CH2IN1-Further Inorganic Chemistry

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Anthony Powell
Email: a.v.powell@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Build on your understanding of key aspects of inorganic chemistry through lectures, tutorials and workshops. Topic include main group and transition metal chemistry, organometallic chemistry, symmetry and structural chemistry.

Aims:
The aim of this module is to further students' understanding of key aspects of inorganic chemistry, including main group and transition metal chemistry, organometallic chemistry, symmetry and structural chemistry.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should be able to:

• Describe and discuss the subject matter of the module, and explain the concepts raised within it.


• Critically examine questions raised in tutorials and workshops, and analyse numerical and other problems.


• To probe the electronic and geometric structures of transition metal compounds.

Additional outcomes:
The students should improve their oral and presentation skills through tutorials and analytical, numeracy and problem-solving skills through workshops and tutorials.

Outline content:

Symmetry (5 lectures + 1 workshop + 1 tutorial)

Symmetry elements and operations. Point groups. Character tables: characters, representations, reduction formula, irreducible representations, symmetry species. Chirality. Molecular vibrations: vibrational representations, assignments, spectroscopic activity.

Coordination chemistry of d block elements (12 lectures + 2 workshops+ 1 tutorial)

Development of a molecular orbital approach to sigma-bonding in transition metal complexes; comparisons and analogies with crystal field theory. Ligand-metal pi-interactions in octahedral transition metal complexes; sigma and pi type ligands. Hard and soft metals and ligands. Electron counting and the 18 electron rule. Synergistic bonding and effect on structure. Ligand displacement reactions in coordination complexes. The trans influence and trans effect. Comparison of first row with second and third row behaviour; the effect of the lanthanide contraction . Multiple metal-metal bonding. Redox diagrams.

Main Group Chemistry (6 lectures + 1 workshop)

The chemistry of Groups 13-16. Basic trends in the inorganic and organometallic chemistry are considered and illustrated by important examples. Where appropriate synthetic methods are given and molecular structures discussed. Group 18 chemistry.

Crystal Field Theory, Spectroscopic and Magnetic properties of Transition Metal Complexes (8 lectures + 2 workshops + 1 tutorial)

The crystal field model. Crystal field stabilisation energy in octahedral and tetrahedral complexes. Derivation of splitting diagrams for some other geometries. The Jahn Teller effect. UV-vis spectroscopy, term symbols, Orgel and Tanabe-Sugano diagrams. Magnetic properties of complexes.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Approximately three one-hour lectures per week with roughly one tutorial and workshop for every 5 lectures.

In the Summer Term the 5 lecture hours are assigned as revision lectures.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		31	10
Seminars		6
Tutorials		3
Guided independent study:		110	40
Total hours by term	0	150	50
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	80
Set exercise	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

2 hours.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework 20%:

Tutorials 20%



Students attend tutorials and workshops on the material covered in this module. Attendance is compulsory at both.



Submission dates: Tutorials must be submitted by the dates specified on the Blackboard site.



Examinations 80%

Formative assessment methods:
Five workshops on problems of the type encountered in tutorials and examinations.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres 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 (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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment arrangements are in accordance with University policy. Reassessment of the written examination is held during the University-administered re-examination period in August. Failed coursework may be re-assessed by an alternative assignment before or during the August re-examination period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 March 2023