Synthesis and characterization of 12-tungstosilicic acid - a modification

Submitted by Randall Hicks / Wheaton College on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 23:25
Description
This lab experiment is an update on the synthesis of the title acid. An account of this synthesis can be found in William Jolly's book, The Synthesis and Characterization of Inorganic Compounds. The synthetic procedure is reliable and was retained. However, I modified some content and added components to extend to a two-week experiment. This lab now covers the synthesis, an acid-base titration with error analysis, and the use of TGA to complement the titration results.

Inorganic Chemistry of Organ Pipes: Composition and Corrosion

Submitted by Catherine Oertel / Oberlin College on Thu, 09/30/2010 - 14:46
Description

This presentation provides an inorganic chemist's perspective on metals used to make organ pipes and their corrosion and conservation.  The slides highlight my own research in this area as well as work being done by other scientists around the world.  The purpose of this learning object is to show students an application of inorganic chemistry that they probably have not encountered before and show an example of how analytical methods of materials chemistry can be used in conservation science.   

Battery in class activity

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Wed, 05/26/2010 - 13:10
Description

This is an in-class exercise to be used at the end of General Chemistry (II).  I use it as a capstone exercise at the end of my second semester genchem course, but it would also make an excellent introductory review exercise at the beginning of a junior level inorganic course.  It provides an excellent review of topics from the entire semester (electrochemistry, acid-base, thermodynamics, colligative properties, solution chemistry and calculations) and shows how they are inter-related in a real world application (a car battery).

Video explanations and practice problems of basic chemistry and math topics

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 15:34
Description

This is a website which links to a wide variety of good quality YouTube mini-lectures on basic topics in chemistry, mathematics, physics and a variety of other sciences.  Each video is about 10 minutes long and many go through example problems slowly and completely.  

Metals in Biological Systems - Who? How? and Why?

Submitted by Betsy Jamieson / Smith College on Wed, 01/20/2010 - 10:01
Description

This learning object was developed collaboratively by members of the IONiC Leadership Council.  The overall goal is to provide a general overview of metals in biological systems and introduce students to several of the important ideas in the field of bioinorganic chemistry.  Topics include toxic metals, metals used in biological systems and the overlap of these categories; issues associated with the uptake, transport and storage of metal ions; and the benefits gained by using metals in biological molecules.  

Siderophore Building: In class Exercise

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 21:25
Description
This is an in-class exercise (brainstorming) designed to lead the student through the design of a siderophore (or "iron lover") by applying his knowledge of Lewis acid- base chemistry (specifically HSAB theory), geometry and entropy. This is a good start for a discussion of iron transport and storage in the bioinorganic section of Inorganic II (transition metals). I also use it in my junior level descriptive course when we discuss coordination chemistry.

Metals in Acid Base Chemistry

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Sun, 10/18/2009 - 08:26
Description

This is a simple in class exercise to review acid- base equilibria and to lead the students to thinking about metals as both Lewis and Bronsted- Lowry acids. I use it as a discussion starter when I introduce the role of metals in biological acid/base chemistry in my upper division inorganic course, but it can be used at any level once acid-base equilibria has been covered.

Bioinorganic Chemistry- Metals in Purely Structural Roles

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Sat, 10/17/2009 - 14:28
Description
This is a discussion leader to bring students into the topic of "Metals in Biochemistry- Structural Roles" by reminding them of pieces they already know from General Chemistry and other courses.

Sol-Gel Silica: Nanoarchitectures of Being and Nothingness

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 16:59
Description

In this lab experiment, students use sol-gel chemistry to prepare silica gel monoliths from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS).  Carrying out the hydrolysis and condensation under acid-catalyzed vs.

Basic Chemistry Review

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Mon, 07/13/2009 - 14:32
Description

This website is a self-paced review of concepts for gen chem and includes test questions (and answers) for the reader.  It would be a great site to point your intro chem students to if they want/need extra review.  It is a set of 10 units, covering things like stoichiometry, unit conversions, and basic acid-base chemistry.