Fundamentals of analytical chemistry
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: Alberto TORRISIExpected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should be able to calculate the chemical composition of an aqueous solution in presence of Broensted acid-base equilibria and/or complexation equilibria and/or precipitation-solubility equilibria.
Course Structure
Lectures and numerical exercices.
Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs).
Required Prerequisites
Detailed Course Content
Introduction - Chemical equilibrium – Equilibrium constant – Factors affecting the equilibrium constant; composition, solvent, temperature. Systematic treatment of equilibrium. Mass, charge and proton balances.
Acid-base equilibria – Broensted and Lewis theories – Conjugate acid-base pair – Strength of acids and bases – Water ionic product and pH – Acidity and neutrality of an aqueous solution - Strong acids or strong bases aqueous solution; rigorous and approximate treatments; criteria and validity limits – Weak monoprotic acids or weak monoacid bases aqueous solution; dissociation degree; rigorous and approximate treatments; criteria and limits of validity – Aqueous solution containing one conjugate polyprotic acid or one polyacid base; rigorous and approximate treatments - Composition vs. pH expression; distribution plot - Aqueous solution containing a conjugate acid-base pair; rigorous and approximate treatments; buffers; buffer capability – Aqueous solution containing a conjugate polyprotic acid - polyacid base pair –– Ampholytes - Aqueous solution containing mixture of acids and bases (strong-strong, weak-strong, strong-weak, weak-weak); rigorous and approximate treatments.
Complex formation equilibria – monodentate and polydentate ligands, chelate effect, partial formation , global formation and conditional formation constants, pH influence.
Precipitation equilibria - Solubility and solubility product - Selective precipitation, gravimetry - Influence of Broensted and Lewis acid-base interaction on the solubility of salts containing monovalent and polyvalent cations and anions.
Activity - Relationship between activity and concentration – Thermodynamic and stoichiometric constants – Ionic strength – Short outline of Debye Hückel theory and its practical application on ionic equilibrium.
Volumetric methods; generality, titration graphs, end-point indicators.
- Acid-base titrations; strong acid, strong base, weak acid, weak base, polyprotic acid, polyacid base - Titration criteria - Acid-base indicators - Titration error.
- EDTA complexation titrations; pH choice, auxiliary complexing agents, indicators, titration error – Liebig titration.
- Precipitation titration: generality - Silver nitrate as precipitation agent - Visualization of titration end-point by Möhr, Volhardt and Fajans methods - Titration error.
Textbook Information
- Daniel Harris - Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 9th edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 2016
- Douglas A. Skoog, Donald M. West, F. James Holler, Stanley H. Crouch - Foundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 9th edition, Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2014
- Detailed texts of the lessons made available on Studium also containing numerous exam problems carried out.
Course Planning
Subjects | Text References | |
---|---|---|
1 | Equilibri acido-base di Broensted e relative titolazioni | PDF delle lezioni su Studium |
2 | Equilibri di solubilità e di precipitazione e titolazioni per precitazione | PDF delle lezioni su Studium |
3 | Equilibri di complessazione e relative titolazioni | PDF delle lezioni su Studium |
4 | Forza ionica e sua influenza sulle costanti di equilibrio | PDF delle lezioni su Studium |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Written test, which will act as admission to the oral examination, based on the topics covered during the course and carried out in the exercises available on Studium.
Oral examination based on questions formulated by the commission mainly on the topics considered essential but also on the remaining part of the program.
Verification of learning can also be carried out online, if the conditions require it.
Voting follows the following
scheme:
Below 18:
Knowledge and understanding of
the topic: Important deficiencies. Significant inaccuracies
Analysis and synthesis skills:
Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize
Use of references: Completely
inappropriate
18-20
Knowledge and understanding of
the topic: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections
Analysis and synthesis skills:
Just sufficient skills
Use of references: As
appropriate
21-23
Knowledge and understanding of
the topic: Routine knowledge Analysis and synthesis skills: Able to correctly
analyze and summarize. Argue logically and coherently
Using references: Use standard
references
24-26
Knowledge and understanding of
the topic: Good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills:
Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed coherently
Using references: Use standard
references
27-29
Knowledge and understanding of
the topic: More than good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills:
Has considerable analysis and synthesis skills
Use of references: He explored
the topics in depth
30-30L
Knowledge and understanding of
the topic: Excellent knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills:
Has considerable analysis and synthesis skills.
Using references: Important
insights.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Systematic treatment of an aqueous solution of a weak monoprotic acid at various dilutions.
Systematic treatment of an aqueous solution of a weak diprotic acid at various dilutions.
Systematic treatment of an aqueous solution containing an ampholyte.
Criteria for preparing a buffer solution.
Calculation of pH when titrating a weak mono- and bifunctional weak component with a strong component.
Choice of optimal conditions for titration of a cation with EDTA.
Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the factors that influence the solubility of a slightly soluble salt.
http://studium.unict.it/