Chemistry 330: Introductory Inorganic Chemistry

Spring 2007

TR 9:30-10:45, SIMS 302

 

 

Instructor:

Dr. Robin Lammi

Office: Sims 212A

Phone: 323-4946

E-mail: lammir@winthrop.edu

 

Office Hours:

            MW 9:00-10:00, TR 11:00-12:00, and by appointment

 

Textbook:

            Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd ed., Housecroft and Sharpe

 

Course Objectives:

·      To gain a detailed understanding of covalent, metallic and ionic bonding, and the properties of molecules and compounds formed by these interactions.

·      To learn more about reactivity of inorganic compounds, including acid-base, oxidation-reduction, and non-aqueous chemistry.

·      To understand the organization of the Periodic Table and use it to explain chemical properties.

·      To investigate one element in detail and make a presentation to the class.

·      To appreciate the breadth and diversity of inorganic chemistry, with discussions of topics such as semiconductors and nanotechnology, industrial catalysis, and bioinorganic/medicinal chemistry.

 

Outline:

Unit I: Electronic Structure and Covalent Bonding Models (Review, 5 lectures):

Chapter 1, Chapter 4 (Sections 4.1-4.3)

 

Unit II: Metallic and Ionic Bonding; Solid-State/Materials Chemistry (5 lectures)

Chapter 5, Chapter 27 (selected topics)

 

Unit III: Inorganic Reactivity: Acid-Base, Oxidation-Reduction and Non-Aqueous Chemistry (7 lectures)

            Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8 (selected topics)

 

Unit IV: Chemistry of the Transition Metals: Coordination Compounds, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry (5 lectures)

            Chapter 19, Chapter 20 (Sections 20.1-20.3), Chapters 28, 23, and 26

            (selected topics)

 

Unit V: Chemistry of the Elements: Student Presentations (3 lectures)

 

Grading:

The assignments for this course and their respective point values are shown below. 

 

Problem Sets            100

Quizzes (4 x 25)        100

Exams (3 x 100)        300

Research Paper        100

Presentation                50

Final Exam                 200

Total                            850 points

 

Course grades will be determined from the total points earned.  The following grading scale is guaranteed; grade cut-offs may be adjusted lower depending on class performance.  A: 88-100; B: 76-87; C: 66-75; D: 56-65; F: <56

 

Textbook Problems and Problem Sets:

Your textbook contains a large number of problems intended to help you learn the course material: worked examples, self-study questions, and mid-chapter and end-of-chapter problems.  The answers for nearly all of these are provided, either with the questions or in the back of the text.  For each chapter, I will identify a number of end-of-chapter problems that I think should be especially helpful.  I suggest that you work these and as many others as possible as we cover material in lecture; then, check your answers and seek help with those problems you missed.

 

In addition, I will give a few (non-textbook) problem sets for each chapter, which will be collected and graded, as announced in class.

 

I encourage you to work on textbook problems and problem sets in small groups, and to seek help early and often! 

 

Quizzes:

Four quzzes will be given in class during the course of the semester, each worth 25 points.  Tentative dates are shown on the schedule. 

 

Exams:

Three 100-point midterm exams and a cumulative final worth 200 points will be given on the dates below. 

 

            Exam I            Thurs., Jan. 25th                     9:30-10:45

            Exam II            Tues., Feb. 20th                     9:30-10:45

            Exam III           Tues., Mar. 27th                     9:30-10:45

 

            Final Exam     Tues., May 1st                        8:00-10:30

 

If you will be unable to take an exam at the scheduled time due to participation in a University-approved activity (such as an athletic meet), you must make arrangements in advance to reschedule.  If you are absent on the exam date without prior approval and do not provide a written doctor’s excuse (or proof of other personal or family crisis), you will receive a zero for that exam.

 

You must take the final exam in order to pass the course.

 

Research Paper and Presentation:

Each student will prepare a 7-10-page research paper on the chemistry of an element and give an 8-10-minute presentation to the class.

 

Topic – due by Feb. 1st: Each student must identify an element AND one or two specific issues on which to focus.  The paper and presentation should each include a general overview of the element’s chemistry and an in-depth discussion of the chosen issue(s).  In order to ensure variety in presentations, only two elements may be chosen in each group of the Periodic Table.  I will pass around a sign-up sheet in class.

 

Sample elements and topics:

·        Lithium – chemistry of lithium ion batteries

·        Calcium – role of Ca2+ in muscle response

·        Thallium – medical imaging of radioactive tracers

 

Outline – due by Apr. 3rd: Each student must turn in outline of his/her paper that describes the content to be discussed in as much detail as possible.  This is the only formal opportunity for students to receive feedback on this project prior to submission of the final paper.  As such, the more detail that is included, the better.

 

Paper – due by Apr. 19th: Papers should be 7-10 pages in length, with 1” margins and 12-point font.  At least three references (books, journals, magazines, web sites, etc.) must be cited.  In-text citations should be marked with superscript numbers; sources should be listed in numerical order (in the order they are cited) at the end of the document.

 

Presentation – Apr. 12th, 17th, or 19th: Presentations should be 8-10 minutes in length and should aim to teach the class (and the instructor!) about the chemistry of the element studied.  Material from student presentations will appear of the final exam.  Students may choose the presentation format (e.g. PowerPoint presentation, demonstration/experiment, game show, debate, etc.)  Please inform me in advance of any chemical or audiovisual needs.

 

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and are responsible for all course material and assignments regardless of absences.

 

Getting Help:

I encourage you to see me before or after class or stop by my office with questions about lecture material and/or assignments.  Feel free to come during the office hours listed above and/or make arrangements to meet outside of office hours.

 

Students with Disabilities:

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible.  Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first quiz.

           

Academic Integrity:

Any instances of academic misconduct will be dealt with as outlined in the Student Conduct Code (Sect. V), found in the Student Handbook (p. 35).