Chemistry

This course is an introduction to laboratory practices in analytical and either biochemistry or inorganic chemistry. Students develop laboratory skills, safe handling of substances, measurement, observation, and data analysis, using theory as conceptual support. 

This course introduces students to the quantitative treatment of chemical processes in aquatic systems. It includes a brief review of chemical thermodynamics and photochemistry as it applies to natural waters. Specific topics covered include acid-base chemistry, precipitation-dissolution, coordination, and redox reactions. Emphasis is on equilibrium calculations as a tool for understanding the variables that govern the chemical composition of aquatic systems and the fate of pollutants.

This course is designed to help students develop an understanding of the principles of analytical chemistry; to introduce chemometrics, chemical equilibria, methods and instrumentation of importance in chemical analysis; and to provide hands on training in analytical techniques applicable in chemical, pharmaceutical, forensic, biomedical and environmental matrices.

In this advanced research course, students are placed in small research groups of 2 students and complete research in analytical, organic, inorganic, and biochemistry. Each group is part of an active research project led by University of Alicante faculty, providing hands-on lab experience and close faculty mentorship. 

This course covers systematizing organic reactions, examining the relationship between reaction mechanisms, molecular structure, reactivity, and chemical properties.  

Topics include Structure, reactivity, and mechanism, Energetics, Kinetics and investigation of mechanism, Strengths of acids and bases, Nucleophilic Substitution at a saturated carbon atom, Carbocations, electron-deficient N and O atoms and their reactions, Electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution in aromatic systems, Electrophilic and nucleophilic addition to C=C, Nucleophilic addition to C=O,  Elimination reactions, Carbanions and their reactions, Symmetry controlled reactions. 

This course introduces the roles of chemistry in different stages of our life. Topics include: basic chemical knowledge related to life science; origin of life - essential elements, water, and proteins; growing up - food. nutrients, and hormones; medication: chemicals against diseases; messing up - narcotics, some stimulant drugs, and hallucinogens ( e g heroin. ketamine, and ecstasy); ageing; the mystery of heredity - nucleic acids and the Double Helix.

This is the associated lab course for GENERAL CHEMISTRY II. It covers semi-micro qualitative analysis of selected salts and mixtures.