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