Chemistry 321: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry                                                    Fall 2006

MWF: 1-1:50: Lewis 119

W: 2:00-4:50: Lewis 315/311

Dr. Andy Axup:          Office: Lewis 310; Phone: x6033; E-mail: axupandreww@sau.edu

Office Hours: MWF 10-10:50; T 9:30-10:30; 1:40-2:30

Home Phone: 788-0372, please do not call after 9 p.m.

Required Text:          Housecroft & Sharpe, Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd ed., 2005.

                                    Szafran, Pike, & Singh, Microscale Inorganic Chemistry, 1991.

Required Equipment:Lab goggles, chemical splash approved (Goggles in Bookstore).

                                    Scientific calculator (bring to every class).

Recommended Aid:  Housecroft & Sharpe, Inorganic Chemistry, Companion Web Site. http://www.booksites.net/housecroft. Select the Companion Web Site and then Student Resources. You can go directly to Student Resources via this hyperlink http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_housecroft_inorgchem_2/0,9801,1672517-,00.html

Overview: This course is a required advanced course in Inorganic Chemistry. The course focuses on understanding the properties and reactivity of inorganic compounds by recognizing the roles of bonding, structure, periodicity, and acid/base principles. Special topics discussed may include superconductors and bioinorganic systems.

Goals: You will better understand chemistry and science by:

• appreciating the broad areas of chemistry called inorganic chemistry.
• applying theories of molecular structure and bonding to understand the formation and reactivity of inorganic compounds.
• using microscale laboratory equipment to conduct experiments.
• demonstrating experimental skills and laboratory technique by a variety of synthesis and characterization studies and presenting your findings through oral and written communication.
• developing reasoning and thinking skills for problem solving.

In addition to advancing your understanding of the content area, this course addresses the General Education goals for the Natural Sciences by striving to improve your skills in written communication, collaboration, mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and computer literacy.

Students with Disabilities: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office at 563-333-6275.

Evaluation Methods: Chemistry is a content-based course. Grading is based on mastery of the material as demonstrated through your performance on exams (4 exams plus ACS final), research paper, assignments, laboratory participation and reports (approximately 10 labs). A summary, outline, and assignments for each chapter will be provided.

Grading: Your grade is based on the following distribution: Exams: 50%; Research Paper: 10%; Assignment Portfolio: 10%; Laboratory: 30%. You will earn a percent score in each category from which a weighted percentage is determined and used to assign a letter grade: A (90-100); B+ (86-89); B (80-85); C+ (76-79); C (70-75); D (60-69); F(<60).

Attendance: You are expected to attend all lectures, laboratories, and exams. While there is no direct penalty for absence, you are expected to make-up missed work. Should a conflict arise, the more time available to accommodate you, the more mutually satisfying the arrangements will be.

Lecture Topics: (numbers refer to chapters in Housecroft & Sharpe)

1.         Review of basic concepts

3.         Introduction to molecular symmetry

4.         Bonding in polyatomic molecules

5.         Structures and energetics of metallic and ionic solids

6.         Acids, bases, and ions in aqueous solution

7.         Reduction and oxidation

9-17.    Selected topics

19.       d-Block chemistry: general considerations

20.       d-Block chemistry: coordination complexes

Special topics in:

2.         Transuranium elements

27.       Superconductors

28.       Bioinorganic chemistry

Laboratory Experiments: Experiment numbers refer to Szafran, Pike, & Singh, Microscale Inorganic Chemistry.

Experiment 4:              Preparation of Trialkylboranes

Experiment 8:              Silicone Polymers

Experiment HO1:        Synthesis and Analysis of Polyphosphates

Experiment 22A&B:   Synthesis of Metal Acetylacetonates

Experiment 23:            Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Brominated

Tris(2,4-pentanedionato)chromium(III)

Experiment HO2:        Oxidation-Reduction: Vanadium Chemistry in Aqueous Solution

Experiment 24:            Determination of Magnetic Moments in Metal-Metal Bonded Complexes

Experiment 26:            Geometric Isomerism

Experiment 29:            Determination of _o in Cr(III) Complexes

Experiment 33:            Reaction of Cr(III) with a Multidentate Ligand: A Kinetics Experiment