VIPEr Screencast

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Wed, 05/09/2012 - 10:27
Description

This screencast is a brief introduction to some of the features of VIPEr.

Inorganic Nomenclature and Point Group Identification: Combined In Class exercise

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 09:44
Description

I use this exercise in my 400-level Inorganic (Transition Metals) course.  Students have been introduced to assigning point groups in a 300- level Inorganic course on bonding theories.  Therefore, I combine a review of assigning point groups with the introduction to inorganic nomenclature in my advanced course.  This seems to break up the tedium of the rules for nomenclature while stressing that the need for such elaborate names comes from the need to correctly identify one structure among may isomeric possibilities.

Exposure to Computational Chemistry: Reinforcing Concepts in Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Christine Thomas / Ohio State University on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 14:04
Description

Groups of 2-4 students (depending on class size) are each assigned a different collaborative project that involves using DFT calculations to evaluate some of the principles of inorganic structure and bonding developed in lectures throughout the semester.  Each “project” involves comparing the computed properties (spectroscopic (IR), geometric,or relative energies) of a series of molecules and drawing conclusions about the observed differences using concepts developed in class.

Generating LGOs and constructing MO diagrams - pencast

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 14:26
Description

My technique for constructing MO diagrams is based on (and significantly simplified from) that of Verkade.  While I find it works well in my classroom for my students, they benefit from careful step-by-step instruction of the method through several weeks of in-class exercises.  This LO has links to pencasts where I go through three easy examples that demonstrate the technique, as well has how I handle lone pairs by this method.  As transition metal complexes don’t have stereochemically active lone pairs, they are often easier to deal with than even something seemingly as simple as water!

Constructing MO diagrams

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 14:11
Description

I use this in-class exercise after I have taught the students how to construct LGOs using the generator orbital technique.  The previous week, they do an in-class exercise on that topic, and this week, they use the LGOs from the previous week to construct MO diagrams.

The Extremely Explosive Carbonyl Diazide Molecule

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Sat, 03/19/2011 - 17:03
Description

This Lewis structure and VSEPR problem is based on a paper from Inorganic Chemistry in 2010 reporting the crystal structure of the carbonyl diazide molecule.  This relatively simple molecule provides an interesting application of the predictive powers of Lewis structures and VSEPR theory to molecular structure, backed up by experimental data on bond distances and bond angles.  Before tackling carbonyl diazide, the students warm up by considering the structures of hydrogen azide and the isolated azide ion.  The reference to the original paper is

Computational Inorganic Chemistry: An Introduction

Submitted by Rebecca M. Jones / George Mason University on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:00
Description

The attached lecture provides a brief overview to computational methods and introduces their application to inorganic systems.  Two specific literature examples are included.  I have given this lecture in a senior level advanced inorganic chemistry class for the past 3 years.

Ligand Field Theory in Coordination Complexes- In Class Exercise

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 14:19
Description

This is an In class exercise on the subject of Ligand Field theory.  It reviews nomenclature and introduces ideas of ligand field splitting and spin in transition metal complexes.  It includes both a worksheet for classroom use, a worksheet key which includes some information not on the student worksheet .

Molecular Origami: Precision Scale Models from Paper, by Robert M. Hanson

Submitted by Randall Hicks / Wheaton College on Tue, 06/29/2010 - 11:54
Description

This book called to me given my fascination with both origami and molecular model kits. While not a textbook in the true sense, the content of the book is pertinent to topics of molecular structure and symmetry and is therefore potentially valuable in both general and inorganic chemistry courses. In addition to the plans for constructing all the models (~125), there is a small amount of background information. Granted, many of these models could more easily be made using traditional model kits, but I had fun building them from paper.