CH1IN4-Inorganic Chemistry for Biological Sciences

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: A Level chemistry or equivalent
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: CH1IN1 Fundamentals of Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Prof Matthew Almond

Email: m.j.almond@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Inorganic Chemistry for Biological Sciences

Aims:

The module aims to provide the students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of Inorganic Chemistry to act as a foundation for the Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programme.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should have an understanding of the concept of ionic bonding and the stability and structures of ionic solids. Students should be able to recognise and illustrate simple solid state structures and have an understanding of interactions in ionic solids. Students should understand the basic types of packing as related to atoms in metallic structures and ions in the ionic solids encountered above.

Students should be able to display a knowledge of the chemistry of the s and p block elements of groups 1, 2 and 17 and their compounds.

Students should have a fundamental understanding of the properties of the elements of the first transition series, coordination complexes, their bonding, isomerism and stability.



 

Additional outcomes:

Students will enhance their team working skills by various related problem solving workshops and appreciate the three dimensional nature of solid state structures by model building. Students will practise and develop their oral communication skills by contributions to small group tutorials.

Outline content:

VSEPR theory and the shapes of simple molecules. The chemistry of hydrogen and the s- and p-block elements of groups 1, 2 and 17.  d-Block Elements. Trends in properties. Brief survey of chemistry of Sc to Ni. Co-ordination compounds: nomenclature, electron configurations, ligands, geometries, isomerism. Nature of the co-ordinative bond in transition metal chemistry. ; co-ordination geometries; electron configuration and preferred coordination number. Stability of complexes in solution. Hard and soft character as determining ligand preferences. Introduction to crystal field theory for octahedral complexes. Origin of colour in transition metal complexes. Structural Chemistry. Simple close-packed and cubic arrangements, structures of metallic elements and bonding. Construction of ionic lattices based on simple packing arrangements described above. Radius ratio rules and their use in predicting structure. Simple structural models in inorganic chemistry; the ionic model and its applications. Ionic lattices, lattice enthalpy and the Born Haber Cycle. Experimental methods for the determination of structures of solids.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	13		4
Seminars	2
Tutorials	1
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	12
Wider reading (directed)	20
Exam revision/preparation			33
Revision and preparation	15
Total hours by term	63	0	37
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	75
Class test administered by School	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Number and length of final examination(s): 1 examination; length 1.5 hours.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework and in-class tests:1 in class open-book test which students will complete in their own time during week 1 of spring term.

Number and length of assignments and in-class tests, and if available, the submission date for each assignment (expressed as a week of a specific Term): One in class test with submission date at end of week 1 of Spring term.

Formative assessment methods:

There will be tutorials requiring completed work to be submitted and workshops in which the students carry out problem-based learning. Both are formative.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% mark overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Open Book Test (25%) and Re-examination 75%. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 23 July 2019