CCHEMISTRY 366
Inorganic Chemistry with Emphasis on Bioinorganic, Medicinal & Materials Chemistry
Instructor:
North Building
Office Hours: to be decided by class, probably Tuesday after class or by appointment. Please use
email to communicate with me outside of class or office hours.
Lecture:
D. Shriver, P. Atkins, Inorganic Chemistry, 5th Edition
Text:
Course Description
The course expands learning of the structure, symmetry and bonding of atoms, simple molecules and
covalent and ionic solids. The reactivity of inorganic compounds (acid/base chemistry, oxidation and
reduction) as covered. Symmetry and point groups, and the application of these to some inorganic
spectroscopy is covered. It is expected that students enrolled in this class already have a basic
understanding of periodic trends, VSEPR, Lewis dot structures, atomic orbitals, and some familiarity
with both valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory. The chemistry and properties of the transition
metals and lanthanides and actinides are covered. Electron configurations for the elements and oxidation
state trends for each group, the 18 valence electron rule, bonding and isomerism in coordination
compounds, crystal field theory, and electronic properties of ligands. Covered also are metal bonding in
clusters, the HSAB concept, chelate effect, and complex stability. Reactions of complexes are analyzed,
and the role of transition metal compounds in catalysis is described with examples.
Learning Objectives
• To recognize the importance of inorganic molecules in supporting organic biological
systems.
• To learn about how metal ions function as catalytic and structural centers in
biological systems.
• To learn about the metal ion transport and storage within cells and how any
malfunction can result in various diseases.
• To gain insight into cutting edge developments that utilize metal ions for medical
purposes.
• To learn methods, including spectroscopy techniques, used to study metal ions in
biological systems.
• To develop the skill to critically read primary literature, and to interpret
experimental observations.
•To develop an appreciation for the structure and function of metal ions in the
biological systems and how chemists aim to mimic them.
Grading:
tentative; may change as we move on in the course:
3 Hourly Exams (100 pts each)
(Homework Problem Sets
Chem 366
Syllabus
300 pts
200 pts)
page 1
Presentation
Final Exam (comprehensive)
Total Points
200 pts
200 pts
900 pts
Course grades will be based on a “modified” curve, which means that I have no particular quota
system for grades. In cases where the student is borderline between two grades, consideration will
be given to performance on the final exam, attendance and attitude as shown in the class, and
improvement over the course of the semester. If you wish, I can let you know your scores relative to
others, so that you may assess your relative standing in the class. No letter grades will be assigned
until the end of the semester. Generally I am generous with the grading. If you have any concerns,
please see me.
Homework:
Homework problems involving the material covered in the course are listed in the syllabus.
These particular homework problems will neither be collected nor graded. I strongly encourage you
to work the homework problems in order to keep up and learn the material. The best way to do
these problems is to work with other students in the class.
If you can explain to another student how to do the problem, you understand the material.
I will assign a few problem sets that I will grade. These will be handed out in class and will be
collected for grading. You may work in groups to solve the problems, but each student will turn in a
problem set.
Projects:
Students will give a presentation on an aspect of inorganic chemistry. We
will discuss how this will proceed in class. I can help you decide on a topic and can guide you
as far as reference materials. Usually, presentations are given the last 2-3 days of classes.
Hour Exams:
Three hourly (50 minute) exams will be given during the regularly scheduled
lecture period. Since we need to identify a second lecture period, we will choose these
dates later. I would like to schedule them for the Date, Date, and Date.
Each exam will cover a distinct section of the course material. Calculators are
allowed and encouraged during exams, but no tables, books or notes are allowed.
Traditionally, there are no make-up exams and students are expected to attend the
scheduled exam unless prevented by real necessity. In that case, a written excuse is
required to avoid a zero for the missed exam. I should be able to accommodate all of
your schedules. Contact me immediately in the case that you have a conflict with an
exam.
Final Exam:
The final exam is comprehensive. The final is scheduled for Date and Time,
according to the academic calendar on the web site of the registrar.
Chem 366
Syllabus
page 2
Lecture Schedule
The following is tentative. We need to cover pieces of Chapters 1-7 in Shriver to
understand the concepts that are important in inorganic chemistry. But I will try to
minimize the material that will not be pertinent to the bioinorganic and medicinal
chemistry that we will cover. Thus I am trying to cover pertinent parts of Chapters 1-7
before exam 3 and then focus the last month on Bioinorganic, Medicinal Chemistry and
other Inorganic Chemistry of interest.
Lecture Schedule
Week
Topic
Chapter and Exercises
1
Course
Introduction/Expectations,
Atomic Structure
Chapter 1: Exercises: 1.9, 1.12,
1.,13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.17,
1.18,1.19, 1.21-1.24, 1.26, 1.27,
1.29
2
Atomic Structure,
Periodic Trends
Molecular Structure and
Chapter 1 and Chpt 9
Chapter 2: Exercises: 2.1, 2.2,
Bonding theory using
Bonding: Lewis
Structures, VSEPR,
hybridization, resonance,
18 e- rule MO Theory--simple diatomic
molecules
Ionic Solids
Unit Cells, energetic of
ionic solids
EXAM 1
Molecular Symmetry
2.3, 2.5, 2.8, 2.9, 2.16-2.21, 2.23
different models
Chapter 3: Exercises: 3.1-3.5,
3.8- 3.12, 3.15, 3.16, 3.18, 3.19,
Understanding the
fundamentals of solidstate chemistry
3
4
5
6
7
8
Molecular Symmetry
Molecular Symmetry:
constructing MOs using
symmetry
Coordination Complexes:
molecular structure,
isomers, nomenclature
Chem 366
Chapters 1,2,3
Chapter 6: Exercises: 6.1- 6.7,
Chapter 6: 6.15 – use SALCs
from appendix
Chapter 7: Exercises: 7.1-7.20
Syllabus
Student-Centered
Learning Goals
Review and expansion of
Atomic Structure and bonding
theories and use of the
periodic table as a predictive
and experimental tool.
Understanding symmetry
of molecules and how to
classify molecules into
symmetry groups
Use of molecular symmetry
to construct molecular
orbital bonding models
Understanding
nomenclature used in
Inorganic chemistry and
the types of structures
found in inorganic
page 3
9
Coordination Complexes:
Ligand and Crystal Field
Theory
Parts of Chapter 20 and
handout notes
EXAM 2
Chapters 6,7,20
Parts of Chapter 20 and
handout notes
Parts of Chapter 21
11
Coordination Complexes:
Spectrochemical Series,
Electronic and Magnetic
Properties, Reactivity
Acids and Bases
12
Oxidation and Reduction
Chapter 5: Exercises: 5.1, 5.2,
5.3, 5.4, 5.5,5.6, 5.7, 5.9, 5.10,
5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14
10
Chem 366
Chapter 4: Exercises: 4.1, 4.2,
4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.9, 4.10, 4.13,
4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.19, 4.20,
4.21, 4.25, 4.26, 4.27-4.29,
4.31- 4.35
Syllabus
Identifying the theoretical
frameworks associated
with the inorganic
molecule structures
Understanding
spectroscopy and magnetic
properties and reactivity of
inorganic molecular
Understanding the
definitions of acid and base
as related to inorganic
chemistry. Use of acid and
base chemistry in the
synthesis of inorganic
molecules and clusters.
Use of acid and base
chemistry for prediction of
compound formation
Understanding how to
write and balance
oxidation and reduction
page 4
EXAM 3
13
Bioinorganic Chemistry
and/or Materials
Chemistry
14
15
Bioinorganic or Materials
Tentative Student
Presentations on any area
of inorganic chemistry. If
student is doing research
involving inorganic
chemistry, a presentation
on research is welcome.
16
FINAL EXAM
Chem 366
Chapters 20 (parts), 21 (parts)
4,5
Different Notes and Text to
be handed out
Comprehensive
Syllabus
understanding variable
metal oxidation states
and metal
electrochemistry.
Applications of oxidation
and reduction in the
Discussion on current
applications in
bioinorganic, medicinal
and/or materials
Develop communication
skills: The student should
understand how to choose
a seminar topic, research
the topic, organize a
seminar (or poster
presentation) and deliver/
defend the presenation
page 5