Iron Cross-Coupling Catalysis

Submitted by Laurel Goj Habgood / Rollins College on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 13:08
Description

In this experiment, students will synthesize and characterize an iron complex followed by completion of two series of catalytic cross-coupling reactions mimicking the methodology utilized by organometallic chemists to balance catalyst efficacy and substrate scope.  Initially the complex Fe(acac)3 [acac =  acetylacetone] is prepared.  Two sets of catalytic reactions are completed: one comparing different iron catalysts (Fe(acac)3, FeCl2, FeCl3) while the other compares substrates (4-chlorotoluene, 4-chlorobenzonitrile, 4-chlorotrifluorotoluene).

Annotated List of Metal-Containing Structures in the Cambridge Structural Database Teaching Subset

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Sat, 08/15/2015 - 00:46
Description

The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) provides many free programs that can be used to view and manipulate crystal structures. Additionally, they have made a subset of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) available for teaching purposes and many educational activities have been created to go along with this teaching subset (see link below). This teaching subset can be freely viewed through the WebCSD interface or can be used in the freely-available Mercury program. (Mercury is avaliable for Mac, Windows, and Linux systems.)

A Demonstration to Segue Between d to d and CT Transitions

Submitted by Marion Cass / Carleton College on Mon, 08/10/2015 - 19:21
Description

The following is a simple in-class “demonstration” that I use to segue between d to d and charge transfer transitions.  After teaching about d to d transitions and Tanabe-Sugano Diagrams, I show my students three solutions that I have put in large test tubes before class. The three solutions I place in the test tubes are:

a.  10 ml of 0.1M Co(H2O)62+

b.  10 ml of 0.1M Cu(H2O)62+

c.  10 ml of a freshly prepared 0.1 M KMnO4 solution

Shape & Polarity Review with Clickers

Submitted by Jim Kirby / Quinnipiac University on Tue, 07/07/2015 - 00:01
Description

A set of questions to be used in General or Introductory Inorganic Chemistry as a review or “quiz” of shapes and polarities.

Kinesthetic Learning: Cyclic Voltammetry Mechanisms

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Mon, 07/06/2015 - 17:03
Description

This activity was created as part of a primer on cyclic voltammetry for the 2015 TUES workshop. The activity is designed to have one person represent the potential and several other people represent the molecules in solution. By simply scanning (walking through the line of people) and shaking hands, several simple mechanisms can be illustrated. The use of a joy buzzer with the first hand shake is highly encouraged, but not at all necessary.

Kayaking to Lake Washington

Submitted by Fabiola BL / The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art on Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:51
Description

Leisure activity after days of hard work at the IONiC VIPEr workshop in Seattle, WA.

Participants rented kayaks and paddled around the lake for about 90 minutes.

Pre-requisites: Application of a generous amount of sunscreen.

The original plan was to paddle to Lake Washington, but no directions or map was provided. So given the lack of navigation skills and familiarity with the area it is no surprise that only one kayak made it all the way to lake Washington (Go team FBL & KMH!).

Interpreting XPS and CV data from an Electrocatalysis Publication

Submitted by Karen McFarlane Holman / Willamette University on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 20:32
Description

This is a learning object focused on analyzing a specific figure from a research article that show XPS and CV data on Ni(OH)2/NiOOH thin films that have incorporated Fe.

Ir(III) Catalyst Regeneration Using Molecular Oxygen: Addressing Key Challenges that Hinder Alkane Dehydrogenation Catalysis. A Literature Discussion

Submitted by Vanessa / Albion College on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 15:56
Description

This Learning Object involves reading a recent scientific journal article, answering questions relating to the content, and participating in a classroom discussion. The paper under review is “Regeneration of an Iridium (III) Complex Active for Alkane Dehydrogenation Using Molecular Oxygen,” Organometallics, 33, 1337-1340. DOI: /10.1021/om401241e).