CHEM 405 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry – 4 Credit Hours

The course will cover the elements of the periodic table that are omitted in general and organic chemistry, mainly the transition (d-block) metals.

The wave nature of electrons is applied to atomic structure and periodic trends. Inter and intramolecular bonding models are used to interpret the chemical and physical properties of various materials, from simplistic diatomic molecules to structurally complex molecular and ionic systems.

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. 

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.

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.   

The course is currently designed for a student population impacted by COVID and College policies that the department offer this course every third semester. This semester I have a diverse student population in terms of developmental levels including cohort year (freshman, junior, senior), prior foundational course work (biochemistry, analytical, physical), and research experience. I have altered the assessment part of the course substantively from prior iterations and reduced topic coverage to provide flexibility.