General and Inorganic Chemistry
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the foundational knowledge necessary to approach other chemistry-related and professionalizing courses within the degree program with scientific rigor and method. Students will study the structure of the atom based on quantum mechanics principles, study the theory of intramolecular and intermolecular chemical bonding, and analyze chemical processes through balancing chemical equations and stoichiometric calculations in moles. Furthermore, students will quantitatively analyze aqueous solutions by studying: dissociation equilibria of acids and bases, buffer systems, acid-base titrations, hydrolysis reactions of inorganic salts, and electrochemical processes.
Students will acquire a solid understanding of general and inorganic chemistry topics, with specific references and applications to enological chemistry.
Students will acquire a solid understanding of general and inorganic chemistry topics, with specific references and applications to enological chemistry.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will verify the acquired competencies by solving exercises of varying difficulty levels. Additionally, some of the acquired skills, such as chemical equilibrium, solution pH, buffer solutions, acid-base titrations, and oxidation-reduction potentials, will be practically verified by students through laboratory experiments. Critical thinking abilities will be developed through collective and individual exercises and the analysis of practical laboratory cases, where students will need to describe their observations, process data, and draw conclusions that either agree or disagree with theoretical knowledge. Moreover, students will develop the ability to predict cause-and-effect correlations of chemical variations in aqueous solutions (e.g., the effect of concentration changes on the shift of a chemical equilibrium, the pH of an aqueous solution, or the redox potential).
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Inorganic compounds nomenclature; oxides, anhydrides, hydroxides, salts, hydrides, oxyacids. The atom structure and properties. Periodic table: properties
Electronic configurations, Structure of inorganic compounds, hybridization and molecular geometries. Intramolecular chemical bonds: covalent bonds, dative bond and ionic bond.
Intermolecular bonds: Van der Wals, London and hydrogen bond
Mole and Avogadro number
Chemical reactions: balance, stoichiometric calculations, limiting reagent
Aqueous solutions: molarity of a solution, dilutions
Chemical equilibrium - Le Chatelier principle - calculation of the constant by means of equilibrium concentrations (Kc). Strong acids-strong bases, weak acids-weak bases
The ionic product of the water-pH scale. PH indicators
Buffer solutions. Hydrolysis reaction. Acid-base titrations
The enthalpy and the spontaneity of a process
Oxidation states and oxidation-reduction reactions: balancing of equations with the half-reactions method.
Redox potentials. Nernst equation and galvanic cells
The general chemistry course also includes the attendance of three compulsory half-days of laboratory sessions in which experiments relating to some parts of the program will be carried out
Electronic configurations, Structure of inorganic compounds, hybridization and molecular geometries. Intramolecular chemical bonds: covalent bonds, dative bond and ionic bond.
Intermolecular bonds: Van der Wals, London and hydrogen bond
Mole and Avogadro number
Chemical reactions: balance, stoichiometric calculations, limiting reagent
Aqueous solutions: molarity of a solution, dilutions
Chemical equilibrium - Le Chatelier principle - calculation of the constant by means of equilibrium concentrations (Kc). Strong acids-strong bases, weak acids-weak bases
The ionic product of the water-pH scale. PH indicators
Buffer solutions. Hydrolysis reaction. Acid-base titrations
The enthalpy and the spontaneity of a process
Oxidation states and oxidation-reduction reactions: balancing of equations with the half-reactions method.
Redox potentials. Nernst equation and galvanic cells
The general chemistry course also includes the attendance of three compulsory half-days of laboratory sessions in which experiments relating to some parts of the program will be carried out
Prerequisites for admission
Being a basic course, there are no prerequisites other than the knowledge acquired during high school.
Teaching methods
Lectures, exercises and slides projection in classroom and the use of the Wooclap program on tablets or smartphones. Before each ongoing test, a simulation will be performed in the classroom through the resolution of exercises by the teacher. The teaching material consisting of slides and exercises on each topic of the program and the related solutions is uploaded before each lecture on the teacher's Myariel website. This teaching pathway will allow the student to achieve the expected objectives.
The teaching laboratory is mandatory and will consist of three half days of practical experiences in the teaching laboratory in Via Mangiagalli 25 in which the student will have the opportunity to experimentally verify some topics presented in class. Mandatory educational laboratory
The teaching laboratory is mandatory and will consist of three half days of practical experiences in the teaching laboratory in Via Mangiagalli 25 in which the student will have the opportunity to experimentally verify some topics presented in class. Mandatory educational laboratory
Teaching Resources
Text book:Viaggio nella Chimica EdiSES. Notes from lessons, textes and solutions of exam texts are available at http://ariel.unimi.it.
Alternatively we recommend the use of any other general chemistry text as long as it is university
Alternatively we recommend the use of any other general chemistry text as long as it is university
Assessment methods and Criteria
During the General and Inorganic Chemistry course, two written tests lasting two hours are scheduled; the first will take place halfway through the course, the second, the first week after the end of the course. Only students who have passed the first test with a mark greater than or equal to 18/30 can access the second test. To pass the exam, both tests must be sufficient, i.e. each passed with a mark greater than or equal to 18/30. The final mark will consist of the mathematics average of the two marks obtained in each ongoing test. Oral interview is not carried out. The ongoing tests are not mandatory and require registration. The typology of exam tasks consists of a variable number of exercises according to the examples shown during the classroom exercises. The score attributed to each exercise will be indicated in the exam text. For those who do not pass the ongoing tests and for those who decide a priori not to participate, the exam will consist of a single written test on the dates set within each exam session. The single test will consist of a variable number of exercises on the entire program.In each exam there will also be questions relating to the experiments.
carried out in the laboratory. The votes will be published on Ariel and recorded on Unimia.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
During the exam the student must be equipped with a calculator while the periodic table will be provided by the teacher.
carried out in the laboratory. The votes will be published on Ariel and recorded on Unimia.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
During the exam the student must be equipped with a calculator while the periodic table will be provided by the teacher.
CHIM/03 - GENERAL AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 8 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Professors:
Bellucci Maria Cristina, Brunetti Barbara
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment
V floor, building at Via Mangiagalli 25