00090 - Analytical Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The student acquires the basic knowledge of analytical chemistry and lerns the tools to critically and statistically evaluate the results obtained by analytical methods. In the laboratory practice the student delves into the use of analytical techniques to understand the theoretical concepts learned, and acquires the skills necessary to work in a chemical laboratory.

Course contents

The student is supposed to be familiar with the following topics:
General Chemistry: Chemical reactions, classification of chemical reactions, redox reactions, balancing redox reactions, solutions, electrolytes and non-electrolytes, solubility, solubilization process, activity and concentration, concentration of solutions, definition of acids and bases, acid-base systems in water, Autoprotolysis of water, acid and basic constants.
THEORY.
Introduction:
Purpose of Analytical Chemistry
The process of Analytical chemistry - basics of analytical instrumentation
Statistical processing of experimental data:
Elements of Chemometrics: Calculations and significant figures in relation to uncertainty (instrumental). Main expressions of concentration.
Average value of a data series.
Standard deviation and relative standard deviation.
Systematic and random errors.
Absolute error and relative error.
Probability distribution: Gaussian curve.
Accuracy and precision
How to measure precision and accuracy.
Propagation of uncertainty.
Limit of detection and limit of quantification
Sensitivity and analytical sensitivity
Calibration
Standards and reference materials (certified or not)
Calibration curves
Student's t test
Limits (or intervals) of trust or confidence
Ways of expressing the analysis results
Comparison between true value and average comparison between means, paired samples for comparison.
Dixon's test (or Q-test)
Correlation and regression: Method of least squares, correlation coefficient
Qualitative and quantitative analysis, selection and validation of an analytical method
Safety in the chemistry laboratory
Volumetric analysis:
Equipment and techniques of volumetric analysis, calibration of glassware
Preparation of standard solutions
Standardization of solutions
Volumetric analysis calculations
Acid-base titration: acid-base indicators. Titration curve of a strong monoprotic acid, a strong base, a weak acid with a strong monoprotic base and vice versa. Titration conditions and related errors.
Complexometric titrations. Principles and applications. Titration with EDTA. Application to the determination of water hardness.

Spectrophotometry: Definition of electromagnetic radiation. Interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter: absorption and emission, energy levels and transitions. Qualitative and quantitative aspects: absorption and emission spectra; Beer-Lambert law. Molecular absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis): principles and instrumentation. 

CALIBRATION: Calibration of glassware and automatic pipettes, expression of results (mean and standard deviation). Writing a report. 
-Acid / base titration: application to strong and weak acids, and to a real sample (vinegar). 
- Determination of water hardness by a complexometric method 
- Determination of glucose in aqueous solution by means of and end-point enzymatic method and absorption spectrophotometry

Readings/Bibliography

- Slides available at AMS Campus - AlmaDL - University of Bologna (requires authentication)

- Chimica Analitica: una Introduzione, D.A. Skoog, D.M. West, F.J. Holler, (EdiSES).

- Elementi di Chimica Analitica, Daniel C. Harris (Zanichelli Editore).

- Chimica Analitica, teoria e pratica, F.W. Fifield, D. Kealey (Zanichelli Editore).

- Chimica Analitica Quantitativa, Daniel C. Harris (Zanichelli Editore).

- Fondamenti di Chimica Analitica D.A. Skoog, D.M. West, F.J. Holler (EdiSES, S.r.l., 1998, Napoli).

Teaching methods

The course is made up of 6 credits (4 credits room lectures, 2 credits laboratory) During the lectures the topics of the course will be presented and discussed, with theoretical insights and explanatory examples. The course includes laboratory exercises, which will be illustrated during lectures. The exercises are designed to allow each student to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge of the basic analytical techniques for working in a laboratory according to quality and safety guidelines. Each student will elaborate the results obtained in the laboratory by using the statistical tools learned in the cours, and will write down reports on the exercises.

Assessment methods

Examination on the whole program. The evaluation criterion is based on the demonstration by the student to be able to use and apply the knowledge, information and cultural tools provided by the course, and on the examination and discussion of the laboratory notebook.  The topics of the examination will be in particular: - Generality of the analitical process and rules for the application to the solution of real problems - Principles of chemical equilibrium in analytical chemistry - Methods for volumetric titration - Spectrophotometric methods. The threshold of learning sufficiency is represented in particular by the demonstration of skills and critical understanding of the course topics for discussion.
The teacher is available for further clarification and to verify the level of preparation prior to examination.

Teaching tools

Projector, computer, laboratories, tools and glassware, spectrophotometers. Material: the material presented in class will be made available to the student in electronic format via the Internet. Such material should be printed and brought to class.
To get educational materials: http://campus.unibo.it/
Username and password are reserved for students enrolled at the University of Bologna.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/andrea.zattoni

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Zattoni