CHEMY203-23A (HAM)

Inorganic Chemistry

15 Points

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Division of Health Engineering Computing & Science
School of Science
Chemistry and Applied Physics

Staff

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Convenor(s)

Graham Saunders

Graham Saunders
4092
CD.3.01
See Moodle
graham.saunders@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Administrator(s)

Placement/WIL Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

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You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
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    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
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What this paper is about

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This paper covers aspects of inorganic chemistry including structure of main group compounds; point group symmetry; molecular orbital and crystal field theories; transition metal coordination complexes. The concepts studied in this paper provide the framework for the study of inorganic chemistry at higher levels e.g. CHEMY303.
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How this paper will be taught

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This paper is taught by:

Twenty-four lectures.
One three hour laboratory session every second week (starting in week 2) plus laboratory reports.
An essay on an individual assigned topic in inorganic chemistry.
An assignment on symmetry.
An assignment using the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD).
A one hour tutorial will generally be held each week, to discuss various aspects of the course, including revision of lecture content, essay preparations, and interpretation of laboratory results etc.

(The course has three timetabled lecture slots per week. Typically one of these will be used as a tutorial, but in some weeks, the tutorial slot will be used to deliver lecture material to cover the necessary quantity of material, and accommodate public holidays and timetable clashes for staff. Note that the actual number of laboratory streams offered will depend on the number of students enrolled in the course.)

Important note for international students: For international students in New Zealand under student visas, regular attendance is part of your visa obligation and is checked as a requirement on the University under the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students, to which the University is a signatory. Academic staff are formally required to monitor attendance in classes and submission of compulsory assessment events/items and to report to Waikato International in the event that any problem with irregular attendance or nonsubmission is not resolved.

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Required Readings

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A number of textbooks relevant to CHEMY203 can be obtained, in e-book format, for no charge, through Waikato Reading Lists.

For students continuing to inorganic chemistry at Level 3, Inorganic Chemistry, by C. E. Housecroft and A. G. Sharpe (Pearson), available in the Library at QD151.3 .H68 2012 is a very useful resource. The Library also contains a number of other general inorganic and coordination chemistry textbooks that will be of use.

For students proposing to advance inorganic chemistry to MSc level, the following is recommended: N.N. Greenwood and A. Earnshaw, Chemistry of the Elements (Pergamon), or F.A. Cotton and G. Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (Wiley-Interscience).

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Learning Outcomes

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Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • Rationalise important trends in structure, bonding and reactivity in main group elements and their compounds of groups 1-2 and 13-18
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Use valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory to predict the geometries of polyatomic compounds
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Identify symmetry elements in simple polyatomic compounds and assign a point group
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Apply a qualitative description of molecular orbital (MO) theory to simple diatomic and polyatomic compounds (organic and inorganic) and to use MO methods in rationalisation of molecular properties such as magnetism and bonding characteristics
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Apply an understanding of electron configurations and crystal field theory to account for the properties of transition metal compounds and to interpret structural, spectroscopic and magnetic data for these compounds
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Apply the rules of nomenclature to name transition metal coordination complexes
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Identify different types of isomerism commonly found in coordination complexes
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Synthesise transition metal coordination complexes, and characterise the products by magnetic susceptibility measurements, UV-visible spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Search for structures using the Cambridge Structural Database, and to extract information and generate appropriate diagrams using the software
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  • Carry out qualitative investigations into the chemistry of transition metal compounds and to account for experimental observations
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Write concise and clear reports with coherent discussion supported by appropriate referencing and using appropriate language and formatting
    Linked to the following assessments:
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Assessments

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How you will be assessed

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Important note:

At this stage it is assumed that the examination will occur on campus and in person.

It will NOT be open-book.

In the event of a lockdown or similar Covid-related situation preventing in person assessment, each assessment item may be replaced by a 50:50 mark split between an online open-book written assessment and an individual oral examination; the latter will NOT be open-book. In the event that your mark for the oral assessment is significantly lower than your mark for the written assessment, you will have an opportunity to sit a second oral assessment and if there continues to be a disparity between your performance in the two parts of the assessment you will be required to undertake an in-person written test. In the event that the oral examination occurs via Zoom or some similar program, you will be required to have video operating, to look at the camera during the examination and to have your hands in view. If you do not operate with video, you will be deemed not to have undertaken the oral assessment item.

We have been obliged to impose these measures because in 2020 and 2021 a significant number of students were caught taking advantage of online assessment to cheat.

Your attention is directed to the student code of conduct which specifically excludes plagiarism or copying the written material of others and purchasing answers from online agencies.

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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 60:40. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 40% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 60:40 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 40% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Laboratory report 1
10 Mar 2023
4:30 PM
5
  • Email: Convenor
  • Hand-in: In Lab
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
  • Hand-in: In Tutorial
2. Laboratory report 2
24 Mar 2023
4:30 PM
5
  • Email: Convenor
  • Hand-in: In Lab
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
  • Hand-in: In Tutorial
3. Symmetry Assignment
6 Apr 2023
4:30 PM
5
  • Email: Convenor
  • Hand-in: In Lab
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
  • Hand-in: In Tutorial
4. Essay
25 May 2023
4:30 PM
15
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
5. Cambridge Structural Database assignment
2 Jun 2023
4:30 PM
10
  • Email: Convenor
  • Hand-in: In Lab
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
  • Hand-in: In Tutorial
6. Laboratory report 6
3
  • Hand-in: In Lab
7. Laboratory performance
5
  • Other:
8. Laboratory reports 3, 4 and 5
2 Jun 2023
4:30 PM
12
  • Email: Convenor
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
  • Hand-in: In Tutorial
9. Exam
40
  • Other:
✔
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
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