Inorganic Chemistry

Recommended Prerequisites

General Chemistry I and II.

Teaching Methods

The objective of the teaching methods of theoretical and theoretical-practical classes is the global learning of the curricular unit’s contents by students.

Each student will accomplish an individual assignment consisting of bibliography research based on a relevant current theme, using the internet as an up-to-date source of information and searching for other appropriate sources of information.

The theoretical-practical teaching follows and focuses on the subjects approached in theoretical classes and includes the active participation of students in the discussion on the resolution of problems that are provided by the teacher in the beginning of the semester and are studied before the class.

Learning Outcomes

The objective of this curricular unit is to introduce students to basic concepts of Inorganic Chemistry and the methodology used to interpret compounds’ structure and reactivity. Dublin descriptors.

1. Knowledge and ability to understand:

1.1. Understand and use of concepts in Organic Chemistry.

1.2. Understand the structure of the curricular unit and the connection to other units.

1.3. Ability to summarize information.

2. Application of knowledge and understanding:

2.1. apply knowledge to solve problems in new situations.

3. Accomplishment of judgements/ decision making:

3.1. Know how to interpret data, substantiate and argue specific decisions, in writing and orally.

4. Communication:

4.1. Understand and know how to use information sources. Ability to do research and use the bibliography.

5. Self-learning competences:

5.1. Ability to carry out lifelong self-learning.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1- Nomenclature: IUPAC nomenclature for binary compounds. Use of oxidation numbers in nomenclature.

2- Stereochemistry: Three- dimensional structures of small molecules. Electron pair repulsion model. Geometry of co-ordination compounds.

3- Basic concepts of inorganic chemistry: Physical properties of inorganic compounds; oxidation states and chemical reactivity. Coordination numbers and ligand and chelate concept; Frost and Latimer diagrams, hard and soft acids and bases. Electrical and magnetic properties. Colour in inorganic compounds. The spectrochemical series. Basic ideas about the crystal field and ligand field. Molecular orbitals in coordination compounds. Structure determination methods in inorganic chemistry.

4- Systematic description of the elements: Fundamentals for a classification of elements based on -s, -p -d, -f orbitals. Basic properties of the most important elements and their compounds, namely Hydrogen compounds, oxo compounds, halides, nitrides, noble gases and some organometallic compounds.

5- Special topics. Nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry; coordination chemistry; organometallic compounds; metallic ion behaviour in a solution, solvolysis, and catenation. Solid state, defects and non-stoichiometric compounds, optical properties. Silicates and polyphosphates. Cage compounds.

Head Lecturer(s)

Hugh Douglas Burrows

Assessment Methods

Continuous
Mini Tests: 10.0%
Summary assignment : 25.0%
Exam: 65.0%

Bibliography

SHRIVER, D.F.; ATKINS, P.W. (1999). Inorganic Chemistry. 3ª ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tradução Portuguesa: M.A. Gomes, (Bookman, Porto Alegre, 2003)

HOUSECROFT, C.E.; SHARPE, A.G. (2001). Inorganic Chemistry. Harlow:  Prentice Hall.

BURROWS, H.D.; PEREIRA, M.M. (2006). Síntese e Estrutura. Escolar Editora.