APPLIED CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Structure of matter, atoms and chemical bonds. Solid, liquid and gas state. Solutions, colligative properties, concentrations. Chemical reactions, basic thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Main classes of inorganic compounds, acids and bases, pH. The voltaic cell.
Organic compounds: aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, amines, acids, esters, amides. Relationships between structure and properties of the molecules.
Basic understanding of the structural properties of most important biological molecules and macromolecules and relationships between structure and biological functions. Proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and their ability to perform useful functions in cells and organisms.
Structure-function relationship of biological membranes and enzymes. Enzyme kinetics. The most common metabolic pathways.
Principles that underlie the response of a cell to a given metabolic state, the controls that regulate metabolic transformations, and the diversity of metabolic processes occurring in different organs.
In the lab sessions students will work in groups of two. They will deal with four experiments involving: (i) acid-base titrations, (ii) redox reactions; (iii) starch enzymatic hydrolysis; (iv) milk protein analysis. The experiments aim at making the student familiar with some important topics (pH, oxidation-reduction, enzyme activity, proteins) and key laboratory tools (micropipette, magnetic stirrer, analytical balance, electronic pHmeter, vortex mixer, centrifuge, UV-Vis spectrophotometer).