Inorganic and Materials Chemistry

Submitted by Karen S. Brewer / Hamilton College on Mon, 01/15/2018 - 17:12
Description

Topics in inorganic chemistry, including periodicity and descriptive chemistry of the elements, electrochemistry, transition metal coordination chemistry, and the structure and properties of solid state materials. Laboratories emphasize synthesis and characterization of inorganic coordination compounds, electrochemistry, and inorganic materials. This course satisfies the second semester of a one-year General Chemistry requirement for post-graduate Health Professions programs. Prerequisite, 120 or 125. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.

Inorganic Chemistry I with Laboratory

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Mon, 01/15/2018 - 12:17
Description

Introduces the theories of atomic structure and bonding in main-group and solid-state compounds. Common techniques for characterizing inorganic compounds such as NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry are discussed. Descriptive chemistry of main group elements is examined. Conductivity, magnetism, superconductivity, and an introduction to bioinorganic chemistry are additional topics in the course. In lieu of the laboratory, students have a project on a topic of their choice. Serves as an advanced chemistry elective for biochemistry majors.

Inorganic Chemistry I

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Mon, 01/15/2018 - 11:32
Description

Introduces the theories of atomic structure and bonding in main-group and solid-state compounds. Common techniques for characterizing inorganic compounds such as NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry are discussed. Descriptive chemistry of main group elements is examined. Conductivity, magnetism, superconductivity, and an introduction to bioinorganic chemistry are additional topics in the course. In lieu of the laboratory, students have a project on a topic of their choice. Serves as an advanced chemistry elective for biochemistry majors.

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Anne Bentley / Lewis & Clark College on Wed, 01/10/2018 - 18:20
Description

Modern concepts of inorganic and transition-metal chemistry
with emphasis on bonding, structure, thermodynamics, kinetics and
mechanisms, and periodic and family relationships. Atomic structure,
theories of bonding, symmetry, molecular shapes (point groups), crystal
geometries, acid-base theories, survey of familiar elements, boron
hydrides, solid-state materials, nomenclature, crystal field theory,
molecular orbital theory, isomerism, geometries, magnetic and optical
phenomena, spectra, synthetic methods, organometallic compounds,

Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Thu, 01/04/2018 - 11:27
Description

Inorganic chemists study the entire periodic table (even carbon—as long as it’s bound to a metal!) and are interested in the structure and reactivity of a wide variety of complexes.  We will spend the first third of the course learning some “tools” and then will apply them to a variety of current topics in inorganic chemistry (bioinorganic chemistry, solid state materials, catalysis, nuclear chemistry, and more!).

Investigating the toxicities of metals and identifying cadmium centers in metallothioneins

Submitted by Chantal Stieber / Cal Poly Pomona on Sat, 06/03/2017 - 14:43
Description

This activity was designed as an in-class group activity, in which students begin by using basic principles to predict relative toxicities and roles of metals in biological systems. Students then learn about the structures of metallothioneins using information from the protein data bank (PDB) and 113Cd NMR data. By the end of the activity, students will have analyzed data to identify and determine bonding models and coordination sites for multiple cadmium centers in metallothioneins. It is based on recent literature, but does not require students to have read the papers before class.

Introduction to Agostic Interactions

Submitted by Emma Downs / Fitchburg State University on Sat, 06/03/2017 - 11:59
Description

A brief introduction to agostic interactions and their importance to common organometallic mechanisms such as beta-hydride elimination. Examples of compounds containing these interactions are discussed and compared to familiar molecules such as diborane. Ways to characterize these interactions are also introduced.

Slides are based on the PNAS review Agostic Interactions in Transition Metal Compounds 

Brookheart, Green, and Parkin Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. 2007104(7), 6908-6914

Literature Discussion of "A stable compound of helium and sodium at high pressure"

Submitted by Nicole Crowder / University of Mary Washington on Sat, 06/03/2017 - 11:26
Description

This paper describes the synthesis of a stable compound of sodium and helium at very high pressures. The paper uses computational methods to predict likely compounds with helium, then describe a synthetic protocol to make the thermodynamically favored Na2He compound. The compound has a fluorite structure and is an electride with the delocalization of 2e- into the structure.

This paper would be appropriate after discussion of solid state structures and band theory.

The questions are divided into categories and have a wide range of levels.

Quantum Dot Growth Mechanisms

Submitted by Chi / United States Military Academy on Sat, 06/03/2017 - 11:01
Description

This literature article covers a range of topics introduced in a sophomore level course (confinement/particle-in-a-box, spectroscopy, kinetics, mechanism) and would serve as a an end-of-course integrated activity, or as a review activity in an upper level course.

Ligand based reductive elimination from a thorium compound

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 16:52
Description

This literature discussion is based on a paper describing the ligand-based reductive elimination of a diphosphine from a thorium compound (Organometallics2017, ASAP). The thorium compound contains two bidentate NHC ligands providing an opportunity to discuss the coordination of these ligands. The ligand-based reduction is very subtle and would be challenging for students to pick up without some guidance. The compound undergoing reductive elimination also presents an excellent introduction into magnetic nonequivalence and virtual coupling.