Corso di laurea in Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche

Fundamental aspects of chemistry, matematics and physics

Analitical, inorganic, organic chemistry, material chemistry, industrial
processes

The course gives the basic principles which govern the  properties and the behaviour of the matter, by means of  macroscopic and microscopic approaches. the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to solve chemical problems. In particular, the student will be able to correlate the experimental results with the suitable theory.

More in detail, the course gives the rudiments of the classical thermodynamics. It introduces the concept of state function,starting from the fundamental laws; it introduces the thermodynamic potentials and the relationships among them; it gives the general conditions of naturality and equilibrium in closed systems. The course describes the thermodynamic properties of gaseous, liquid and solid systems; it draws the specific conditions of phase and reactions equilibrium; it gives the ability to read the phase diagramms. It shows the properties of the electrolytes.

Knowledge of the fundamental equations of thermodynamics, ability to solve a thermodynamic problem. Knowledge of the solutions properties, of  the conditions of the phase and equilibrium reactions and how they depend on the physical and chemical variables. Ability to read the phase diagramms and more in detail the isobaric sections that describe the equilibria: liquid-vapour, liquid-solid and solid-solid.

The course is based on frontal lessons for a total of 7 CFU (56 hours) and  exercises for a total of 1 CFU (16 hours). The attendance is highly recommended.

Written 

The written exam will be made of exercises and questions ranging from 6 to 8, according to the different complexity. The available time is about 4 hour. It will be assessed the ability to state a problem (by means of the right equation), the ability to elaborate the data(by making correctly the calculations with the right measurements units, the ability to explain and discuss the obtained data. The valutation will be made in thirtieths.

Fundamentals of Thermodynamics
Introduction. Macroscopic properties, equilibrium states, state equations
and state functions
The zeroth law and empirical temperature; the ideal-gas temperature
scale.
Ideal gas properties: the ideal-gas pVT equation, the gas kinetic theory.
Real gases: virial and van der Waals equations, Boyle temperature,
critical constants, law of the corresponding states.
The first law: heat, work and the concepts of internal energy, enthalpy,
and heat capacities.
Reversibility and irreversibility The second law: entropy and
thermodynamic temperature,. The Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies.
The four Gibbs equations in a closed system.
The spontaneity and equilibrium conditions in a closed system.
The third law.
Chemical Thermodynamics
One-component system: chemical potential, phase equilibrium
conditions, number of degrees of freedom, phase diagrams. Two-phase
equilibrium curves and the Clapeyron equation. Liquid-vapour and solidvapour
curves and the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. The critical point.
Order of the phase transitions.
Homogeneous mixtures: mixing quantities and partial molar quantities,
the chemical potentials. The chemical reaction: the spontaneity and
equilibrium conditions. Heterogeneous mixtures: the chemical potentials,
phase equilibrium and reaction equilibrium contitions, the phase rule.
Gaseous mixtures: ideal gas mixtures; real gas mixtures and Lewis-
Randall approximation. Chemical reactions in gas phase: standard
reaction quantities and equilibrium constants. Temperature and pressure
dependence of the equilibrium constants.
Condensed homogeneous mixtures: ideal and non-ideal systems, relative
activities and activity coefficients. Excess functions: the enthalpic and
entropic contributions. Ideally dilute solutions. The conventions for the
reference states in the condensed mixtures. Colligative properties.
Methods for determining activity coefficients. The osmotic coefficient.
Chemical reactions in condensed phase.
Two-component phase diagrams. Liquid-vapour equilibrium: zeotropes,
azeotropes and distillation. Miscibility gaps and liquid-liquid equilibrium.
Liquid-solid and solid-solid equilibrium: peritectic and eutectic systems.
Strong electrolyte solutions: chemical potential and mean ionic activity
coefficient, and methods for its determination. Debye - Huckel theory and
the limiting law.

• Lecture notes of the teacher are available on the website of the course.
• Although a specific text is not required, further in-depth studies need to refer to some fundamental books including:1) P. W. Atkins - CHIMICA FISICA, Zanichelli (IV o V edizione).2) I. N. Levine - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY – McGraw-Hill International Editions. Chemistry Series. 3) G.K. Vemulapalli - CHIMICA FISICA, EdiSES. All are available at the library.

Attendance is strongly suggested.