Students

Chemistry 309: Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

Course Level: 
Third Year
Academic Year: 
2005/2006

M & T refers to the required textbook for this course, namely “Inorganic Chemistry”, Third Edition, by Gary L. Miessler and Donald A. Tarr, Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers, 2004. 

Atomic Structure – 2 lectures
Reading: M & T Sections 2.1 and 2.2

  • Periodic Table of the Elements
  • Atomic Number, Mass Number, and Isotopes
  • Atomic Orbitals and Quantum Numbers

Periodic Trends – 2 lectures
Reading: M & T Sections 2.2 and 2.3; Appendices B-2, B-3 and B-4

  • Many-electron Atoms
  • Ground-state Electron Configurations
  • Electron Penetration and Shielding
  • Ionization Energies and Electron Affinities
  • Atomic Radii

Molecular Structures – 3-4 lectures
Reading: M & T Chapters 3 and 4; Appendices C and D

  • Lewis Structures
  • VSEPR and Molecular Shapes
  • Electronegativity and Dipole Moments
  • Covalent Bond Lengths
  • Symmetry Operations, Elements, and Point Groups
  • Character Tables and Introductory Group Theory

Bonding Theories: Simple Molecules – 3-4 lectures
Reading: M & T Sections 5.1-5.3.

  • Valence Bond Theory Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals
  • Molecular Orbital Theory Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules
  • Heteronuclear Diatomic Molecules

Bonding Theories: Polyatomic Molecules – 4-5 lectures
Reading: M & T Sections 5.4-5.5

  • Valence Bond Theory Multiple Bonding in Polyatomic Molecules
  • Molecular Orbital Theory Polyatomic Molecules

Acid-Base Chemistry – 2 lectures
Reading: M & T Chapter 6 and Appendix B-5

  • Brønsted Acids and Bases
  • Lewis Acids and Bases
  • Hard/Soft Acid/Base Theory
  • Coordination Complexes

d-Block Chemistry – Structures – 2 lectures
Reading: M & T Chapter 9

  • Oxidation States
  • Electron Configurations, Physical Properties, and Reactivity
  • Coordination Numbers
  • Isomerism

d-Block Chemistry – Bonding Theories – 4-5 lectures
Reading: M & T Sections 10.2 – 10.4

  • Valence Bond Theory
  • Crystal Field Theory
  • Molecular Orbital Theory – Octahedral Complexes
  • Ligand Field Theory

d-Block Chemistry – Properties – 4-5 lectures
Reading: M & T Sections 10.1 and 10.3, and Chapter 11

  • Term Symbols
  • Electronic Spectra
  • Magnetic Properties
  • Ligand Field Stabilization Energies

d-Block Chemistry – Organometallics – 3-4 lectures
Reading: M & T Chapter 13

  • Ligands in Organometallic Chemistry
  • Bonding Between Metal Atoms and Organic _ Systems
  • Complexes Containing M-C, M=C, and M∫C Bonds
  • Characterization of Organometallic Complexes