***A minimum grade of "C" is required in all prerequisite chemistry courses before being admitted to upper level chemistry courses.

CHEMISTRY 441-Fall 2019

CRN: 71816

Inorganic Chemistry

Planetary Hall - Rm 127; Tuesday & Thursday, 7:30 AM-- 8:45 AM

Dr. Gerald L. R. Weatherspoon, Instructor
Office Hours: Tu, R 3:00-4:00 p.m. or by appointment
Planetary Hall, Rm 303; grobert1@gmu.edu; (703) 993-1456

 

August 25, 2019

General Remarks:

  • This course is designed to help students build on the fundamental principles of general and physical chemistry, as related to the area of Inorganic Chemistry. A variety of topics will be covered, inclusive of solution and solid state inorganic chemistry. Trends in the periodic table will be discussed and the student should "FAMILIARIZE" himself/herself with the names, symbols and locations of the elements on the periodic table as soon as possible since periodic tables will not be allowed during examinations or quizzes. Students enrolled in this course are required to have a minimum grade of "C" in all prerequisites (refer to catalog). Courses that are stated prerequisites will not be considered as corequisites to gain admittance into the course.

  • Graduating seniors that are enrolled in the biochemistry track and, due to extenuating circumstances are unable to enroll in the required CHEM 446 course, must get approval prior to enrolling in this course. Students enrolled in the biochemistry track are required to have earned a minimum grade of "C" in CHEM 331, which is a stated prerequisite for CHEM 441------NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

  • ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THIS COURSE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF GMU's HONOR CODE POLICY. STUDENTS THAT COMMIT HONOR CODE VIOLATIONS AND/OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE, YET FAIL TO REPORT THE OFFENSE, WILL BE REPORTED TO THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Grading :

    • The final grade in this course will be based on a percentage of points earned relative to total possible points (i.e. 650). Listed below is the point distribution for examinations, quizzes and the final examination. However, an absolute grading scale cannot be determined until all scores have been compiled and evaluated. In order to optimize your overall performance use the following scale as a rule of thumb:  100-90% (A); 89-80% (B); 79-70% (C); <69% (D or F).   This course is a prerequisite for CHEM 445 - Inorganic Preps Lab, which means students must earn a grade of C or higher in order to register for CHEM 445 in the following Spring Semester.  If you experience extreme difficulties with the course material early on during the semester do not hesitate to contact or JOIN A STUDY GROUP.

    • The final grade in this course will only be changed in the case of a grading error. Only the instructor of record is authorized to change the grade. Any grading concerns should be discussed directly with the instructor of record.
    • Final grades will not be adjusted because late homework assignments are finally turned in. Any work submitted on the day of the final exam or afterwards will not be considered in the calculation of the grade.
    • It is your responsibility to make sure that grades posted in Blackboard accurately reflect the graded material that has been returned to you. Do not wait until the end of the semester to address these matters. Material presented in this manner will not be considered in calculation of the final grade.
    Examinations I, II, III (100 pts each)
    300 points
    37.50%
    Final Exam --ACS Comprehensive
    250 points
    31.25%
    Quizzes (5 x 20 pts each)
    100 points
    12.50%
    Homework
    100 points
    12.50%
    In-class participation
    50 points
    6.25%
     
    Total
    800 points
    100.00%
  • Exam Policy:
    • Hourly exams: Three hourly exams will be given during the semester. All exam scores will be used in determining the final grade. Makeup exams will not be given.  Periodic tables will not be allowed during exams and quizzes.

    • ALL cell phones and communication devices are to be turned off, properly secured and stored away BEFORE the exams begin. If I find (see or hear) a cell phone on a student during an exam, the student will receive an automatic "F" for the exam, since this is an honor code violation and the matter referred to the Office of Academic Integrity. The recommendation will be for the student to receive a grade of "F" for the entire course. If another student observes the violation or has knowledge of the offense, yet fails to report it, he/she may also be accused of violating the honor code. Students should not place themselves in a position that appears to support collusion in the honor code violation activity. All parties will be referred to the honor committee with sanctions levied based on the number of offenses and judgements determined by the honor committee. Keep in mind at all times that GMU is an Honor Code university.
    • Any form of cheating on the final exam will result in an automatic "F" for the course.
    • Programmable calculators and electronic media storage devices are not allowed for exams---NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
    • Final exam: The final exam will be cumulative, unless otherwise stated.
    • Quizzes & Homework:   Quizzes and homework will be given during the semester that vary in point value. The objective of the quizzes is to "encourage" regular and timely review of the material being discussed, rather than waiting until the night before the hourly exam and attempting an all-nighter. 
    • Suggested homework problems from each chapter will be posted on Blackboard. The suggested problems will not be collected for grading purposes.
    • REQUIRED HOMEWORK PROBLEM SETS will be graded. Those will be specified on Blackboard.
    • Students enrolled in this course must activate their GMU email accounts to receive important University information, including messages related to this class. I will only reply to email received from students that use their GMU email accounts.
    • If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see the instructor after contacting the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703-993-2474.  All arrangements for academic accommodations must be initiated through that office.
    • As a faculty member and designated "Responsible Employee", I am required to report all disclosures of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and stalking to Mason's Title IX Coordinator per university policy 1412.  If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact the Student Support and Advocacy Center (703-380-1434) or Counseling and Psychological Services (703-993-2380).  You may also seek assistance from Mason's Title IX Coordinator (703-993-8730;  titleix@gmu.edu )."

    Departmental seminars for Fall 2019 are held on Friday from 1:00pm-2:15pm.  Attendance is strongly recommended, especially for chemistry majors.  Senior chemistry majors should also consider registering for the undergraduate seminar course CHEM 490 to receive credit. Chemistry and biochemistry majors should also consider joining the local student affiliate chapter of the ACS (GMU Chemistry Club) as well as ACS. 

    COS

    Resources

    Chemistry Links

    Materials Research Society Bulletin (MRS Bulletin)

    Journal of Solid State Chemistry

    Solid State Communications

     

    The textbook for the course is  Inorganic Chemistry, 5th edition, by Miessler, Fischer & Tarr

     

    Lectures

    Tentative Lecture Schedule

    Chapter

      Recommended End of Chapter Problems Posted on Blackboard
    Aug. 27/29

    1: Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (read as review material)

    2: Atomic Structure (read as review material)

    3: Simple Bonding (Lewis structures, Valence bond theory, Molecular Orbital theory, Structure and bond properties)

    Review of Trends in the Periodic Table

       
     

    Monday, September 2

    Labor Day holiday; university closed

    Tuesday, September 3----LAST DAY TO ADD CLASSES

       

    Sept. 3/5

    3: Simple Bonding Theory    
    Sept. 10/12 4: Molecular Symmetry (Introduction to symmetry analysis and character tables, Applications of symmetry, Symmetries of molecular orbitals, Reducible representations)    
    Sept. 17/19 6: Acid-Base and Donor-Acceptor Chemistry ( )    
    Sept. 24 Exam I Ch. 2, 3, 4,6  
      Fall Break---- Monday, Oct. 14th; Monday classes meet on Tuesday, Oct. 15th Tuesday classes & labs do not meet this week.  
    Sept. 26/Oct. 1 7: The Crystalline Solid State (Description of the structures of solids, Structures of metals and alloys, Ionic Solids, Energetics of ionic bonding, Defects and nonstoichiometery, Electronic structures of solids)    
    Oct. 3/8 7: The Crystalline Solid State (Description of the structures of solids, Structures of metals and alloys, Ionic Solids, Energetics of ionic bonding, Defects and nonstoichiometery, Electronic structures of solids)    
    Oct. 10/15

    8: Chemistry of the Main Group Elements ()

     

       
    Oct. 17/22 9: Coordination Chemistry I: Structures and Isomers ()    
    Oct. 24

    10: Coordination Chemistry II: Bonding (Introduction to symmetry analysis and character tables, Applications of symmetry, Symmetries of molecular orbitals, Reducible representations)

       
    Oct. 29 Exam II Ch. 7, 8, 9  
    Oct. 31 10: Coordination Chemistry II: Bonding (Introduction to symmetry analysis and character tables, Applications of symmetry, Symmetries of molecular orbitals, Reducible representations)    
    Nov. 5/7 11: Coordination Chemistry III: Electronic Spectra & Magnetism ()    
    Nov. 12/14 8 (Bb Handout): Physical Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry (Diffraction methods, Absorption and emission spectroscopies, Resonance techniques, Ionization-based techniques, Chemical analysis, Magnetometry and magnetic susceptibility, Electrochemical techniques, Microscopy)    
    Nov. 19/21

    12: Coordination Chemistry IV: Reactions and Mechanisms (Ligand substitution reactions, Redox reactions)

       
    Nov. 26 Exam III Ch. 10, 11, 12  
    Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 Thanksgiving Recess No class  
    Dec. 3 - Dec. 5 13: d-Metal Organometallic Chemistry (Bonding, Ligands, 18-electron rule, Oxidative Addition & Reductive elimination, migratory insertion reactions)    

    Dec. 5

    Last day of lecture

       
    Dec. 9 - 10 Reading Days    
    Dec. 17

    FINAL EXAM -----7:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (ACS exam); 110 minutes; no late arrivals

     

     

     

     
           

   

 

Learning Outcomes (8/24/2019)

Upon completing this course, students will be able to address chemical problems using the collective information learned during undergraduate matriculation. A deeper and broader understanding of the following will be in their resource banks:

  • Trends in the Periodic Table
  • Electron Affinity and Ionization Energy; roles in reactivity and predicting outcomes of proposed reactions
  • Symmetry---Chemical applications of symmetry and group theory; spectroscopy;
  • Magnetism---magnetic behavior of transition metal/inorganic solid compounds
  • Bonding and Spectroscopy
  • Use of Term Symbols (refresh from Physical Chemistry; applications to inorganic complexes)
  • Molecular Orbitals and Atomic Orbitals
  • Band Theory
  • Solids and structural features
  • 18 Electron Rule--applications to predict reactivity and stability of products
  • Nomenclature and isomerism
  • Organometallic Chemistry/Coordination Chemistry: Reactions & Mechanisms (associative, dissociative, migratory insertion, reductive elimination; binding effects of ligands)
  • Physical Characterization Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry
  • HSAB Principle and applications