Unit information: Intermediate Inorganic & Materials Chemistry in 2014/15

Unit name	Intermediate Inorganic & Materials Chemistry
Unit code	CHEM20170
Credit points	30
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Wyatt
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	CHEM10600, CHEM10700, CHEM10800, CHEM10900 (or equivalent mathematics unit as approved by the School).
Co-requisites	None.
School/department	School of Chemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit develops the introduction to inorganic chemistry given in CHEM 10600/700/800 to provide the essential base of inorganic chemistry required for advanced study at Levels 6 and 7 (Years 3 and 4). It covers the main areas of the subject e.g. main group chemistry, the organometallic and coordination compounds of transition metals including catalysis, materials chemistry and applications of NMR spectroscopy and an introduction to group theory.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Understanding symmetry elements and point groups;
• Knowledge character tables and irreducible representations and how these are applied in vibrational spectroscopy and molecular orbital theory;
• Ability to use Molecular Orbital Theory to construct Ligand Group Orbitals;
• An understanding of 3 centre, 4 eletron bonds and their application in Wade’s rules;
• An appreciation of the chemistry of some of the s and p-block elements;
• Understanding of the terms electrophile, nucleophile, acid and base and an appreciation of their roles within a reaction;
• Be able to explain the deficiencies of Crystal Field Theory and thus understand the basics of Ligand Field Theory;
• Understanding the kinetics of complexation and inorganic reaction mechanisms;
• Appreciate the basic limitations/extent of information obtained from NMR spectroscopy;
• Knowledge of the fundamental steps in organometallic catalytic cycle and the ability to combine them to form whole cycles.
• Understand the principles of organometallic chemistry;
• An appreciation of the scope and importance of materials including synthesis under extreme and mild conditions.

Teaching Information

Lectures, workshops (classes of 20 students with two staff members) and masterclasses (interactive seminar sessions of the whole class) and independent study. The Dynamic Laboratory Manual provides important e-learning resource in advance of workshop/masterclass sessions. Pre-workshop online material will be provided to assist students with the contact workshop.

Assessment Information

Exam: 2 hours 30 mins

Reading and References

• Introduction to Organic Spectroscopy, L. M. Harwood and T. D. W. Claridge, Oxford Chemistry Primer 1997 (currently 5 copies in library)

• Periodicity and the s- and p-block Elements, N C Norman, Oxford Primer, 1997 (currently 16 copies in library)

• Inorganic Chemistry 3rd edition, C E Housecroft and A G Sharpe, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008 (currently 12 copies in library)

• Shriver and Atkins Inorganic Chemistry, 4th edition, P. W. Atkins, T. L. Overton, J. P. Rourke, M. T. Weller and J. A. Armstrong, Oxford 2006 (currently 10 copies in library)