Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

Chemistry I (2500204) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

The subject Chemistry I aims to provide students with the foundations to address relevant issues in environmental studies: knowing the structure of matter and its properties, understanding the basics of chemical equilibrium and knowing the main chemical equilibrium that occur at an environmental level: acid-base equilibrium, precipitation equilibrium and oxidation-reduction equilibrium. The learning objectives of the subject are: 1. Understand the relationship between the structure of matter and its properties 2. Understand the basic principles that regulate chemical equilibrium and apply them to environmental engineering problems 3. Understand the main chemical equilibrium that occur at an environmental level and apply them to specific environmental engineering problems

Competencies

Especific

Recognize the biological bases and foundations of the plant and animal field in engineering: notions of genetics, biochemistry and metabolism, physiology, organisms and environment, population dynamics, flows of matter and energy and changes in ecosystems, biodiversity, principles of the kinetics of microbial growth and reactor theory.

Solve mathematical problems that may arise in engineering by applying knowledge about: linear algebra, geometry, differential geometry, differential and integral calculus, optimization, ordinary differential equations.

Obtain basic knowledge about the use and programming of computers, operating systems, databases and basic numerical calculation and applied to engineering.

Manage the basic concepts about the general laws of mechanics and thermodynamics, concept of field and heat transfer, and apply them to solve engineering problems.

Apply the basic principles of general chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry and their applications in engineering.

Describe the global functioning of the planet: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, anthroposphere, biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S), soil morphology and apply it to problems related to geology, geotechnics, edaphology and climatology.

Generic

Identify, formulate and solve problems related to environmental engineering.

Apply the functions of consulting, analysis, design, calculation, project, construction, maintenance, conservation and exploitation of any action in the territory in the field of environmental engineering.

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 30h 49.75 %
Medium group 25.5h 42.29 %
Laboratory classes 4.8h 7.96 %
Self Study 89.7h

Teaching Methodology

The course consists of 4 hours per week of face-to-face classes in the classroom. Throughout the course, these sessions can be divided into general theoretical sessions (large group) and sessions with half of the students (medium group). Medium group sessions are not taught every week and will be announced in advance by the teacher responsible for the subject. General theoretical classes (large group) are dedicated to the exposition of the basic concepts and materials of the subject, presentation of examples and carrying out exercises. Medium group sessions are dedicated to problem solving and carrying out laboratory practices with simulation software, with greater interaction with the students. Practical exercises and simulated practices are carried out in order to consolidate the general and specific learning objectives. Likewise, face-to-face practices are carried out in the laboratory, which complement the theoretical sessions. These laboratory sessions allow the student to see in a practical way some of the aspects developed in the theoretical sessions. Support material in the format of a detailed teaching plan is used through the ATENEA virtual campus: contents, programming of assessment and guided learning activities and bibliography. Most classes will be taught in Spanish. The hours of exercises or practices may be taught in Spanish or Catalan, depending on the associate professor collaborating at the time. To do the practices in the laboratories you must have the following personal protective equipment (PPE): Chemical Kit (white coat + chemical gloves + protective glasses).

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

The qualification of the course is obtained from the continuous assessment grades, the objective assessment tests, and the corresponding laboratory and/or computer classroom grades. The continuous assessment will consist of submitting exercises at the end of each topic and completing a work assignment throughout the course. The continuous assessment will consist of completing questionnaires at the end of each theoretical session. These questionnaires will be completed through the Atenea platform, being open for a limited period of time on the same day as the end of the theoretical session and cannot be completed outside this period. The grading of laboratory activities, both physical and simulation, is done by answering questionnaires through Atenea; these questionnaires will evaluate the knowledge acquired during the practices and must be completed right at the end of the practices. The objective assessment tests consist of completing exams, partial (2) or final (1). The subject syllabus is divided into two parts, which will be reported in the initial session of the subject; the first partial evaluates the syllabus of the first part and the second partial evaluates the syllabus of the second part. Students who obtain a grade equal to or greater than 5 in the first partial will be exempt from this part of the syllabus and in the second partial will only be examined on the syllabus of the second part. Students who obtain a grade lower than 5 in the first partial will have to take the final exam with the entire syllabus of the subject. Attendance at the practices and submission of the laboratory report is an essential requirement for the evaluation of the subject, in ordinary or extraordinary call. The final grade of the subject corresponds to 70% objective evaluation tests, 20% continuous evaluation and 10% laboratory practices. Students who fail the regular assessment and who have regularly taken the assessment tests for the failed subject will have the option of taking a reassessment test within the period set out in the academic calendar. Students who have already passed the subject or students who have been classified as not having taken the test will not be able to take the reassessment test for a subject. The maximum grade in the event of taking the reassessment exam will be five (5.0). The non-attendance of a student called to the reassessment test, held within the set period, will not result in another test being taken at a later date. Extraordinary assessments will be carried out for those students who, due to accredited force majeure, have not been able to take any of the continuous assessment tests. These tests must be authorised by the corresponding head of studies, at the request of the professor responsible for the subject, and will be carried out within the corresponding academic period.

Test Rules

If any of the evaluation activities are not carried out in the scheduled period, the qualification of that activity will be reconciled as zero. The essential requirement to be evaluated in the course is to attend the laboratory practices and have delivered the corresponding report.

Office Hours

By appointment with the teacher responsible of the course. Lecturer in charge: Ignacio Segura Office: 104B module B1.

Bibliography

Basic