Vibrational Modes and IR Spectra using Character Tables

Submitted by Karen McFarlane Holman / Willamette University on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 15:35
Description

In this activity, students in my upper-level Inorganic course are given two possible structures of sulfur dioxide, and based on an assessment of given vibrational modes, they determine which of the modes are IR active by two methods: (1) the “Intro Chem” method (determing whether the dipole moment changes for a particular vibrational mode) and (2) using character tables. They compare their assessment to experimental IR absorption peaks, and the students decide which structure is valid. For those of you who teach Raman spectroscopy, it could be included in this LO as well. 

Chemistry Infographics from Compound Interest

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 14:48
Description

Compound Interest is a website that creates infographics for chemistry related events and items.  Specific examples of inorganic chemistry infographics include showing how the metal content in colored glass gives the glass its characteristic color, how the lighting of a match works with the conversion of red phosphorus to white phosphorus, and the various colors that transition metals can have in different oxidation states in water, among many other examples.

PVEducation.org: A resource for teaching solid-state chemistry and photovoltaics

Submitted by Kate Plass / Franklin & Marshall College on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 13:49
Description

This is a website that teaches students about various aspects of pn-junction photovoltaics, from basics about solar illumination, to solid state chemistry, to PV module design. There are numerous animations demonstrating facets of solid-state chemistry and light absorption. Here I will describe how I have used sections 3.1 Basics and 3.2 Generation in Inorganic Chemistry in the context of a specific laboratory application, but the site could have many more uses.

Synthesis of Aspirin- A Lewis Acid Approach

Submitted by Kathleen Field / WGU on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 21:29
Description

This is the procedure for a Fe(III) catalyzed synthesis of aspirin, an alternative to the traditionally sulfuric acid catalyzed synthesis of aspirin.  The prep compares and contrasts the Bronsted acid catalyzed esterification reaction with a Lewis acid iron (III) catalyzed pathway.  This can be used in different courses at different levels, but is it written for a general/intro level chemistry course.    

Teaching and Learning Package Library from University of Cambridge

Submitted by Vanessa / Albion College on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:56
Description

This is a resource that has short, animated tutorials on a variety of different topics. Most of the topics are materials science and/or engineering topics but there are several that would be of interest to chemistry students. (A full list of topics is given below.)

Gummies and Toothpicks Point Group Determination Activity

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:50
Description

In this activity, students will use gummies and toothpicks to construct models of molecules that will then be analyzed for their symmetry elements, and ultimately placed into the correct point group and the models can then be consumed.

High Energy Density Materials: Bond enthalpy and safety considerations (Christe)

Submitted by Kevin Hoke / Berry College on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:00
Description

This is a shorter version of a previously published Learning Object. This version focuses on bond enthalpy calculations and has students think about the risks and safety precautions for the synthesis of an explosive material (nitrogen triiodide). 

There is also a longer version of this activity posted as a literature dicussion.

Photoredox Dual Catalysis for Decarboxylative Cross Coupling Reaction

Submitted by Keying Ding / Middle Tennessee State University on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 14:53
Description

In this literature discussion, students are asked to read an article describing a type of dual catalytic system in which the synergistic combination of photoredox catalysis and nickel catalysis provides a general method that would exploit naturally abundant, inexpensive organic molecules as coupling partners. This paper addresses several green chemistry principles and serves as a great literature example for teaching organometallic chemistry or green chemistry course.