CHIMICA R - Z

The Chemistry course aims to provide Industrial Engineering students with the fundamental skills to understand how the microscopic structure of matter determines its macroscopic properties and technological behavior. The course is not conceived as a purely theoretical discipline, but rather as an essential practical tool for addressing real-world challenges in design, material selection, and energy management.

The curriculum consistently combines theory with numerical exercises, aiming to enable students to independently quantify chemical and energy transformations. Exam topics are selected based on their direct relevance to the work of an industrial engineer: thermodynamics for studying reactions and phase changes; solid-state chemistry for understanding the structural properties of materials; and electrochemistry for analyzing wet corrosion phenomena and the operation of energy storage systems.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the methodological rigor and scientific terminology needed to interact with specialists in other fields and to approach the subsequent technological and applied courses in their study plan with the necessary preparation.

Dublin Descriptors

Knowledge and understanding

The disciplines in this field aim to equip Industrial Engineering graduates with the ability to understand and solve chemical and physico-chemical problems. By the end of the course, students must demonstrate that they have acquired fundamental theoretical knowledge of chemistry and understand its role within an engineering context. Specifically:

Solid-state and materials chemistry: Understanding chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, metallic, intermolecular) and their influence on the macroscopic properties (mechanical, electrical, thermal) of materials of engineering interest (metals, ceramics, polymers).

Solution chemistry: Understanding the laws governing solution behavior in terms of solute-solvent interactions and their influence on macroscopic properties, with particular emphasis on electrochemistry.

Crystal structure and defects: Knowledge of the main crystal lattices and lattice defects, and how these influence the plasticity and reactivity of metals.

Chemical thermodynamics and equilibria: Quantitative understanding of thermodynamic principles, reaction spontaneity criteria (ΔH, ΔS, ΔG), chemical equilibria (homogeneous and heterogeneous), and single- and multi-component phase diagrams.

Kinetics and industrial electrochemistry: In-depth understanding of the factors influencing reaction rates (transition state theory, catalysis) and the laws governing electrochemical processes (galvanic cells, electrolysis, Faraday's laws).

Applying knowledge and understanding

Graduates in Industrial Engineering will be able to:

understand and address engineering problems using appropriate terminology and formulations from the fields of mathematics, chemistry, and physical chemistry;

share and apply their knowledge within multidisciplinary work groups;

The ability to apply knowledge and understanding will be acquired through practical exercises—including multidisciplinary ones—related to course topics, complemented by individual and group study.

Assessment of acquired knowledge and the resulting evaluation will be based primarily on written tests and oral examinations.

Students will be able to use the mathematical and conceptual tools of chemistry to solve complex problems in industrial engineering:

Stoichiometry: Ability to perform quantitative calculations regarding gas-phase reactions, aqueous solution equilibria (acid-base reactions, buffer solutions, solubility equilibria), and yield calculations.

Phase diagram analysis: Ability to interpret phase diagrams (including simple binary systems and basic chemical aspects) and to apply the Gibbs phase rule and the lever rule.

Corrosion prevention and control: Ability to calculate the electromotive force of electrochemical cells (Nernst equation) and apply this knowledge to assess wet corrosion risks and determine protection methods (cathodic protection, anodic protection, coatings).

CONTRIBUTION OF THE COURSE TO THE AGENDA 2030 GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The course provides the molecular and thermodynamic foundations necessary to understand and manage the ecological transition of industrial processes and products. The integration of theoretical content with sustainability goals focuses on three specific pillars:

SDG 7 — Affordable and Clean Energy

The course addresses the fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics, redox reactions, and electrochemistry (chemical power sources, electrolysis), offering the scientific tools to meet two main targets:

Target 7.2 (Increase the share of renewable energy): Study of the chemistry of alternative energy carriers, with a particular focus on hydrogen and storage technologies.

Target 7.3 (Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency): Understanding reaction heat balances and chemical kinetics to optimize the energy efficiency of industrial and thermal processes.

SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

The study of solid-state chemistry and the structure-property relationships of materials (metallic, polymeric, ceramic, and composite) aims to ensure structural safety and durability:

Target 9.4 (Upgrade infrastructure and make industries sustainable): Focus on the physicochemical mechanisms of material degradation, with particular attention to the thermodynamics and kinetics of metal corrosion and related chemical and galvanic protection techniques to extend the lifecycle of industrial plants. SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production

Principles of Green Chemistry applied to industrial design are introduced, moving beyond the linear production model:

Target 12.4 (Environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes): Study of catalytic reactions to minimize toxic by-products and maximize process atom economy.

Target 12.5 (Reduce waste generation through recycling and reuse): Physicochemical analysis of the degradation and recyclability of polymeric materials (plastics) and metallurgical recovery processes, which are fundamental to the transition towards a circular economy.

Mid-term assessments are scheduled, which allow students to pass the exam.

The final exam consists of a written test and an oral test.

MID-TERM ASSESSMENTS

Two mid-term assessments (lasting 90 minutes each) are scheduled: one halfway through the course and one at the end. These assessments are written tests consisting of numerical exercises involving stoichiometric calculations; they may also include theoretical questions. Each question will be assigned a specific score, indicated next to the question itself. A mid-term assessment is considered passed if the score obtained is between 18 and 30 (out of 30); otherwise, the student must retake the entire test on one of the dates scheduled in the exam calendar. Passing both mid-term assessments grants exemption from the written exam. Before the test begins, the instructor will provide all necessary instructions for completing the exam successfully. Registration for the mid-term assessment is mandatory and must be completed exclusively via the Studium platform (http://studium.unict.it) by the indicated deadline.

END-OF-COURSE EXAMS

The exam consists of a written test followed by an oral test.

Registration for the written test is mandatory for each exam session and must be completed exclusively via the student portal (https://studenti.smartedu.unict.it/) by the indicated deadline. The written test is considered passed if the score obtained is at least 18/30; otherwise, the student must retake the entire test on one of the dates scheduled in the exam calendar. The oral test consists of a presentation on topics covered in the course syllabus. The final exam grade will be based on both the written and oral tests.

Assessment of learning outcomes may also be conducted online if conditions require the use of this format. In such cases, the duration of the written test may be subject to change. Assessment will be based on the accuracy and completeness of the content (as outlined in the "course syllabus"), the clarity and logical rigor of the presentation, and the ability to apply principles to practical cases.

To ensure equal opportunities and compliance with current regulations, students registered with CInAP may arrange compensatory measures and/or dispensations with the instructor, based on learning objectives and specific needs. Students may also contact the designated CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration – Services for Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) representatives for the DIEEI department: Professors Antonella Di Stefano and Arturo Pagano (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

Atomic structure.

Chemical bonding.

Thermodynamics.

Chemical reactions.

Nomenclature.

States of matter.

Solutions.

Chemical equilibrium.

Ionic equilibria in solution.

Acids and bases.

Electrochemistry.

Chemical kinetics.

Examples and models are available on the Studium portal (http://studium.unict.it).