C 21J INORGANIC CHEMISTRY (4 Credits) (Semester I)

This CORE course has the following pre-requisities
C 10J and C 10K
Syllabus (24 lectures):
1. Review of Crystal Field Theory. Crystal Field Stabilisation Energies: origin and effects on structures and thermodynamic properties. Introduction to Absorption Spectroscopy and Magnetism. The d1 case. Ligand Field Theory and evidence for the interaction of ligand orbitals with metal orbitals.

2. Spectroscopic properties of first row transition metal complexes. a) Electronic states of partly filled quantum levels. l, ml and s quantum numbers. Selection rules for electronic transitions. b) Splitting of the free ion energy levels in Octahedral and Tetrahedral complexes. Orgel diagrams. c) Spectra of aquated metal ions. Factors affecting positions, intensities and shapes of absorption bands.

3. Magnetic Susceptibilities of first row transition metal complexes. a) Effect of orbital contributions arising from ground and excited states. b) Deviation from the spin-only approximation. c) Experimental determination of magnetic moments. Interpretation of data.

4. General properties (physical and chemical) of the 3d transition metals as a consequence of their electronic configuration. Periodic trends in stabilities of common oxidation states. Contrast between first-row elements and their heavier congeners.

5. A survey of the chemistry of some of the elements Ti....Cu, which will include the following topics: a) Occurrence, extraction, biological significance, reactions and uses b) Redox reactions, effects of pH on the simple aqua ions c) Simple oxides, halides and other simple binary compounds. d) Preparation, structures, physical properties, reactions, uses of a variety of simple coordination complexes, eg acacs, acetates, amines, etc.

6. Reaction Mechanisms. Stability and inertness, rates and mechanisms. Classification of inorganic reaction mechanisms. Molecularity in relation to substitution reactions. Square planar substitution; evidence for the 'A' mechanism. The trans effect. Octahedral substitution: aquation, anation and base hydrolysis. Electron transfer reactions - inner/outer sphere.

7. Transition metal organometallics. Carbonyls and other p-acceptor ligands; syntheses, structures and bonding and reactions. The EAN rule. Organic ligands: alkyls, alkenes, p-allyls and aromatic ligands including cyclopentadiene. A discussion of synthetic methods, structural and bonding aspects, physical properties, stabilities and important reactions. Catalysis and important industrial uses.

A practical course of 36 hours.

References:
"Complexes and First-Row Transition Elements", Nicholls
"Basic Inorganic Chemistry", Cotton, Wilkinson and Gaus
"Advanced Inorganic Chemistry", Cotton and Wilkinson
"Coordination Compounds", Kettle
"Chemistry of the Elements", Greenwood and Earnshaw
"Concepts and Models of Inorganic Chemistry", Douglas, McDaniel and Alexander


C 31J INORGANIC CHEMISTRY (4 Credits) (Semester II)

This CORE course has the following pre-requisities
C 10J and C10K
Syllabus:
Structure and Bonding. Introduction to Group Theory - Symmetry elements and operations. Point groups. Construction of character tables. Application of Group Theory to Bonding. Energy level of diagrams for octahedral transition metal complexes.
Main Group elements: Hydrogen and its Compounds, Oxides and oxyacids. Halogens and Halides. Main Group organometallic compounds.

A practical course of 36 hours.

C 31K CATALYSIS (4 Credits) (Semester II)

Pre-requisites:
C 21J
(NOT OFFERED 2004/2005)
Syllabus:
Homogeneous Catalysis: Transition metals as Catalysts. Hydrogenation. Asymmetric hydrogenation. Isomerization. Carbonylation. Hydroformylation. Polymerization. Oxidation. Metal clusters in catalysis. Phase Transfer catalysis. Photoredox catalysis.
Heterogeneous Catalysis: Classification of heterogeneous systems. Structure, preparation and uses of heterogenous catalysts. Catalytic Reactions. Kinetics. Industrial Catalysts. Catalysis in: energy conversion processes, the petroleum industry, the inorganic chemical industry, hydrogenation reactions, atmospheric pollution control.

A practical course of 36 hours.

C 31L THE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (4 Credits) (Semester I)

Pre-requisites:
C 21J
(NOT OFFERED 2004/2005)
Syllabus:
The role of metal ions in metal-protein systems. The importance of macrocyclic compounds in living systems. Interaction of metal ions with macrocyclic ligands. Structural aspects of macrocyclic compounds. Porphyrins and Phthalocyanins. Crown and cryptate complexes. Metallo- and metal-activated enzymes. Biological redox reactions. Nitrogen fixing microorganisms. Oxygen carriers. Storage and transport of iron. Metal ion toxicity and chelation therapy.

A practical course of 36 hours.

C 31M METAL IONS IN SOLUTION (4 Credits) (Semester II)

Pre-requisites:
C 21J
Syllabus:
Solubility and the nature of solvents. The environment of metal ions in solution - studies using spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic techniques. Metal ions in mixed solvents - transfer chemical potentials and ground state-transition state solvation studies. Redox potentials of cations. Acidity of aquocations. Polymerisation of aquocations. Reaction mechanisms involving coordinated metal ions-substitution reactions. Electron transfer reactions.

A practical course of 36 hours.

C 31N ADVANCED MATERIALS CHEMISTRY (4 Credits) (Semester I)

Pre-requisities:
C 21J and C 31J
(NOT OFFERED 2004/2005)
Syllabus:
Classification of solids. Materials characterization techniques and processing. Phosphors and Lasers - Properties, preparations and structures. Alloys - Preparations, structures and applications. Ceramics - Preparations and structural chemistry. Superconductors, electro-optics and semiconductors. Biomaterials - space filling models, scaffolding materials. Electrode Materials - Transition metal oxides, carbon and graphite electrodes. Zeolites - Preparations, structures and applications.
A practical course of 36 hours.


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The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies,
Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica.

Created Feb 1995. Links checked and/or last modified 26th August 2004.
URL http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/chemug2i.html