student must individually produce a technical report relating to 4 experiences, which must necessarily include the 2 personally carried out by him/her, plus the adiabatic calorimetric bomb (number 2) and the determination of the vapor pressure (number 5). A template for the technical report will be made available in the ARIEL environment.
If the student is unable to attend the laboratory due to serious impediments due to the emergency situation, he/she will use the online recordings to prepare a report with 6 experiments, including the adiabatic calorimetric bomb and the determination of the vapor pressure. The remaining 4 experiments will be selected by the teachers. If not personally acquired, the data necessary to write the report will be provided by the instructors.
Course syllabus
The properties of gases. The kinetic theory of gases. The Maxwell-Boltzman distribution. Real gases. The First Law. Work and heat. Thermochemistry. Heat capacity. The Second Law. Entropy changes of specific processes. The Third Law. Heat engines. The Helmoltz and Gibbs energies. The Gibbs-Helmoltz equation. The chemical potential. The thermodynamic description of mixtures. The Gibbs-Duhem equation. Colligative properties. Physical transformation of pure substances. Phase stability and phase transitions. The Clapeyron e Clausius-Clapeyron equations. Chemical equilibrium. The response of equilibria to pressure and temperature. The van't Hoff equation.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic concepts of mathematics and physics
Teaching methods
The lectures and classroom exercises will be carried out remotely in asynchronous mode through computer recording; they will be made available to students on the ARIEL platform. The laboratory will be held in blended mode.
Teaching Resources
- P. W. Atkins, J. de Paula - Physical Chemistry - 9th ed. (2011) Oxford University Press.
- Teaching material provided by the professor.
- Teaching material provided by the professor.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will consist of (i) the evaluation of the laboratory report, plus written exercises, followed by an oral interview. The laboratory report will be assessed on the basis of 1) accuracy and precision of the experimental result (if the data are personally acquired); 2) Ability to critically discuss experimental problems or incorrect measurements; 3) Correctness of the statistical treatment, including the analysis of errors; 4) Ability to interpret the results in the correct thermodynamic reference framework. The mark of the report will be expressed in thirtieths and must be at least 18/30 to be admitted to the last two parts of the exam. In case of insufficient evaluation, the student must present a revised report prior enrolling the exam. Once assessed positively, it is not necessary to present the report again in case of negative evaluation of the exam.
The written test will be held in presence and will consist of the resolution of numerical exercises and multiple-choice questions, with marks in thirtieths. Only students who score at least 14/30 will be admitted to the oral exam.
The oral exam will be held electronically via the MSTeams online platform. The test involves questions on the principles of equilibrium thermodynamics dealt with in class lectures. The instructors will ask for theory, including demonstrations, to ascertain the student's reasoning ability and his/her competence to apply basic thermodynamics to chemical problems . The oral mark is expressed in thirtieths and is weighed 50% with that of the written test. The exam is considered passed if the average of the two is at least 18/30.
The final mark of the exam, expressed in thirtieths, will be given by the weighted average of the written test+oral interview (70%) and the laboratory report (30%). The maximum result (30/30 with honors) will be assigned if the average is greater than or equal to 29.5 / 30 and at least one of the three parts of the exam (lab report, written test, oral interview) has been evaluated with honors.
In case of a negative assessment, or if the student refuses the grade, the written test and the oral interview must be entirely rerun.
The written test will be held in presence and will consist of the resolution of numerical exercises and multiple-choice questions, with marks in thirtieths. Only students who score at least 14/30 will be admitted to the oral exam.
The oral exam will be held electronically via the MSTeams online platform. The test involves questions on the principles of equilibrium thermodynamics dealt with in class lectures. The instructors will ask for theory, including demonstrations, to ascertain the student's reasoning ability and his/her competence to apply basic thermodynamics to chemical problems . The oral mark is expressed in thirtieths and is weighed 50% with that of the written test. The exam is considered passed if the average of the two is at least 18/30.
The final mark of the exam, expressed in thirtieths, will be given by the weighted average of the written test+oral interview (70%) and the laboratory report (30%). The maximum result (30/30 with honors) will be assigned if the average is greater than or equal to 29.5 / 30 and at least one of the three parts of the exam (lab report, written test, oral interview) has been evaluated with honors.
In case of a negative assessment, or if the student refuses the grade, the written test and the oral interview must be entirely rerun.
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Laboratories: 48 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Professor:
Cappelletti Giuseppe
Professor(s)
Reception:
To be arrenged
Personal Office (3112, Dept of Chemistry, Third floor, Western Section)
Reception:
To be arranged by e-mail
Prof. Lo Presti Office R21S, Dept. of Chemistry, Ground Floor, South Section