00088 - Chemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has a preparation that allows him to know: a) the basic notions of general chemistry b) the relationships between molecular structure and biological role of the main compounds present in the human body and common nutritional factors c) the principles by which these compounds can interact with each other and modify themselves to allow cells to perform basic and specialized functions. In particular, the student is able to: know the properties of water, solutions, acids, bases and salts, with particular reference to the inorganic and crystalline structures present in dental tissues; identify the chemical properties, structural characteristics, molecular organization and spatial orientation of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, relating them to the main biological functions that they perform in the human body and, in particular, in dental tissues; interpret cellular energy production processes by referring them to the laws of thermodynamics; know the principles that regulate the mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis; use the knowledge acquired to define and interpret the biochemical and molecular bases of some important physiological and pathophysiological processes that concern the stomatognathic system.

Course contents

Periodic table and periodic properties

Periodic table of elements and its properties.
Ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity and metallic character.

Chemical bonds and intermolecular interactions

Ionic bond. Properties of ionic compounds.
Lewis notation. Octet rule.
Pure covalent, dative and coordination bond.
The metallic bond.
Minimal, molecular and structural formulas.
Weak and intermolecular bonds. Dipoles and van der Waals, dispersion and repulsion forces.
Ionic strength. Polar, apolar, hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphipathic molecules.
Hydrogen bonding.

Principles of thermodynamics

Thermodynamic systems and external environment.
First and second laws of thermodynamics.
Enthalpy. Exo- and endothermic reactions.
Entropy and free energy.
Spontaneous, irreversible, equilibrium, exergonic and endergonic processes.

Reactions, kinetics and chemical equilibrium

Stoichiometric equation.
Kinetics of chemical reactions.
Collision theory and steric effect.
Activation energy and theory of the activated complex.
Speed constants. Reaction order.
Michaelis-Menten equation of enzyme kinetics.
Homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical equilibrium.
Equilibrium constant. Factors influencing chemical balance. Law of mass action. Le Chatelier principle. Arrhenius equation.
Catalysts.
Free energy of reaction. Van't Hoff isotherm equation.

Solutions and colligative properties

Solubility concept.
Influence of pressure and temperature on solubility. Henry's Law.
Concentration measurements.
Osmosis phenomenon, osmolarity and osmotic pressure.

Acids, bases and salts

Dissociation and ionic product of water.
Definition and strength of acids and bases. Ka and Kb constants.
pH concept and calculation formulas.
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Mono- and polyprotic acids.
Buffer solutions. Phosphate and bicarbonate buffer.
Neutralization.
Molar solubility, ionic and solubility product. Slightly soluble salts. Factors that modify the solubility of salts. Common ion.

Electrochemistry

Electrolyte solutions and electrical conductivity.
Electric potential, electromotive force. Galvanic batteries or cells.
Hydrogen electrode. Standard reduction potential.
Nernst equation. Electrolysis. Accumulators.

Organic compounds

Electronic configuration of carbon and stereochemistry.
Aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkanes and cycloalkanes.
Unsaturated hydrocarbons, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic compounds. Resonance. Heterocyclic aromatic compounds.
Structure and properties of the main classes of monofunctional compounds: halides, alcohols, enols and phenols, thioalcohols, ethers and thioethers, amines, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives.
Constitutional isomers. Stereoisomers. Chirality, enantiomerism and stereoisomerism. Geometric (cis-trans) and conformational isomers.
Organic kinetic mechanisms. Elimination reactions. Addition reactions. Replacement reactions.

Biological macromolecules

Aldose and ketose monosaccharides. Derivatives of monosaccharides: esters, acids, amino sugars. Linear and cyclic structures of monosaccharides. The anomers. The glycosidic bond.
Disaccharides and polysaccharides. Glycosaminoglycans.
Saturated, unsaturated and essential fatty acids. Triglycerides.
Glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids. Cholesterol.
Amino acids: classification, chemical structure and acid-base properties. Titration of amino acids
Peptides and proteins: general characteristics; the 4 levels of protein organization. Denaturation and folding.
Heme proteins: structure and functionality of hemoglobin and myoglobins.

Readings/Bibliography

PowerPoint presentations supplemented by personal notes can provide useful support for studying the subject. It is suggested to combine the aforementioned material with chemistry and biochemistry textbooks (in the latter case with the possibility that the same can be used for the biochemistry course).

The recommended books are the following:

• Denniston, Topping, Quirk Dorr, Caret
  CHIMICA GENERALE, CHIMICA ORGANICA, PROPEDEUTICA BIOCHIMICA
  Ed. Mc Graw Hill ISBN 978883869729-6

• Nelson, Cox
  PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHNINGER
  Ed. Zanichelli ISBN 9788808920690

• D'Andrea
  BIOCHIMICA ESSENZIALE
  Ed. EdiSES ISBN 978887959953-5

• Bettelheim, Brown, Campbell, Farrell, Torres
  CHIMICA E PROPEDEUTICA BIOCHIMICA
  Ed. EdiSES ISBN 978887959841-5

• Devlin
  BIOCHIMICA CON ASPETTI CLINICI
  Ed. EdiSES ISBN 978887959675-6

In the first lessons of the course, information will be provided on the chapters of the various books to refer to for the study.

Teaching methods

Class power-point presentations, available in advance.

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the course contents is based on a final exam. The final exam consists of a single written exam with open-ended questions, lasting approximately two hours.


The validity of a positive exam will be 1 year from the date of the exam; after this deadline the result achieved and not confirmed will lapse.

If a student decides to take the exam again, regardless of the associated result, the result obtained in the previous exam will automatically be cancelled. The exam can be repeated in any exam session.

Teaching tools

All lessons will be supported by Power-Point presentations, made available before the lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Michele Di Foggia

See the website of Valentina Del Dotto