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• Undergraduate study:
• Courses
• Order a prospectus
• How to apply
• Information for applicants
• Why choose Kingston University
• Disability and mental health support
• Accommodation
• Undergraduate fees
• Fees, funding and payments
• Access, participation and inclusion

Inorganic Chemistry

• Module code: CH5001
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 5
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: Foundation Inorganic and Environmental Chemistry
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module is a core module for the Chemistry fields. The module builds upon the theory and principles developed in Foundation Inorganic Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry and applies them second and third row transition metal, the lanthanides and Group 14. It introduces solid state chemistry with a consideration of defects and conductivity. The module also introduces bonding and reactivity of inorganic complexes and organometallics. Nearly 25% of the teaching time is spent in the laboratory carrying out synthetic work and quantitative analysis.

Aims

• To demonstrate how the behaviour of chemical systems may be predicted from trends in the periodic table and redox data.
• To describe and explain the coordination chemistry of the first row transition series elements and introduce organometallics.
• To outline the electronic structure and defects of inorganic solids.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• describe the structure of inorganic solids including defects and relate conduction to the band structure of solids
• rationalise trends in the d-block and p-blocks group in terms of electronic structure, bonding, shielding, radial distribution functions and oxidation state diagrams;
• solve problems concerning the structure, bonding, electronic properties, stability and reactivity of a range of d and f-block compounds;
• work safely in a laboratory from instructions, record the results obtained in a clear and coherent manner, carry out calculations from those results and draw valid conclusions.
• demonstrate key skills of communication (workshop discussions; selecting, extracting and analysing a range of information); teamwork (organising and executing practical work in pairs or small groups); ICT (use of on-line communication); independent learning (locating and evaluating printed and electronic learning resources.

Curriculum content

• Solid state. 2D projections. Electronic structure of solids, band theory, conductors, semi-conductors and insulators. Intrinsic and extrinsic defect structures.
• Oxidation state chemistry: reduction half equations, redox couples and equations, Latimer diagrams, oxidation state diagrams, Ellingham diagrams
• Trends in oxidation state chemistry of 3d elements. Detailed chemistry of selected 3d elements
• Trends in properties of Group 15 elements
• Chemistry of 4d and 5d series. Comparison with 3d series, oxidation state chemistry, metal-metal and metal-ligand bonding.
• Chemistry of Group 6 metal halides and polyoxometallates.
• Group 14 chemistry: Structure and bonding of allotropes, oxides, halides, multiple bonding and oxidation state chemistry. Silicone polymers, silicates and aluminosilicates.
• Lanthanide chemistry. Occurrence and recovery, electronic structure, oxidation state chemistry and co-ordination chemistry.
• Introduction to symmetry and point groups. Applications of symmetry to inorganic chemistry problems
• Crystal Field theory: high and low spin complexes, spectrochemical series, magnetic properties, electronic transitions (colour), Jahn-Teller distortion and square planar complexes.
• Co-ordination compounds. Advanced aspects of the structure of chelate compounds, ring conformations, isomerism
• Stability and substitution chemistry of transition complexes: equilibrium constants, the chelate effect, labile and inert complexes- inner sphere mechanism- stereoselectivity
• Carbonyl complexes and organometallics: Synthesis, structure and reactions of simple carbonyl compounds of the d-block. Derivatives of carbonyls, organometallics.
• M.O. description of the bonding in carbonyls and other co-ordination compounds. The 18-electron rule.
• Introduction to of common organometallic reaction steps - oxidative addition, reductive elimination, hydride elimination; insertion reactions; transmetallation and complexes.
• Introduction to homogeneous catalysis and associated catalytic cycles

Teaching and learning strategy

Subject material will be delivered using a combination of lectures and blended learning activities. The first half of the module is delivered through lectures (22) and workshops (11 hours). The second half of the module is delivered by blended learning. This consists of a series of workbooks which will be supported by introductory briefings (1 hr per week) and workshops (2 hours per week) which will allow students to clarify any aspects of the course content, and extend and develop the core material. There will be fifteen three-hour practical sessions in the module. During the practical course students will work in pairs to promote team work. One experiment will involve group work - students will be required to devise a suitable analysis of determine the amount of zinc in a tablet, making appropriate decisions with respect to experimental procedure, choice of reagents and solution concentrations. A workshop on coordination chemistry will be student led involving group discussion of the problems and then presentation of their answers to the class. These activities will allow students to develop communication skills in terms of group work, presentation skills, giving and receiving of feedback. This will provide preparation for those students undertaking the industrial placement at the end of level 5 and enhance employability skills in general. Reporting of practical work and the assignments are designed to develop problem solving and written communication skills.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

Practical work will be assessed through two extended laboratory reports ( 6% and 4% each) and typically six in-class submissions (each ≤5% of the module assessment and 20%in total) The in-class submissions will be summatively assessed by evaluation of the quality of samples, data obtained and data analysis. Two practicals will be assessed by longer reports submitted outside of the class. One of these will involve group work and experiment planning. The practicals directly support the lectures, there will be additional reading and associated with most experiments. This will form part of independent guided study. Discussion of the background to the practical will take place at the beginning of each laboratory session and the experiment will conclude with a feedback session. Students will be able to monitor their understanding of the lecture material via the MCQ assessment in the workshops and by the provision of on-line assessment running parallel to the course. This will allow early detection of any shortfalls in their knowledge or understanding. These MCQ tests will be summative (each test ≤5% of the module assessment) in order to encourage attendance at the workshops and to ensure students are adequately prepared for the workshops associated with the blended learning programme. The assignment will be designed to prepare students for exam-type questions. The 3-hour exam will require students to answer four long answer questions. Further group work will involve the preparation and delivery of a workshop style session and will be used to assess students' ability to discuss and engage other students in selected topics. This will extend the development of key skills in group work, communication and information retrieval.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Inorganic Chemistry, Weller,Overton, Rourke, Armstrong, 6th edition, Oxford University Press, 2015

Bibliography recommended reading

Inorganic Chemistry, C.E. Housecroft and A. Sharpe, A., 5th edition, Pearson, 2018

Reactions and Characterisations of Solids, S. E. Dann, Wiley-Blackwell, 2003

Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry, S. Cotton, 1st edition, Wiley, 2006

Organometallics: A concise introduction, C. Elschenbroich, Wiley-VCH, 3rd edition, 2006