C2000 Chemistry and Society

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jaromír Literák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jaromír Literák, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: Department of Chemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Knowledge of chemistry taught in socondary schools.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course offers an overview of:
history of relation of human society to chemistry and chemical industry,
applications of chemistry and chemical substances in selected fields (medicine, agriculture, etc.)
structure, properties and applications of various materials,
contribution of chemistry to a sustainable development of society.
Learning outcomes
Student should be able to:
characterize history of relation of human society to chemistry and chemical industry,
describe applications of chemical substances in medicine, agriculture and other fields,
describe properties and applications of various materials (metals, alloys, polymers)
characterize potential of chemistry to contribute to sustainable development.
Syllabus
  • 1. History of chemistry. Human society and chemical industry in a historical perspective.
  • 2. Synthetic drugs. History, salvarsan, acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, prontosil. First cytostatic drugs. Thalidomide. Antibiotics and their development. Development of new drugs and clinical trials.
  • 3. Food additives. Fragrances. Artificial sweeteners.
  • 4. Natural and synthetic polymers. Synthesis of polymers. Major classes of polymers, their properties and use. Recycling and secondary use of plastics. Plastics additives.
  • 5. Metals, alloys and their use as materials, special applications. Recycling of metals and alloys.
  • 6. Dyes and pigments.
  • 7. Petroleum, natural gas and coal. History of extraction and use. Processing of petroleum hydrocarbons. Fuels and additives. Biofuels.
  • 8. Chemistry of life and origin of life. Genetic code, nucleic acids, proteins, enzymes.
  • 9. Pesticides, history, chlorinated pesticides, organophosphates, carbamates, neonicotinoids. Herbicides. Dioxines. Chemical weapons.
  • 10. Organic environmental pollutants. Freons. Flame retardants. Detergents. PAHs. Perfluorinated organic compounds. Inorganic pollutants. International environmental treaties..
  • 11.Chemical storage of electric power, fuel cells. Dye-sensitized solar cell.
  • 12. Radioactivity. History and development. Applications of radionuclides. Fission and fusion nuclear reactions and their use. Nuclear power plants, nuclear waste. Legislation and nuclear safety.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Michael F. Ashby: Materials and the Environment, Elsevier 2009. ISBN 978-1-85617-608-8
  • Ted Lister: Cutting edge chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry 2000, ISBN 0-85404-914-2
Teaching methods
Lecture.
Assessment methods
Final written examination.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2019/C2000