00090 - Analytical Chemistry

Learning outcomes

Thestudent acquiresthe basic knowledge ofanalytical chemistry and lerns the tools tocritically and statistically evaluate the resultsobtained byanalytical methods. In the laboratory practice the student delves intothe useofanalytical techniques tounderstand thetheoretical conceptslearned, and acquiresthe skillsnecessarytowork ina chemical laboratory.

Course contents

Important notice: Teaching, as further described in the "Teaching Methods" section, includes laboratory activities with mandatory attendance. Laboratory exercises and related safety regulations will be explained during the lectures. Therefore, attendance of at least 70% of the lectures is required. Those who are unable to ensure such attendance must contact the teacher before the start of class so that arrangements can be made for laboratory preparation. Without adequate preparation, it will not be possible to attend the labs.

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

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY-GENERALITIES
The analytical process (common steps of chemical analysis)
Definition of standard solution, standard blank solution, standard reference materials

STATISTICS
Classes of experimental errors
Origin of experimental errors
Correction of systematic error
Accuracy and precision (definition and useful parameters to evaluate them)
Statistical parameters for processing replicate data (s, CV%, absolute E, Er%, s of the mean)
Student-t test
Confidence interval

TITRATIONS
Chemical equivalence: equivalent point, end point, expression of chemical equivalence
Neutralization titrations: titration reaction and standard solutions
Acid base indicators: use and properties
Water hardness: definitions, units of measurement, classification
Complexometric determination of water hardness
EDTA: chemical properties and use as a titrant
Complexometric indicators: use and properties of NET

SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
Lambert-Beer's law: definitions and use for quantitative analysis
Absorbance and transmittance
Absorbance measurements: choice of wavelength, deviation from linearity
Instrumentation for spectrophotometry: sources, wavelength selectors, sample holders, detectors, materials for optics
Single and dual beam spectrophotometers


STOICHIOMETRY
Definitions of molar mass, molar concentration, percent concentration (%w/w, %v/v, %w/v)
Relationship between molarity of a solution, mass and moles of the solute, molar mass and volume of the solution.
Equation for dilution of solutions
Application of the chemical equivalence equation

LABORATORY EXERCISES 

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 on Virtuale (virtuale.unibo.it - requires authentication)

- Analytical Chemistry: an introduction, D.A. Skoog, D.M. West, F.J. Holler (Saunders College Publishing).

- Elements of Analytical Chemistry, Daniel C. Harris (W. H. Freeman).

- Principles and practice of analytical chemistry, F.W. Fifield, D. Kealey (Wiley).

- Quantitative Chimical Analysis, Daniel C. Harris (W. H. Freeman).

- Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry by Skoog and West, F.J. Holler, S.R. Crouch (Saunders College Publishing).

Teaching methods

The course is made up of 6 credits (4 credits room lectures, 2 credits laboratory with mandatory attandance) 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.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students (including all the international incoming exchange students, e.g. ERASMUS) must attend Module 1, 2 online [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio], while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme ("studiare"--"formazione obbligatoria su sicurezza e salute").

Assessment methods

Examination on the whole program, including:

• Mid-term test on statistics and stoichiometry: a 60 min written test including numerical exercises for the solution of analytical problems.
• Laboratory reports: reports on the laboratory exercises must be submitted before the date of the final test.
• Final test: a 90 written test including 3 open questions and 2 numerical exercises. The students that have passed the mid-term test will only answer the open questions in 60 minutes.

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 of the laboratory reports. The topics of the examination will be in particular: - Generality of the analytical 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: https://virtuale.unibo.it/
Access is reserved to the students enrolled on the course.

Links to further information

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

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Zattoni