Course detail

Building Materials Chemistry

FAST-BCA003Acad. year: 2025/2026

Present state-of the-art and development of laboratory methods. Special requirements on capability of testing laboratory, bill of credit.
Organization and dislocation of testing laboratory. Sampling and preparation of the samples for analysis. Molar composition, mol, mixtures and calculations of their composition, ways of expressing composition of solutions and mixtures of solids.
Theoretical principles of classic quantitative analysis, gravimetric analysis, titrimetric analysis, neutralization analysis, oxidimetry, reduktometry, complexometry, mercurimetry, argentometry and their application in analysis of building materials. Classical silicate analysis, utilization in testing laboratory in the building industry. Testing of mixing water and aggressive impact water. Theoretical principles of physico-chemical laboratory methods (optical, electroanalytical) and their utilization in building industry. X-ray diffraction analysis. Errors of chemical determinations, processing and interpretation of test results.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. RNDr. Pavel Rovnaník, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Chemistry (CHE)

Entry knowledge

Basics of general and inorganic chemistry, chemical composition of building materials, chemical calculations and nomenclature.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The subject exam is oral. During the exam, the student must demonstrate an understanding of the given subject. The evaluation corresponds to the ECTS system.


Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Aims

Subject is focused on acquiring knowledge of present state of laboratory testing methods, processing and interpretation of test results.

Student will be able to analyse basic components building material and binders. He/she will manage to process and analyse resuts obtained from these chemical analysis.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Pištěková M. Chemie stavebních látek - opory pro kombinované studium, Fakulta stavební VUT, Brno, 2007. (CS)

Recommended reading

Higson S. P. J. Analytical chemistry, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006. (EN)
Holzbecher Z. a kol. Analytická chemie, SNTL/ALFA, Praha, 1987. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SI Bachelor's

    specialization M , 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Pavel Rovnaník, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1. Present state-of the-art and development of laboratory methods. Special requirements on capability of testing laboratory, bill of credit.
  • 2. Organization and dislocation of testing laboratory. Separation techniques. Mixtures and calculations of their composition, ways of expressing composition of solutions and mixtures of solids .
  • 3. Classic quantitative analysis, equilibrium of chemical reactions, kinetics of chemical reactions, elecrochemical background of redox reactions.
  • 4. Gravimetric analysis, principle, properties of precipitates, practical carrying out. Calculating gravimetric analyses.
  • 5. Titrimetric analysis, principle, dismemberment, basic materials, indicators. Neutralization analysis, oxidimetry, reductometry and their application in analysis of building materials. Calculating neutralization and redox titration analyses.
  • 6. Complexometry, mercurimetry, argentometry and their application in analysis of building materials. Calculating complexometric titration analyses.
  • 7. Classical silicate analysis, utilization in testing laboratory in the building industry.
  • 8. Chemical analysis of cement. Calculating solubility equilibria.
  • 9. Testing of mixing water and aggressive impact water. Calculating pH.
  • 10. Theoretical principles of physico-chemical laboratory methods – optical: UV, VIS, IR spectrofotometry, AAS, AES and utilization in building industry.
  • 11. X-ray diffraction analysis. Electron microanalysis.
  • 12. Theoretical principles of electro analytical laboratory methods and their utilization in building industry.
  • 13. Thermochemical methods and their utilization in building industry. Errors of chemical determination.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Pavel Rovnaník, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1. Laboratory regulations and dealing with chemicals, cleaning of labware.
  • 2. Neutralization analysis – Standardization of NaOH solution, Determination of the concentration of sulphuric acid solution.
  • 3. Oxidimetric methods – Determination of iron salt by means of dichromatometry.
  • 4. Chelatometry – Determination of calcium and magnesium.
  • 5. Analysis of dolomite – Alkalimetric determination of insoluble carbonates, Chelatometric determination of CaO, MgO – sample preparation.
  • 6. Chelatometrické determination of CaO, MgO – finishing, Water analysis – chemical oxygen demand (Mn) determination.
  • 7. Water analysis – Determination of aggresive CO2 Heyer's test, Determination of water hardness, Potenciometric determination of pH of water.
  • 8. Analysis of silicate – Decomposition of cement with NH4Cl and HCl (1. sample).
  • 9. Analysis of silicate – Precipitation with ammonia (1. sample), Decomposition of cement with NH4Cl and HCl (2.samplea).
  • 10. Analysis of silicate – Determination of SiO2 (1. sample), Chelatometric determination of CaO, MgO, Al2O3 (1. sample).
  • 11. Analysis of silicate – Precipitation with ammonia (2. sample), Determination of SiO2 (2. navážka).
  • 12. Analysis of silicate – Chelatometric determination of CaO, MgO (2. sample), Determination of Fe2O3.
  • 13. Analysis of silicate – Chelatometric determination of Al2O3 (2. sample). Final test.