Enhancement of the Thermal Stability and Thermoelectric Properties of Yb14MnSb11 by Ce Substitution (Kauzlarich)

Submitted by Susan Kauzlarich / University of California, Davis on Mon, 03/14/2022 - 20:57
Description

This article provides an introduction to thermoelectric materials and applications for space, highlighting a complex Zintl phase, Yb14-xCexMnySb11. Yb14MnSb11 is a semiconductor that can be substituted with Ce to change the number of carriers in the material and thereby enhance the transport properties.

Spectroscopic, Structural, and Computational Analysis of [Re(CO)3(dippM)Br]n+ (Nataro)

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 06:17
Description

This literature discussion will guide students through an article that applies spectroscopic, structural, and computational analyses to a family of compounds of the type [Re(CO)3(dippM)Br]n+  (dippM = 1,1’-bis(diisopropyl)phosphino metallocene, M = Fe, n= 0 or 1; M = Co, n = 1).

Pyridylamido Hafnium and Zirconium Complexes: Synthesis, Dynamic Behavior, and Ethylene/1-octene and Propylene Polymerization Reactions (Klosin)

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 06:31
Description

This literature discussion focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and polymerization behavior of non-cyclopentadienyl-based Group 4 catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene/1-octene and propylene.

This LO is part of a special VIPEr collection honoring the 2022 ACS National Award recipients in the field of inorganic chemistry. Jerzy Klosin was the recipient of the ACS Award in Industrial Chemistry for the development of versatile homogeneous catalysts for the production of a wide range of polymer-based materials on a large industrial scale.

Reversible, Metal-Free Hydrogen Activation (Stephan)

Submitted by Todsapon T. / University of Evansville on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 16:35
Description

This LO discuss various aspects of a reversible hydrogen activation by a metal-free phosphonium-borate compound.  Attentions are paid to the specific and usual reaction between highly steric phosphine and borane reactants to form a zwitterionic phosphonium borate product.  NMR spectroscopy, kinetics and thermodynamics of the hydrogen activation with the phosphonium borate product are also discussed.  The original work was published in Science by Douglas W. Stephan and co-workers.

Structures of Solids - Unit Cells, Close-Packing, and Ionic Materials

Submitted by Dean Johnston / Otterbein University on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 16:16
Description

This website displays interactive models of the unit cell contents of simple cubic, body-centered cubic, face-centered cubic, and hexagonal close-packed structures, in addition to several simple ionic compounds. Relationships between the close-packed atomic layers, the unit cell contents, and the structures of related ionic materials are highlighted.

Review of Atomic Orbitals and Guided Tour of the Orbitron

Submitted by Patrick Lutz / St. Lawrence University on Mon, 02/21/2022 - 11:08
Description

This activity was created to extend the "First Day Review of Atomic Orbitals" LO to take up a full class period. The first part of the activity is likely familiar to many VIPER users, asking students to brainstorm and review key concepts related to atomic orbitals. (The author participated in this very activity as a student circa 2010!) The second part of this LO is new and leads students on a guided tour of the Orbitron website to review or discover the shapes of atomic orbitals and their nodal properties.

Free Energy of Activation & Reaction Completion Times

Submitted by Joanna Webb / West Virginia Wesleyan College on Thu, 02/17/2022 - 13:39
Description

This spreadsheet uses the Eyring equation to draw a connection between activation barriers and the timescale of a reaction. Students input a free energy of activation and can quickly see how long a reaction will take at varying temperatures. This has been particularly useful in computational sections of literature articles that investigate possible mechanistic pathways.

Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Jason Smee / University of Texas at Tyler on Wed, 01/19/2022 - 16:07
Description

Introductory topics in inorganic chemistry including descriptive inorganic chemistry, solid-state chemistry, and coordination chemistry with the latter area consisting of nomenclature, stereochemistry, bonding, and reaction mechanisms. 

Essential Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by David Benson / Calvin University on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 19:10
Description

Course Description: This foundational course for 2nd-year students covers the properties and trends of molecules derived from across the periodic table. In addition to main-group elements, a deeper understanding of transition metal ions will be developed. Topics covered include periodicity, bonding, symmetry, and reactivity.

Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Kim Woznack / PennWest-California on Fri, 01/14/2022 - 12:48
Description

This course focuses on the concepts of inorganic chemistry with emphasis on atomic structure, periodicity, group and bonding theories, symmetry, solid-state structures of metals, ionic compounds and semiconductors, as well as transition metal coordination chemistry.