ITA | ENG
B030804 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS
Main information
Teaching Language
Course Content
Suggested readings
Learning Objectives
Prerequisites
Teaching Methods
Type of Assessment
Course program
Academic Year 2020-21
Coorte 2020 - Second Cycle Degree in MOLECULAR AND APPLIED BIOLOGY
Course year
First year - First Semester
Belonging Department
Biology (BIO)
Course Type
Single education field course
Scientific Area
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Credits
6
Teaching Hours
56
Teaching Term
14/09/2020 ⇒ 23/12/2020
Attendance required
No
Type of Evaluation
Final Grade
Course Content
show
Course program
show
Lectureship
Teaching Language
Italian
Course Content
Chemical Equilibrium and related Thermodynamic quantities. The
structure of water. Cooperative and non- cooperative association:
phenomenological and modeling approaches. Intermolecular forces. Molecular self-assembly in aqueous environment. Thermodynamics of living systems: organization over
different length scales. Examples from biology. Order and chaos.
Emergent structures. Numerical execerises and laboratory practice.
structure of water. Cooperative and non- cooperative association:
phenomenological and modeling approaches. Intermolecular forces. Molecular self-assembly in aqueous environment. Thermodynamics of living systems: organization over
different length scales. Examples from biology. Order and chaos.
Emergent structures. Numerical execerises and laboratory practice.
Suggested readings (Search our library's catalogue)
- P.W. Atkins, J. de Paula, “Chimica fisica biologica”, Zanichelli
- F. T. Arecchi, “Caos e complessità nel vivente” IUSS Press
- F. T. Arecchi, “Caos e complessità nel vivente” IUSS Press
Learning Objectives
This course is aimed at providing the basic termodynamic knowledge to understand the processes governing auto-organizazion in biological systems.
Examples will also include self-assembly in the application of innovative
nanosystems as carriers for bioactive molecules.
Examples will also include self-assembly in the application of innovative
nanosystems as carriers for bioactive molecules.
Prerequisites
Notions from the courses of general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, acquired for the Bachelor Dregree in Biological Sciences
Teaching Methods
Lectures and seminars. Numerical exercises solved in the class. Experimental laboratory practice.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam. Written report on the laborory experiences.
On a voluntary basis, the students will be allowed to present
a short seminar (15-20 min) during classes. This will influence the final
grade by a maximum of 2 points
On a voluntary basis, the students will be allowed to present
a short seminar (15-20 min) during classes. This will influence the final
grade by a maximum of 2 points
Course program
Fundamental concepts of thermodynamics.
Chemical equilibrium with focus on solution systems. Le Chatelier’s principle, equilibrium constant. Thermodynamic quantities (heat, work, free energy, enthalpy and entropy. Structure of liquid water. Non
cooperative assembly and related thermodynamic aspects.
Cooperative assembly: phenomenological and modeling aspects.
Intermolecular forces, free energy of solvation, entropic aspects of the assembling processes in solution. Hydrophobic interactions and selfassembly of amphiphilic in a queous environment (micelles and lyotropic phases). Introduction to the thermodynamics of living systems: organization and self-organization
over different length scales. Examples taken from physics,
chemistry and biology.
Order and chaos, entropy, probability and
information. Emergent structures.
Laboratory practice: -determination of the critical miceller concentration of two surfactants used in biology (SDS and CTAB) by conducimetry
-prepration of liposomes by two differnt methods (extrusion sonication) and their characterization by Dynamic Light Scattering
Chemical equilibrium with focus on solution systems. Le Chatelier’s principle, equilibrium constant. Thermodynamic quantities (heat, work, free energy, enthalpy and entropy. Structure of liquid water. Non
cooperative assembly and related thermodynamic aspects.
Cooperative assembly: phenomenological and modeling aspects.
Intermolecular forces, free energy of solvation, entropic aspects of the assembling processes in solution. Hydrophobic interactions and selfassembly of amphiphilic in a queous environment (micelles and lyotropic phases). Introduction to the thermodynamics of living systems: organization and self-organization
over different length scales. Examples taken from physics,
chemistry and biology.
Order and chaos, entropy, probability and
information. Emergent structures.
Laboratory practice: -determination of the critical miceller concentration of two surfactants used in biology (SDS and CTAB) by conducimetry
-prepration of liposomes by two differnt methods (extrusion sonication) and their characterization by Dynamic Light Scattering