In this activity, students will collectively build molecular orbitals for homonuclear diatomic molecules using balloons as models for atomic orbitals. This activity gets students up and moving and involved in the building of an MO diagram and allows for 3-D visualization of the core concepts of building molecular orbitals from atomic orbitals.
This course focuses on the chemistry of the elements, including electronic structure, bonding and
molecular structure, ionic solids, coordination compounds, the origins of the elements, and the descriptive
chemistry of the elements. Topics also include inorganic synthesis, materials science, industrial chemistry,
and an introduction to bioinorganic chemistry.
CHEM 4310 is an in-depth review of modern inorganic chemistry. Topics will include symmetry, acids and bases, reduction-oxidation reactions, periodic trends, coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, and material chemistry. The course will meet for three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
This course will explore many of the fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry, with significant emphasis on group theory, molecular orbital theory, angular overlap theory, coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and bio-inorganic chemistry. Specific topics will vary, but will generally include coverage of atomic structure, simple bonding theory, donor-acceptor chemistry, the crystalline solid state, coordination compounds and isomerism, electronic and infrared spectroscopy applied to inorganic complexes, substitution mechanisms, and catalysis.
This literature discussion focuses on a 2022 Nature Comm paper looking at the reasons behind the pyramidal structures of tri-coordinate f-element complexes. There is plenty to discuss in terms of bonding and coordination geometries in metal complexes, and the effects of pressure on coordination geometry.
The second in a series on teaching advanced topics to undergraduates, the SLiThEr focuses on organoMetallic chemistry. While the primary framework for the discussion is my senior level course, there is plenty of great content from the live participants.
This is the third in a series of SLiThErs about teaching advanced inorganic chemistry topics. In this SLiThEr, Joyce Pham (CSU San Bernardino) leads a discussion on “Solid State Chemistry for Undergraduates."
In fall 2022, May Nyman from Oregon State was awarded the F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry for her outstanding accomplishments in synthesis and development of polyoxometalates and metal oxohydroxoclusters, including their structures, speciation, reaction mechanisms, and function. In this literature discussion, students will examine her recent paper “Differentiating Zr/Hf Aqueous Polyoxocation Chemistry with Peroxide Ligation," Inorg. Chem. 2021, 60, 1631-1640 which is related to that work.
This LO is in honor of the 2023 ACS Award in the Chemistry of Materials to Professor Reshef Tenne. Prof. Tenne was recognized for his contributions toward the development of inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles and inorganic nanotubes.