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Specific Course Information
Course Area and Number
CHEM-N 330
Institution
Indiana University
Location
Bloomington, IN
Textbook
None
Course Meetings and Time
Number of meetings per week
3 meetings / week
Time per meeting (minutes)
50 min / meeting
Number of weeks
> 15 weeks
Lab Associated
Yes, optional, concurrently or following
Average Class Size
35+
Typical Student Population
The enrollment is usually 180-200 students. It is required for all B.S. Chemistry majors and is an upper-level elective for B.A. Chemistry, B.S. Biochemistry, and B.A. Biochemistry majors. Approximately 20-25% of the class are chem majors. The remaining percentage is primarily biology, psychology, and neuroscience majors and anyone else taking it as a second semester course for professional school requirements. In our department, we expect our students to take it as second years (the first in a two semester inorganic chemistry option), but most students, especially outside our department, take it as juniors or above.
Categories
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Course Level
Description
Focuses on structure, bonding, and reaction mechanisms of inorganic compounds using molecular orbital theory as a basis for metal-ligand interaction. Compounds covered include transition metal coordination compounds, organometallic compounds, and bioinorganic complexes. Other topics include redox chemistry, nuclear chemistry, and an introduction to solid-state chemistry.
NOTE: Our department does a 1:2:1 sequence so students have already had one semester of gen chem, two semesters of organic lecture, and organic lab. N331 is essentially an introduction to inorganic chemistry with the last few gen chem II topics thrown in.
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Learning Goals
At the end of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Summarize the fundamental atomic structure and its relationship to periodic properties
- Visualize chemical systems using three-dimensional representations
- Explain chemical bonding using molecular orbital and crystal/ligand field theories
- Analyze the spontaneity of a chemical reaction
- Examine how metal oxidation state, complex geometry, and ligand identity influence chemical behavior
- Solve multi-part problems requiring application or inorganic, organic, and general chemistry concepts
- Understand how course topics relate to current research
How the course is taught
Mostly lecture with a lot of breaks for small group discussion and practice problems. Bonding theory, CFT/LFT, and organometallics are all taught in a fully flipped classroom style.
VIPEr LOs used in course
Evaluation
Grading Scheme
Mastery of Course Fundamentals
Fundamental assessments (5 total) 30 pts (5%)
Topic quizzes (10 x 22 pts; drop lowest) 98 pts (33%)
In-video questions for flipped classroom 12 pts (2%)
Application of Knowledge
In-semester cumulative challenges (3 x 50 pts) 150 pts (25%)
Final cumulative challenge 60 pts (10%)
Alternative Assessment Styles
You-Teach! Assessments (2 x 38 pts) 76 pts (13%)
Peer-review (2 x 8 pts) 16 pts (3%)
Willingness to Engage in the Course
Pre-/Post-test (2 x 6 pts; completion) 12 pts (2%)
Survey completion (4 x 5 pts; completion) 20 pts (3%)
Discussion and flipped participation (by absences) 26 pts (4%)
Total 600 pts (100%)
Fundamental assessments (5 total) 30 pts (5%)
Topic quizzes (10 x 22 pts; drop lowest) 98 pts (33%)
In-video questions for flipped classroom 12 pts (2%)
Application of Knowledge
In-semester cumulative challenges (3 x 50 pts) 150 pts (25%)
Final cumulative challenge 60 pts (10%)
Alternative Assessment Styles
You-Teach! Assessments (2 x 38 pts) 76 pts (13%)
Peer-review (2 x 8 pts) 16 pts (3%)
Willingness to Engage in the Course
Pre-/Post-test (2 x 6 pts; completion) 12 pts (2%)
Survey completion (4 x 5 pts; completion) 20 pts (3%)
Discussion and flipped participation (by absences) 26 pts (4%)
Total 600 pts (100%)
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