Apllied Chemistry

Applied Chemistry requires to have some knowledge in chemistry related to the programs taught in secondary grade, which include the subjects described here, namely, atoms electronic distribution, chemical bonding, atomic and molecular orbitals, periodic table and elements’ properties. It is also recommended basic knowledges in mathematics.

The course comprises:

• 1 lecture of 2 hours per week where are exposed the syllabus content and applied the chemistry concepts to practical examples related to the field of Environmental Health professionals, showing to the student how to apply these concepts in problem solving;

• 1 theoretical-practice lesson of 2 hours a week, where students are invited to solve practical exercises and case studies with the support of their teacher. These exercises and case studies, related to the field of Environmental Health, can be used to clarify these phenomena from a scientific view. They are also important to develop effective analysis and problem solving skills. Use multimedia whenever appropriate.

Students can be assisted during weekly office hours, which must be requested by email. Whenever required, additional sessions will be lectured to clarify any eventual questions.

The student must acquire knowledge of:

• Chemistry and its interaction with other sciences, in particular with the area of ​​Environmental Health.

• Fundamental concepts of chemistry in order to understand and solve problems linked to the interpretation of physical-chemical phenomena.

The student must acquire skills to:

• Recognize the structure of organic molecules and prepare calculations regarding their concentrations;

• Acquire notions of chemical balance; Equilibrium constant; Particular case of acid-base balance in aqueous solution; pH scale; pH titrations and indicators;

• Identify dangerous substances and the risks associated, as well as good practices for their use under safe conditions;

The student must acquire skills to:

•  Recognize the most common chemical structures and schemes, occurring within the scope of general chemistry and organic chemistry;

• Skilfully carry out mathematical operations that allow the application of acquired knowledge to be implemented, with the analytical calculation component relating to the content taught being very important and extensive;

• Understand phenomena related to chemical equilibrium, namely acid-base equilibrium, which will help environmental health professionals to understand how natural processes occur and how pollutants interact in the environment.

The main objective is to create an interface between the chemical knowledge and phenomena taught and other disciplines that rely on them.

1. Constitution of Matter – Fundamental Concepts

2. Solutions

2.1. Concentration of solutions and the various ways of expressing it

2.2. Solution dilution

3. Nomenclature in inorganic chemistry

4. Chemical bonding in carbon compounds: electronic structure of carbon and formation of covalent bonds; atomic orbitals and hibridisation, and molecular orbitals

5. Organic Chemistry

5.1. Main families of organic compounds and their functional groups

5.2. Nomenclature of organic compounds

5.3. Isomerism

6. Chemical equilibrium

6.1. Basic notions of chemical equilibrium

6.2. Solubility equilibrium: definition and interpretation of the solubility product (Kₛ); relationship between solubility and chemical equilibrium; prediction of precipitate formation in aqueous systems

6.3. Acid-base equilibrium: relative strength of acids and bases; Ka and Kb; pH scale and buffer systems; acid-base titrations; titration curves and their interpretation; selection of pH indicators and changing colour moment

7. Chemical safety

7.1. Types and forms of chemical hazards

7.2. Classification and labelling of hazardous chemical products

7.3. Chemical compatibility and storage rules

Continuous assessment includes two written tests. Each test will be divided into two parts: one regarding the evaluation of the contents of the theoretical component and the other regarding the theoretical-practical component. Each component has a 50% weight in the final grade and a minimum classification of 9,5/20 should be observed in each component. The final grade is obtained by the weighted average of the two components – practical and theoretical - and should be equal or higher to 10 out of 20.

Students also have a normal exam time, as well as a period of appeal and special time, in the form of a written test, where they may be evaluated in the two components in the same weight as before in the continuous assessment, as Academic Regulation in force.

NAO