NATURAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

This course falls within the interdisciplinary educational activities of the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Cultural Heritage Restoration and Conservation Technologies. The course offers an overview of the main classes of naturally occurring organic substances present in art objects and paintings focusing, in particular, on their chemico-physical properties. The course covers the reactivity of various classes of non-synthetic organic compounds targeting the chemical reactivity observed behind the main causes of deterioration and the associated conservation strategies.

1. Knowledge and understanding
• Identify the main classes of non-synthetic organic compounds present in art objects;
• Know the main deterioration pathways of non-synthetic organic compounds;
• Identify and understand the main conservation strategies and the relevant analytical techniques.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
• Categorize the different types of non-synthetic organic compounds based on the functional group(s) present;
• Understand and predict structure-reactivity relationships of non-synthetic organic molecules;
• Identify and classify the different deterioration pathways of non-synthetic organic molecules in art objects and the environmetal conditions promoting deterioration;
• Identify the appropriate conservation strategy and the suitable analytical techniques depending on the type of molecule(s) and art object(s) studied.

3. Judgement ability
• Critical and indipendent evaluation of course learning outcomes, including active discussion of literature examples;
• Apply the knowledge developed throughout the course to select the best analytical and conservation strategies to case studies of art objects containing natural organic compounds.

4. Communication skills
• Learning the relevant and appropriate scientific jargon, required to describe and explain the learning outcomes in a competent manner;
• Understanding the associated technical-scientific terminology and simbology and their use in the appropriate context;

5. Learning skills
• Taking notes in an autonomous manner, identifying the key concepts described in the lectures;
• Critical consultation of the suggested reference text, optional reccomended text(s) and the bibliography cited therein;
• Use the course topics for further interdisciplinary and cross-sector studies;
• Develop problem-solving abilities, regarding, in particular, art objects conservation.

Students must have previously fullfilled the Organic Chemistry learning objectives.

Oil, carbon, graphite and diamond.
Oils and natural fats.
Natural waxes,
Terpenes.
Natural resins and varnishes.
Carbohydrates and polysaccarides.
Wood.
Proteins.
Introduction to natural pigments and dyes.
Analytical methodologies for the determination of organic substances.

• Chimica Organica per Artisti e Restauratori: Sostanze Naturali, Riccardo Beninatto, Ottorino De Lucchi, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016, ISBN-13: 978-1537394497;
• Lecture notes.

An oral examination is required to verify fulfillment of learning objectives. Oral examinations will assess the level of knowledge of the course topics using of the appropriate and relevant communication skills (e.g. technical jargon, scientific terminology and symbology). Additionally, the student will identify in a critical manner the different types of natural organic compounds present in art objects, the analytical methodologies required and the relevant conservation strategies.

The course consists of taught classes. Lectures supporting material will be available through the University e-learning platform, moodle.unive.it.

Italian

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion

Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments:
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding supportservices and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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