General concepts on the carbon atom, organic acids and bases, nucleophiles and electrophiles. Alkanes and cycloalkanes. Alkenes. Terpenes. Conjugated derivatives. Alkynes. Aromatic compounds. Stereochemistry and chirality. Alogenoalkanes. Alcohols, phenols and ethers. Amines. Aldehydes and ketones. Carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Polyfunctional compounds. Carbohydrates and polysaccharides. Lignin. Hints on proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
John McMurry "Fondamenti di Chimica Organica" Ed. Zanichelli
W.H. Brown, M.K. Campbell, S. O. Farrel "Elementi di Chimica Organica" EdiSES
P.Y. Bruice "Elementi di Chimica Organica" EdiSES
Learning Objectives
Comprehension of the basic concepts regarding the properties and reactivity of organic molecules and their diffusion in nature.
Expertise on the main reactions of organic molecules on the basis of their functional groups and main reaction mechanisms.
Prerequisites
Recommended courses: General Chemistry
Teaching Methods
Credits: 3
Number of course hours : 75 ( = 3 x 25)
Number of hours for private study and other individual learning activities: 51
Number of hours for the activities in the classroom: 24
Further information
Attendance of lessons: although not mandatory, it is strongly recommended .
Teaching tools: on-line course on the Moodle platform (http://el.unifi.it/) where students may download material screened (to register a password is required).
Type of Assessment
Exam modality: Written test, plus optional oral examination.
Examination details: the written test involves exercises covering the whole program of the course (e.g. recognition of functional groups, nomenclature and stereochemistry, reactions, biological molecules). The oral part consists in a correction of the written test and an eventual deepening of some key topics. Evaluation parameters: learning verification, critical reasoning skills, expertise in the use of specialized vocabulary.
Course program
The carbon atom in the periodic table of the elements: atomic number, electron configuration, electronegativity, oxidation numbers. Definition of acid and base according to Brønsted-Lowry and Lewis. Meaning of nucleophile and electrophile. Concept of formal charge. Introduction to organic functional groups. Alkanes and cycloalkanes: IUPAC nomenclature and common names for linear and branched alkanes; chemical-physical characteristics. Alkenes, alkynes, benzene and aromatic compounds: nomenclature, structure, and reactivity. Electrophilic addition and electrophilic aromatic substitution. Conjugated systems. Isomerism, stereochemistry and chirality: enantiomers and diastereomers. Halogenoalkanes: nomenclature, structure, and reactivity. Nucleophilic substitutions. Alcohols, phenols, ethers and amines: nomenclature, structure, and reactivity. Aldehydes and ketones: nomenclature, structure, and reactivity. Nucleophilic additions. Acetals and hemiacetals. Carboxylic acids and their derivatives (acyclic halides, amides, anhydrides, esters): nomenclature, structure, and reactivity. Nucleophilic acyl substitution. Carbohydrates: mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides. Cellulose and hemicellulose. Lignin. Hints on amino acids, peptides and proteins; lipids and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).